The Cambridge Community Foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations that address local challenges and foster opportunities across the community. Investments in education and out of school time, economic security and opportunity, early childhood, racial equity, health and mental health, urgent and basic needs, senior services, civic engagement, immigrant services and arts and culture are supported by contributions to the Cambridge Endowment — our Community Fund.
The Community Fund is made up of a pool of funds, built by donors. Income from these funds is pooled to make grants that help ensure a vibrant, thriving, and inclusive Cambridge where everyone can access opportunity and a good quality of life. To learn ways to support Cambridge through the Community Fund, please contact Michal Rubin, Vice President of Development, at [email protected].
Community Fund Grants Process
Click here for the Community Fund Spring grant application.
Community Fund grants are available to eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or entities operating under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit, that serve the people of Cambridge. Individuals are not eligible.
The Cambridge Community Foundation offers flexible funding, allowing grant recipients to use the funds at their discretion, including for general operating expenses.
- Nonprofits are permitted to apply for a Community Fund grant once per fiscal year. The Foundation’s fiscal year is July 1 – June 30.
- In addition to how the grant will be used, we want to know what community need(s) your program addresses. This may include ongoing pandemic-related needs and COVID-19 recovery.
- We require a report on the use of the funds by the end of the grant year. Although funding can be spent on operations, the outcomes reported must be programmatic.
The deadline to apply for a Spring 2023 grant is February 13.
To learn about nonprofits we support, read the press release about our Fall cycle grants or explore a list of nonprofits that received fiscal year 2022 Community Fund grants.
What to Know About FY23 Community Fund Grants
Community Fund grants support community-based nonprofit organizations that address local challenges and foster opportunities across the community. Grants are available to eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or entities operating under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit. Individuals are not eligible. Please read below for more details about the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Community Fund grant process.
If you are a past grantee, a lot of things about the FY23 Community Fund application will be the way you remember them. However, you may notice small shifts in language. Please make sure to read each question (and any associated help text) closely.
You may also notice that we have separated the final grant report from this year’s application. If you are an organization that received a FY22 grant and need to submit a grant report, we will reach out to you and share the new reporting form. Reporting for Fall FY22 grants will be due by December 31, 2022. Reporting for Spring FY22 grants will be due by February 20, 2023. Find the grant report form here.
Please reach out to Christina Turner, Director of Programs and Grantmaking at [email protected]. Or, you may attend one of our Spring Cycle info sessions over Zoom: Either Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 2pm or Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 10am. To RSVP, please email Christina.
The Fall application will open on September 12, 2022, and close on October 3, 2022. Grant awards will be announced before the end of the calendar year.
The Spring application will open on January 13, 2023, and close on February 13, 2023. Grant awards will be announced in mid-April 2023.
Community Fund grants are for Cambridge-based organizations and organizations that provide services in Cambridge. If this describes your organization, then you are eligible to apply.
An organization can apply for a Community Fund grant once per fiscal year. The Cambridge Community Foundation’s fiscal year is July 1 – June 30.
No. If you received a multi-year initiative grant, you are no longer required to apply each fiscal year. You are required to submit mid-term/final reports. We will reach out to you directly to share the new reporting form. Mid-term/final reports are due on the anniversary of your grant award.
Our Grantmaking and Nonprofit News
For more information on our impact and nonprofit partnerships, explore our past press releases and sign up to receive newsletters.
Bob Moses Fund for Education and Organizing awards $180,000 in grants to movement builders.
The new fund has supported four grassroots movement builders who embody the late civil rights leader's values and spirit.
Philanthropy is for everyone, especially our youth.
For a third year, Cambridge youth leaders raised funds for our community.
$315K in State-funded grants to Somerville, Medford, and Cambridge nonprofits meeting basic needs.
These grants to 22 nonprofits bring our urgent support to neighbors to over $5 million since March 2020.
