Celebrating 25 Years of Community Service & Financial Support 

GLCF gathered in September to honor the service of founders and board members who completed ten or more years of service to the foundation. Collectively, the individuals honored represented 186 years of service to GLCF. Honorees: Rear row (l-r) – Dr. James N. Reichheld, John Duke (on behalf of Winslow), Jay Linnehan, Steven Joncas, Atty. Annmarie Roark, James C. Shannon III, CPA, Mr. Brian J. Stafford CPA, MST, Jacqueline F. Moloney Ed.D., and John P. Chemaly. Front row (l-r) – James F. Conway III, Nancy Donahue (on behalf of Richard), and George L. Duncan.

Lowell, MA – For 25 years, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has managed the charitable donations of hundreds of local donors to make a positive and enduring impact on life in Greater Lowell.

Founded in 1997 to “channel collective community investments for continuous community good,” GLCF has grown from an initial endowment of $50,000 to almost $60 million as we rolled into our 25th year.

Now celebrating our Silver Anniversary, GLCF was initially set up to benefit the people, institutions and communities of Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro and Westford. Since then, its service area has since grown to include a total of 21 neighboring cities and towns

According to George Duncan, a GLCF founder, the original concept of the Foundation was to bring Lowell-area assets back home to build better and stronger local communities. “Lowell has needed and deserved a community foundation for 150 years,” said Duncan at the time. “We’ve watched the money earned here go to build other cities like Boston — now it’s our turn.”

Over the years, what started as a modest pool of charitable assets, has grown in size and scope. In 1997, the Foundation’s initial 47 charitable funds awarded $65,000 in scholarships and gave away $152,000 in grants.

In 2022, GLCF manages and administers over 400 charitable funds, distributed more than $500,000 in scholarships to area students, and awarded more than $4.4 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations. 

“For the past quarter-century, this Foundation has supported and helped our neighbors,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “We are grateful and fortunate that so many generous donors and community leaders have stepped up to collectively contribute their time, expertise and resources to enable GLCF to assist those in need.”

GLCF continues to focus on and provide financial support to address key civic and social issues, including racial equity, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, waterways vitality, and arts and culture.

Over the past 20 months, the Foundation has granted more than $5 million to battle the humanitarian distress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. And it plans to distribute at least another $2 million more in the coming months.

“Since 1997, GLCF has brought people together to explore important issues and collectively find solutions to communal problems,” said Linnehan. “We are proud to continue our mission to enrich community capital, empower nonprofit organizations, strengthen our connections to each other, and come up with innovative solutions to the challenges facing Greater Lowell.”

To learn more about GLCF, 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 almost $60 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 $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###