Essex County Community Fdn Inc Grants

Streamlined, flexible support for acute community needs and longer-term nonprofit recovery. The Fall 2026 round focuses on food access affected by SNAP changes, healthcare-benefit navigation affected by MassHealth or Medicaid eligibility changes, and organizational structural changes for sustainability. Eligible applicants: Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax status or a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.; Applicants must provide services in Essex County.; Priority is reserved for organizations based within Essex County.; Funding prioritizes organizations that have not yet received Community Response Fund funding in 2026.; Reviewers prioritize clearly defined acute or near-term needs stemming from or exacerbated by recent changes in federal funding or policy.; Reviewers consider potential impact on Essex County communities, demonstrated equity and inclusion, and a history of sound financial management.; Stand-alone programs applying through a fiscal agent may be eligible when the agent primarily provides 501(c)(3) status, the program has a separate budget and raises its own funds, and a letter of agreement or understanding exists with the umbrella organization; a small amount of administrative support does not disqualify the program.; Grants will not be awarded to individuals.; Grants will not be awarded for sectarian or religious purposes; religious organizations may apply when enrollment is open to all and the program has no mandatory religious instruction, worship, or other sectarian activities.; Grants will not be awarded for political purposes.; Grants will not be awarded for debt or deficit reduction.; Grants will not be awarded for large-scale capital campaigns for buildings, land acquisition, or endowment.; Review the program guidelines before applying.; Organizations must register before beginning the grant process and use an organizational email login and password for all grant submissions.; Proposals must be submitted through ECCF's Application Portal.; Download, complete, and upload ECCF's Project Budget Template.; Award recipients are asked to complete a Grant Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Terms and publicize the grant.; There will be no formal site visits.; General operating support grantees have no formal reporting requirement, but ECCF staff will contact them to learn how the funds helped their community.; Structural support grantees must submit a brief final report.. Geography served: Essex County. Deadline: Application Closing November 20.

Collaborative digital equity projects addressing devices, access, literacy, and collaboration. Published grant range: "$25*- 50K (1 year grant)"; returning grantees are requested to cap requests at $25K. Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit organizations recognized as tax exempt, or organizations with fiscal sponsorship under section 501(c)(3), are eligible.; Proposals must be collaborative projects with at least one other partner.; Funding prioritizes devices, access, literacy, and collaboration; integrated systems-based projects are highly encouraged.; Returning grantees are requested to cap requests at $25K.; Organizations should use all reasonable efforts to recruit, hire, train, promote, and serve without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other legally protected characteristics, except bona fide qualifications related to the service and organizational mission.; Generally, grants are not awarded to individuals.; Generally, grants are not awarded to state or local government agencies, including public schools.; Generally, grants are not awarded for political purposes.; Generally, grants are not awarded for debt or deficit reduction.; Generally, grants are not awarded to replace public funding or for purposes generally considered a public-sector responsibility.; Generally, grants are not awarded for academic research.; Generally, grants are not awarded for travel outside the region.; Generally, grants are not awarded to organizations headquartered outside Essex County unless they have a physical presence in the Merrimack Valley.; Selection considers understanding of the ecosystem and partners' shared goal, a strong team and leadership succession, a clearly understood audience, and quantified impact.; Selection also considers impact per contribution dollar and potential continuation or impact beyond the grant period.; Applicants may be asked for additional information or a site visit during review.; Review the program guidelines before applying.; Organizations must register before beginning the grant process and use an organizational email login and password for all grant submissions.; Proposals must be submitted through ECCF's Application Portal.; Download, complete, and upload ECCF's Project Budget Template.; Award recipients are asked to complete a Grant Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Terms and publicize the grant.; Quarterly check-in meetings will support partnership projects and the digital equity ecosystem.; Interim reports must be submitted through the Application Portal before the mid-year check-in meeting.; Final reports must be submitted through the Application Portal before the end-of-year check-in meeting.; Funded lead applicants and partners must become members of the digital equity coalition if they are not already members.. Geography served: Essex County. Deadline: CLOSING December 1.