Grant Applications sought by November 30 for Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM) opened its 2020 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle on October 28, 2020. The foundations are seeking requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations supporting the advancement of community health of residents in thirteen communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford.

“This continues to be an impactful grant opportunity for our nonprofit community,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF president and CEO. “The grants address the changing health needs of the communities we serve – making them stronger, healthier and more vibrant.”  

Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $20,000; however, larger scale collaborative projects with requests exceeding $20,000 will be considered if the funding request is justified by the impact of the project. Only one submission per applicant will be considered.  Funding awards are made on a year to year basis.

Grant applications must be submitted by noon on November 30, 2020. Grant recipients will be announced in February. Application information is available on the GLCF website: www.glcfoundation.org/NVHCF.

“This year, we are especially interested in funding proposals that address systemic issues such as racism, addiction, food insecurity, obesity, mental health and other specific issues determined by community needs,” said Stephen Adams, CFNCM president.

Priority will be given to, but not limited to, proposals pertaining to:

• Racism as a public health crisis
• Prevention of health problems
• Access to healthcare
• Addiction
• Elder health
• Youth and adolescent health
• Mental health
• Health care service provision

Proposals should address efforts to build capacity (if applicable) and include a plan for sustainability of service or replacement funding to allow continuous service after the grant period. Collaboration with other organizations is encouraged. 

All proposals will be reviewed and considered for funding based on their ability to:

• Clearly demonstrate the impact of the grant on the community
• Meet well-defined and documented community needs
• Provide strategic and achievable goals that can be measured and reported within and or at the conclusion of the grant period
• Provide a clear project budget (statement of sources and uses of funds)
• Provide evidence of suitable measurement tools to adequately track outcomes, evaluations of change and/or return on investment

Proposals for the following will not be considered:

• Continuation of funding from a prior grant from this fund
• Multi-year grants
• Loans, capital campaigns, attempts to influence legislation and support where the Community Foundations may become the predominant long-term source of revenue
• Projects that do not directly benefit the geographic service area of the Fund

If you have questions about the grant cycle and application process, contact GLCF at 978-970-1600 or email jennifer@glcfoundation.org.