Essex County Community Foundation stands with our community, sparking generosity and collaboration to address our greatest needs and unlock opportunities for all – today and tomorrow.
A defining feature of Essex County Community Foundation Inc is its mix of community grantmaking and donor-advised fund services, paired with competitive programs that reach from arts leadership to racial equity, scholarships, and essential needs. The foundation’s recent grants show a broad local portfolio: health and mental health, education and youth development, community life and economic development, and support for municipal and nonprofit partners across the region. Among the larger recent awards are $1,055,000 to Mass General Hospital for health and mental health and $440,732 to The Community Group Inc in Lawrence for education and youth development. The foundation also uses specialized funds to target particular communities and needs. Its Women’s Fund of Essex County supports women and girls, while the Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund backs organizations and networks rooted in communities most affected by inequity and injustice. Creative County programs extend this approach into the arts, including grants for individual artists and leadership development for creative leaders in Essex County. Scholarships are another clear part of the portfolio, alongside capacity-building and nonprofit resources that support local organizations beyond a single project grant.
Education and youth development appear through both scholarships and direct program support. Essex County Community Foundation Inc gave $400,000 to Malden Catholic High School for education and youth development, and $255,500 to Youth Development Organization in Lawrence for the same broad area. Community and economic development is another consistent thread. The foundation awarded $371,900 to Greater Lawrence Community Action Council Inc for community life and economic development, and $420,000 to Lowell Community Loan Fund Inc in Lawrence, showing interest in local infrastructure and neighborhood-level capacity. Arts and culture receive dedicated support through Creative County programs. A $221,025 grant to St John's Preparatory School in Danvers was tagged for education and youth development, while other arts-focused programs in the foundation’s active portfolio include the Creative County Changemakers initiative and the ALAANA Artist Grant. Health-related grantmaking is also visible in a $453,500 award to Northeast Arc Inc for health and mental health.
$27.9M
$150.5M
$24.7M
$18.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $56K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$56K
STRATTON C LLOYD
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Typical grants cluster around a median of $20,000, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $55,750. The recent grant list also includes substantially larger awards, indicating a portfolio that combines smaller competitive grants with major institutional support. The foundation is a mixed community foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. The recipient list shows repeated support for some organizations over multiple years, including City of Salem, Groundwork Lawrence, Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, and St John's Preparatory School, suggesting ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. Active programs also show that some opportunities are open to unsolicited applications, including the Women’s Fund of Essex County, Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, Creative County Changemakers, the ALAANA Artist Grant, the Last Mile Fund, student scholarships, the Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grant, and the Greater Lawrence Community Fund.
Giving is overwhelmingly Massachusetts-centered: 83% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The broad geographic footprint still clusters locally, with Lawrence appearing repeatedly through recipients such as Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, The Community Group Inc, and Groundwork Lawrence. Salem, North Andover, Danvers, and Andover also appear multiple times in the recent grants list, along with recipients in Boston, Lowell, Malden, Haverhill, and Gloucester. The grant recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation supports a multi-sector portfolio that includes education and youth development, behavioral health and mental health, environmental resilience, housing stability and food security, community economic development, arts and culture, and civic rights and human rights advocacy. It also runs scholarship, equity, and creative-sector programs.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $55,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes larger awards, such as seven-figure and mid-six-figure grants.
Several active programs do accept unsolicited applications, including the Women’s Fund of Essex County, Greater Lawrence Summer Fund, Creative County Changemakers, the ALAANA Artist Grant, the Last Mile Fund, student scholarships, the Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grant, and the Greater Lawrence Community Fund. The Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund does not.
Its grantmaking is local, and 83% of grants go to recipients in Massachusetts. In the recent grants list, Lawrence appears especially often, alongside Salem, North Andover, Danvers, Andover, Boston, Lowell, Malden, Haverhill, and Gloucester.
Named focus areas in its active programs include women and girls, youth development and summer programming, racial equity and social justice, arts and culture, creative leadership, digital equity, and essential needs. Student scholarships are also a clear part of the portfolio.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Essex County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit staff, grant writers, fundholders, foundation staff and development consultants serving Essex County; access is complimentary but requires submitting a request form to schedule remote access.
Who can apply: Organizations serving youth in Lawrence, Methuen and Andover, Massachusetts.
Deadline: Opens April 1; closes May 1.
Who can apply: Organizations serving Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, and Methuen.
Deadline: Opens September
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $1,055,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| ROOT NS INC | SALEM, MA | $576,250 | 2025 | OTHER |
| CITY OF SALEM | SALEM, MA | $561,569 | 2025 | OTHER |
| NORTHEAST ARC INC | DANVERS, MA | $453,500 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| THE COMMUNITY GROUP INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $440,732 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF SALEM | SALEM, MA | $418,361 | 2025 | OTHER |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | NEWTON, MA | $416,275 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| THE COMMUNITY GROUP INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $409,393 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MALDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | MALDEN, MA | $400,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | NEWTON, MA | $382,200 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL | HATHORNE, MA | $377,300 | 2025 | OTHER |
| GREATER LAWRENCE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $371,900 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE | LAWRENCE, MA | $331,006 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WELLSPRING HOUSE INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $314,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| CAPE ANN MUSEUM INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $308,896 | 2025 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| BABSON COLLEGE | BABSON PARK, MA | $260,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION | LAWRENCE, MA | $255,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER | NORTH ANDOVER, MA | $250,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| GREATER LAWRENCE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $246,852 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE | LAWRENCE, MA | $246,193 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| LEADS INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $228,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| ST JOHN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL | DANVERS, MA | $221,025 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| YWCA OF NORTHEASTERN MA | LAWRENCE, MA | $209,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| BOSTON MEDFLIGHT | BEDFORD, MA | $205,132 | 2025 | OTHER |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY | LAWRENCE, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MASSHIRE METRO NORTH WORKFORCE BOARD | SOMERVILLE, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| GREATER LAWRENCE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $197,318 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| ANDOVER COMMUNITY TRUST | ANDOVER, MA | $182,052 | 2025 | OTHER |
| ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL | HATHORNE, MA | $181,046 | 2025 | OTHER |
| HARVEY GIRLS INC | METHUEN, MA | $170,877 | 2025 | OTHER |
| NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | DANVERS, MA | $167,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ELIOT COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES INC | LEXINGTON, MA | $164,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM | SALEM, MA | $158,500 | 2025 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| FAMILY SERVICES OF THE MERRIMACK VALLEY | LAWRENCE, MA | $157,562 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| WELLSPRING HOUSE INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $156,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| GLOUCESTER LYCEUM AND SAWYER FREE LIBRARY | GLOUCESTER, MA | $155,500 | 2025 | OTHER |
| PHILLIPS ACADEMY | ANDOVER, MA | $150,250 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | DANVERS, MA | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| LAWRENCE COMMUNITY WORKS INC | LAWRENCE, MA | $149,952 | 2025 | COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| PINGREE SCHOOL INC | SOUTH HAMILTON, MA | $148,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| JEANNE GEIGER CRISIS CENTER | NEWBURYPORT, MA | $146,702 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| NORTH SHORE WORKERS COMMUNITY FUND INC DBA NEW LYNN COALITION | LYNN, MA | $143,875 | 2025 | OTHER |
| GREATER LAWRENCE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER INC | METHUEN, MA | $141,096 | 2025 | HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| HARVARD CORPORATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $141,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BAY STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES | QUINCY, MA | $140,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | HAVERHILL, MA | $140,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PINGREE SCHOOL INC | SOUTH HAMILTON, MA | $139,250 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HARVARD CORPORATION | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $139,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CITY OF HAVERHILL | HAVERHILL, MA | $138,012 | 2025 | OTHER |
CITY OF SALEM
$561,569OTHER
NORTHEAST ARC INC
$453,500HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH
CITY OF SALEM
$418,361OTHER
MALDEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$400,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL
$377,300OTHER
GREATER LAWRENCE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL INC
$371,900COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WELLSPRING HOUSE INC
$314,500COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER
$250,000OTHER
GREATER LAWRENCE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL INC
$246,852COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ST JOHN'S PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$221,025EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$200,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MASSHIRE METRO NORTH WORKFORCE BOARD
$200,000OTHER
ANDOVER COMMUNITY TRUST
$182,052OTHER
ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL
$181,046OTHER
HARVEY GIRLS INC
$170,877OTHER
PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM
$158,500ARTS AND CULTURE
WELLSPRING HOUSE INC
$156,000COMMUNITY LIFE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GLOUCESTER LYCEUM AND SAWYER FREE LIBRARY
$155,500OTHER
PINGREE SCHOOL INC
$148,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
NORTH SHORE WORKERS COMMUNITY FUND INC DBA NEW LYNN COALITION
$143,875OTHER
BAY STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES
$140,000OTHER
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$140,000EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PINGREE SCHOOL INC
$139,250EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF HAVERHILL
$138,012OTHER
