Make an Impact

Support nonprofit organizations making a difference across the state

The impacts of COVID-19 are ongoing for our neighbors across Massachusetts. Our community foundation and food bank partners will continue to provide support to our communities. Their collective impact across the state has been profound.

The MA COVID-19 Relief Fund is closed, and is now encouraging direct donations to charitable organizations making an impact across the state. The following organizations are all grant recipients of Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. Each has the local perspectives and relationships to maximize impact and efficiency of grant dollars.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation:

Berkshire County is an area of 946 square miles stretching from Williamstown in the north to Great Barrington and Sheffield in the south, with a total population of 125K residents with 14K of those residents living in poverty. The COVID-19 relief efforts of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and Berkshire United Way have been focused on enabling trusted nonprofits with deep roots in Berkshire County to serve vulnerable populations, including low income and homeless families, seniors, communities of color and immigrants. These efforts continue with the monitoring of emerging needs and a focus on recovery, building stability for residents hardest hit by the pandemic and the nonprofits that serve them.

Questions? Reach out to Peter Taylor, President

Cambridge Community Foundation:

Cambridge Community Foundation is serving the needs of vulnerable populations in the cities of Cambridge, Medford, and Somerville - a total population of 258K people, of which 31K live in poverty, 23% are foreign-born, and 31% speak a language other than English at home. The COVID-19 relief efforts of the Cambridge Community Foundation have been focused on supporting those who live, work, study, create or worship in Cambridge, as well as funding nonprofits in Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford that address the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, frontline workers, and Cambridge’s creative ecosystem. Their continued COVID-19 relief efforts focus on nonprofits that address ongoing urgent needs such as food and housing insecurity as well as organizations focusing on recovery and resiliency across sectors, with a particular emphasis on nurturing Cambridge’s creative community via arts nonprofits.

Questions? Reach out to Michal Rubin, Vice President, Development

Cape Cod Foundation:

The Cape Cod Foundation’s catchment area includes the 15 towns of Barnstable County, home to 213K people. Of those, 15k live in poverty, nearly 31% are over the age of 65, and many highly depend on seasonal income. The Cape Cod Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts have been focused on supporting nonprofit organizations providing critical services to Cape Cod residents who are most vulnerable to the economic and health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The Cape Cod Foundation Strategic Emergency Response Fund continues to support the capacity of local organizations as they respond to immediate community needs and work to re-build, recover, and re-imagine opportunities to expand impact and strengthen our community.

Questions? Reach out to Kristin O’Malley, President and CEO

Community Foundation of North Central MA

The Community Foundation of North Central MA encompasses 33 communities along the New Hampshire border in Central Massachusetts which includes the high-need cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, as well as more rural communities. The Community Foundation of North Central MA’s COVID-19 relief efforts have been focused on food and financial support for frontline workers and vulnerable populations in the north central region of the state including low income populations, support for disabled adults and at-risk children, homeless families and individuals and essential workers. Needs of vulnerable populations require ongoing support.

Questions? Reach out to Linda A. Mack, V. P. for Philanthropy

SouthCoast Community Foundation

SouthCoast Community Foundation (formerly Community Foundation of Southeastern MA) supports 41 cities and towns in the southeastern part of Massachusetts, serving a population of 860K individuals of which 84K live in poverty. The SouthCoast Community Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts have been focused on food insecurity and support for the most vulnerable populations in the southeastern region of the state, including immigrants, elders, homeless, and other at-risk families and individuals. The SouthCoast Community Foundation continues to focus on supporting non-profits as they work to reimagine and rebuild their programs.

Questions? Reach out to Patricia Grime, Development Manager

Community Foundation of Western MA

The Community Foundation of Western MA spans the 1,900 square miles of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties which together are home to 702K people, of which 112K live in poverty, and include both the high-need Gateway cities of Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee, as well as very rural communities. The Community Foundation of Western MA’s COVID-19 relief efforts have been focused on providing immediate support to those in the Pioneer Valley most vulnerable to the economic and health-related issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Foundation continues to support these urgent and critical needs, and is focused on rebuilding stability for nonprofits and community members.

Questions? Reach out to Ellen Leuchs, Vice President of Philanthropic Services

Essex County Community Foundation

Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) serves 790k people residing in the 34 towns and cities of Essex County, including the high-need Gateway cities of Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill, Peabody, Methuen, and Salem. ECCF’s COVID-19 relief efforts thus far have been focused on supporting frontline nonprofits servicing the region’s most vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis with rapid response grants, primarily in the areas of food insecurity, homelessness and immigrant populations. ECCF continues to support its communities through the evolving crisis by providing funding to nonprofits serving the most vulnerable residents as they begin to recover from COVID19 and its economic impact.

Questions? Reach out to Carol Lavoie Schuster, Vice President for Grants and Services

Foundation for MetroWest:

The Foundation for MetroWest encompasses 33 cities and towns in Massachusetts’ MetroWest region including higher-need communities of Framingham, Waltham, Marlborough and Milford which together are home to 679K people, of which 37K live in poverty. The COVID-19 relief efforts of the Foundation for MetroWest have been focused on emergency response efforts to provide immediate food assistance and other basic necessities to the most vulnerable populations being impacted by the pandemic in the MetroWest region. The Foundation continues to provide rapid response grants to strong nonprofits as they face ongoing increase in demand and work hard to adapt programs and services as they adhere to new regulations.

Questions? Reach out to Jay Kim, Chief Operating Officer

Greater Lowell Community Foundation

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation serves 20 cities and towns in northern Middlesex County- a total population of 447K of which 39K live in poverty, concentrated in the City of Lowell with a 21% poverty rate. The Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts have focused on supporting low-income, homeless, immigrant, and disabled populations in Northern Middlesex County with food and other essential services. GLCF remains committed to addressing the short-term and long-term needs of Greater Lowell’s most vulnerable populations during this pandemic through a multi-phase nonprofit funding approach – we welcome your partnership in our work.

Questions? Reach out to Jennifer Aradhya, VP of Marketing & Programs

Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Worcester County covers 1,579 square miles stretching from Winchendon in the north to Southbridge in the southern part of the county. We have an ethnically and economically diverse population of 830K with 21.8% living below the poverty level and more than 90 languages reported to be spoken at home, in Worcester. The COVID-19 relief efforts of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and United Way of Central Massachusetts have been focused on food insecurity, needs of immigrant and at-risk populations, health care and behavioral health, and housing assistance. Ongoing work is supporting basic needs, relief and recovery efforts of the most at-risk members of our community impacted by the pandemic.

Questions? Reach out to Kelly Stimson, Vice President of Donor Services

Permanent Endowment For Martha’s Vineyard

The Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard serves the needs of the 17K people who live on the island, of which 1.3K live in poverty. The Endowment’s COVID-19 relief efforts have been focused on providing support to the Island's residents including its immigrant community, most vulnerable to economic disruptions caused by the pandemic, including food and housing insecurity. The Endowment continues to serve the needs of vulnerable communities for the duration of the pandemic.

Questions? Reach out to Emily Bramhall, Executive Director

The Boston Foundation

The Boston Foundation's COVID-19 Response Fund is serving vulnerable populations across Eastern Massachusetts. The Boston Foundation has deployed $3.4M in grants with support from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund and raised and deployed much of an additional $8M generously donated by over 1,000 companies, foundations, and generous families. The COVID-19 Response Fund has been supporting organizations providing for basic needs to our impacted neighbors, particularly seniors, communities of color, immigrants (including undocumented individuals), people with disabilities, domestic violence survivors, and incarcerated and returning citizens.

Questions? Reach out to Thomas Bentley, Assistant Director Leadership Giving

Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation is focused on supporting the needs of the 36K residents of Watertown, of which 8% live in poverty and 21% are foreign-born. The COVID-19 relief efforts of Watertown Community Foundation have been focused on supporting residents of working families and households disproportionately affected by the pandemic, including those impacted by food and housing insecurity. As the pandemic persists, with an unemployment rate over 12%, the Foundation continues to help families stay in their homes with emergency rental assistance.

Questions? Reach out to Jan Singer, Executive Director

Merrimack Valley Food Bank

Merrimack Valley Food Bank (MVFB) provides nutritious food and personal care items to emergency feeding programs in 31 communities in the Greater Lowell and Essex County area. The Food Bank typically distributes food to more than 50,000 individuals per month in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, and has experienced increases in demand since the beginning of the pandemic. The communities served by MVFB need support now more than ever. MVFB continues to provide nutritious food to children, working families, people with disabilities, seniors and veterans – many of whom never before needed to ask for help.

Questions? Reach out to Amy L. Pessia, Executive Director

Project Bread

Since 1969, Project Bread has worked to end hunger in Massachusetts through advocacy, education and community action. Project Bread’s COVID-19 efforts have been focused on providing responsive, accurate, compassionate assistance through our FoodSource Hotline and supporting schools and local organizations maintain free food programs for kids. While these unprecedented levels of food insecurity remain high, Project Bread continues to work with local, state and federal stakeholders to ensure that everyone has safe, equitable and reliable access to sustainable food solutions.

Questions? Reach out to Elizabeth Greenhalgh, VP of Communications and Development

The Greater Boston Food Bank

The Greater Boston Food Bank (“GBFB”) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country, supporting more than 500 partner agencies in 190 cities and towns across Eastern MA. Since the start of the pandemic, GBFB has had three consecutive record months of food distribution, distributing 8.1 million pounds of food in March, 9.5 million in April and 9.7 million in May. Through the end of the year, one in eight individuals in Eastern Massachusetts will experience food insecurity and the number of children living in food insecure households is expected to double to 17 percent. Gifts from supporters will help GBFB feed more than 650,000 people in our community who are struggling to put food on the table.

Questions? Reach out to Mina Johnson, Digital Marketing Manager

The Food Bank of Western MA

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (FBWM) works to feed neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger in the four counties of Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire). It supports 176 member food pantries, meal site and shelters, as well as its own 26 Mobile Food Banks, and 51 Brown Bag: Food for Elders sites. Recently furloughed and unemployed individuals are seeking support for themselves and their families, possibly for the first time. Neighbors are worried about how they will feed their kids as federal stimulus support winds down and there is no other relief in sight. FBWM continues to support local families during an unprecedented time of need.

Questions? Reach out to Falana Bloch, Donor Relations Manager

Worcester County Food Bank

Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) provides food for people in need across Worcester County’s 60 cities and towns. Last year, WCFB and its network of 115 Partner Agencies distributed 7.2 million pounds of food to 89,185* people- enough food for approximately 115,385 meals per week. WCFB continues efforts to support people struggling with hunger today while working towards creating hunger-free and healthy communities of tomorrow through sustainable and systemic solutions.

Questions? Reach out to to Lisa Welcome, Chief Operating Officer