GLCF awards multi-year water resources grants

Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) Board Member and water quality scientist Hamed Majidzadeh tests various water quality parameters on the Merrimack River. MWRC was one of three nonprofits that received multi-year grant funding for GLCF’s Water Resources Initiative Grant.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) awarded $45,000 in grants to three local nonprofits for three-year $5,000/year GLCF Water Resources Initiative Grants. The GLCF Water Resources Initiative Grants for nonprofits that support water-resources projects, with a preference for organizations whose primary mission is to protect, improve and preserve the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord (SuAsCo) River, Merrimack River, or Nashua River watersheds.

“These multi-year grants fund incredible nonprofit organizations that protect our valuable area water resources. Water-related projects supported include biological conservation, habitat restoration, and clean-ups,” said GLCF President & CEO Jay Linnehan. “These grants are made possible from a 1998 grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to GLCF. The Foundation was able to create an endowed fund to protect the water resources in Greater Lowell.”

Among the grantees was the Merrimack River Watershed Council, who received a grant to support their Clean Water for Greater Lowell Program. “Through a multi-year commitment from GLCF, the Merrimack River Watershed Council will continue to grow our capacity to fill gaps in water quality data, analysis, and solutions in Greater Lowell,” said Matthew Thorne, executive director of Merrimack River Watershed Council. “Although the Merrimack River, which provides public drinking water for the City of Lowell, is much cleaner than when we began our work in the 1970s, we have significant challenges with contamination issues that are as critical as ever to address.”

2022-24 Water Resources Initiative Grants

The following nonprofit organizations received three-year $5,000/year funding:

  • Merrimack River Watershed Council (Lawrence) for Clean Water for Greater Lowell Program
  • Nashua River Watershed Association, Inc. (Groton) for Citizen-Supported Water Quality Monitoring, and Expanded Bacteria Sampling
  • OARS, Inc. (Concord) for Tracking down pollution to restore clean water in the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord River Watershed

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org. 

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 400 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $55 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $25 million to the Greater Lowell community. 

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