Northern Berkshire United Way unites people, resources, and member agencies to improve lives and build a stronger community by supporting health, education, and financial stability programs and providing safety-net services across Northern Berkshire County.
Northern Berkshire United Way Inc. centers its grantmaking on a network of about 20 local member agencies that deliver health, education, financial stability, and safety-net services across Northern Berkshire County. The recent record shows a steady pattern of annual support to the same community organizations, with one of the clearest examples being Child Care of the Berkshires in North Adams, which received $24,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $22,800 in 2025. Bfair in North Adams also appears across three consecutive years, at $21,430 in 2023 and 2024 and $20,450 in 2025. That repetition points to multi-year operating support rather than isolated project funding. The foundation’s local role is reinforced by its member-agency structure and by special grants for short-term community needs, which it uses alongside annual allocations. Its grantmaking reaches organizations serving families, low-income households, children, older adults, and people needing emergency safety-net services. Recent support also includes repeated awards to agencies in Pittsfield and Adams, showing that the countywide service network extends beyond the headquarters city.
A major theme in this funder’s work is child care and early childhood support. Child Care of the Berkshires in North Adams received $22,800 in 2025, following $24,000 awards in both 2023 and 2024. Youth development is another recurring area: Youth Center Inc. in Adams received $20,000 in 2023 and 2024, plus $19,000 in 2025. Health and aging services are also present in the recent record. Elder Services of the Berkshires in Pittsfield was awarded $20,054 in 2023 and 2024, then $19,000 in 2025. The foundation also supports safety-net and housing-related work, including Louison House in North Adams, which received $16,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $15,200 in 2025.
Grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a typical award of $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,200 at the median, and $19,000 at the 75th percentile. The pattern in the recent grants list suggests recurring support: several grantees appear in multiple years, including 2023, 2024, and 2025 awards to the same organizations. The foundation operates as a United Way and gives through member-agency allocations and special grants, including annual review-based funding for partner agencies. It also accepts unsolicited requests for some community needs and special grants, while member-agency funding is part of its ongoing allocations process.
$261K
$660K
$425K
$432K
Most grants fall between $10K and $19K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$19K
KELLY MCCARTHY
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Giving is highly local and overwhelmingly concentrated in Massachusetts, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. North Adams appears repeatedly, along with Adams and Pittsfield, and Williamstown is named in the foundation’s local funding geography. The recent grant list also includes organizations in Clarksburg, Savoy, Cheshire, and Florida, all in Massachusetts, showing county-level reach across Northern Berkshire. No non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the grant data.
It funds member agencies and local service providers working in health, education, financial stability, safety-net services, and short-term community needs. The active programs also specify support for community program support in Northern Berkshire County and nearby towns such as Adams, North Adams, and Williamstown.
The recent grants show recurring support to the same organizations across multiple years. Several grantees appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which indicates ongoing annual funding rather than isolated one-off awards.
Typical awards sit in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $15,200, and the 75th percentile is $19,000. Some special grants are smaller, at $0–$1,500.
Yes, for some programs. The Community Needs and Special Grants program accepts unsolicited requests, and one member-agency funding program entry also says it accepts unsolicited applications. Other member-agency allocation programs are tied to the annual review process for partner agencies.
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Massachusetts. The data show 96% of grants going to recipients in MA, with recurring awards to organizations in North Adams, Adams, and Pittsfield, plus other Northern Berkshire towns.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Northern Berkshire United Way that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicant must be an IRS-designated charitable organization; need not be a member agency. Projects must provide safety-net services for low-to-moderate income populations; previously unfunded projects given priority.
Deadline: Applications are offered once a year; 2026 applications are open. (Application typically posted in March)
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $23,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ELIZABETH FREEMAN CENTER | PITTSFIELD, MA | $21,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES | PITTSFIELD, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BFAIR | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $19,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ECU HEALTHCARE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $19,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| LOUISON HOUSE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $17,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY | PITTSFIELD, MA | $17,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| YOUTH CENTER INC | ADAMS, MA | $16,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $16,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $14,250 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES | ADAMS, MA | $13,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA | PITTSFIELD, MA | $11,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $11,400 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE COUNTY KIDS PLACE | PITTSFIELD, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR | PITTSFIELD, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| BRIEN CENTER MH & SA | PITTSFIELD, MA | $9,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| ROOTS TEEN CENTER | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $6,500 | 2026 | — |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL AID | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $6,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $22,800 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BFAIR | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $20,450 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| YOUTH CENTER INC | ADAMS, MA | $19,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| ECU HEALTHCARE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $19,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES | PITTSFIELD, MA | $19,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| ELIZABETH FREEMAN CENTER | PITTSFIELD, MA | $18,050 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY | PITTSFIELD, MA | $16,150 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA | PITTSFIELD, MA | $15,675 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| LOUISON HOUSE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $15,200 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $14,300 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $14,250 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES | ADAMS, MA | $13,800 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $11,400 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE COUNTY KIDS PLACE | PITTSFIELD, MA | $9,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR | PITTSFIELD, MA | $9,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BRIEN CENTER MH & SA | PITTSFIELD, MA | $8,550 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| 18 DEGREES | PITTSFIELD, MA | $7,600 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| OPERATION WARM INC | GLEN MILLS, PA | $5,118 | 2025 | — |
| CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $24,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BFAIR | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $21,430 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES | PITTSFIELD, MA | $20,054 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| YOUTH CENTER INC | ADAMS, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| ECU HEALTHCARE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $19,750 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| ELIZABETH FREEMAN CENTER | PITTSFIELD, MA | $19,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY | PITTSFIELD, MA | $17,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA | PITTSFIELD, MA | $16,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| LOUISON HOUSE | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $16,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $14,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL | NORTH ADAMS, MA | $12,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES | ADAMS, MA | $12,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR | PITTSFIELD, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES
$23,000SUPPORT
ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES
$20,000SUPPORT
BFAIR
$19,500SUPPORT
ECU HEALTHCARE
$19,000SUPPORT
SUPPORT
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
$17,000SUPPORT
YOUTH CENTER INC
$16,500SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT
$16,000SUPPORT
NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT
$14,250SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES
$13,500SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA
$11,500SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE COUNTY KIDS PLACE
$10,000SUPPORT
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR
$10,000SUPPORT
BRIEN CENTER MH & SA
$9,000SUPPORT
ROOTS TEEN CENTER
$6,500CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES
$22,800SUPPORT
BFAIR
$20,450SUPPORT
YOUTH CENTER INC
$19,000SUPPORT
ECU HEALTHCARE
$19,000SUPPORT
ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES
$19,000SUPPORT
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
$16,150SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA
$15,675SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT
$14,300SUPPORT
NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT
$14,250SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES
$13,800SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE COUNTY KIDS PLACE
$9,500SUPPORT
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR
$9,500SUPPORT
BRIEN CENTER MH & SA
$8,550SUPPORT
18 DEGREES
$7,600SUPPORT
CHILD CARE OF THE BERKSHIRES
$24,000SUPPORT
BFAIR
$21,430SUPPORT
ELDER SERVICES OF THE BERKSHIRES
$20,054SUPPORT
YOUTH CENTER INC
$20,000SUPPORT
ECU HEALTHCARE
$19,750SUPPORT
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY
$17,000SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FAMILY YMCA
$16,500SUPPORT
NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COALIT
$15,000SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE FOOD PROJECT
$14,000SUPPORT
BERKSHIRE NURSING FAMILIES
$12,000SUPPORT
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE BERKSHIR
$10,000SUPPORT
