Deadline: 9-Sep-21
The Boston Foundation is pleased to announce the Open Door Grants to share and shift power to community through community-directed grantmaking.
Open Door Grants is an open, responsive semi-annual grantmaking program, especially focused on organizations serving and building power in communities historically excluded from institutional philanthropy and whose leadership reflects the demographic composition and lived experiences of communities they serve.
Areas
- Arts + Culture: They seek to build a creative culture that honors all voices and artistic expressions, and gives all Bostonians the opportunity to experience diverse art. Key initiatives:
- Live Arts Boston
- Next Steps for Boston Dance
- Place Leadership Network
- Brother Thomas Fellowships
- Education: They seek to ensure that all Greater Boston residents can access the education and training they will need to succeed in the regional economy. Key initiatives:
- Success Boston
- Boston Opportunity Agenda
- Early Childhood
- Boston EdTalks
- Health + Wellness: They seek to promote and advance health equity, where everyone has the opportunity to attain their best health regardless of their identity or socioeconomic status. Key initiatives:
- Health Starts at Home
- Neighborhoods + Housing: They seek to ensure that all residents of Greater Boston have a safe, affordable and decent home in healthy, thriving neighborhoods. Key initiatives:
- Health Starts at Home
- Jobs + Economic Development: They seek to give all residents access to family-sustaining careers and stimulate the growth of generational wealth within historically marginalized populations. Key Initiatives:
- Catapult
- Skillworks
- Business Equity Fund
Funding Information
- Open Door Grants are $50,000 two-year general operating support grants, paid in two equal annual installments of $25,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- An eligible applicant would be an existing or new organization that primarily serves and builds power in communities historically excluded from institutional philanthropy within the cities and towns of the Foundation’s catchment area.
- The Foundation is especially interested in supporting the following communities: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals and communities; immigrants (including undocumented); elders; individuals with disabilities; survivors of domestic abuse; and/or incarcerated and returning citizens.
- An eligible applicant would also meet the following criteria:
- Is not eligible for funding through the Foundation’s five impact areas, as defined by their strategies, goals and approaches;
- Has not submitted an application within the past 12 months;
- Has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit designation from the IRS or operates under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit;
- Aligns with the Foundation’s Values Statement, which seeks to broaden participation; foster collaboration; and heal racial, ethnic and community divisions
- Does not discriminate in the hiring of staff or the provision of services on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability
Exclusions
- The Boston Foundation does not make grants for capital construction costs, endowments, medical or academic research, scholarships, sectarian or religious purposes, or to support candidates for political office.
- Private non-operating foundations, 501(c)(4) organizations, and Section 501(a)(3) Type III Non-functionally Integrated organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, grants are not made to individual persons or individual schools.
- Schools must apply through their school districts and districts may submit one application every 12 months.
For more information, visit https://www.tbf.org/odg