Essex County Community Foundation

About Essex County Community Foundation

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.

What Essex County Community Foundation Funds

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.

How Essex County Community Foundation Gives