Boston College Trustees - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Approximately $75,000-100,000 through Community Fund; additional NIF grants variable
Success Rate: Approximately 80-85% (based on recent cycles)
Decision Time: 4-6 weeks after deadline
Grant Range: $3,000 (Community Fund) to $250,000 (Neighborhood Improvement Fund)
Geographic Focus: Allston-Brighton neighborhoods (Boston, MA)

Contact Details

Boston College Neighborhood Center

Email: bcneighborhoodcenter@gmail.com
Community Fund Contacts: Anabela Gomes (bela@mail.com) or Jeanne Levesque (jeanne.levesque@bc.edu)
Website: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/sites/neighborhood-center/community-programs.html

Office of Governmental & Community Affairs

Programs Website: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/offices/office-of-governmental-community-affairs/programs.html

Overview

Boston College Trustees is the governing body of Boston College, a Jesuit, Catholic university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, founded in 1863. As part of its commitment to community engagement and Jesuit values of service to others, the university operates grant programs specifically designed to support organizations and initiatives in the neighboring Allston-Brighton communities. These programs reflect the university's mission "to learn, to search for truth, and to live in service to others." The primary grant-making vehicles are the Allston Brighton/Boston College Community Fund, established to support local programs and services with grants of $3,000, and the Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF), a $2.564 million fund established in 2015 to support public realm improvements. The university has total assets exceeding $5 billion and annual revenues of approximately $1.6 billion. President William P. Leahy, S.J., leads the institution, which is governed by a Board of Trustees of 52 members, predominantly comprised of business and finance leaders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Allston Brighton/Boston College Community Fund

Amount: $3,000 per award
Frequency: Twice yearly (Fall and Spring cycles)
Application Method: Online application form with specific deadlines
Total Annual Distribution: Approximately $75,000-80,000 annually
Recent Statistics: Fall 2024 distributed $35,554 to 13 organizations; Spring 2025 distributed $42,178 to 18 organizations

Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF)

Total Fund: $2,564,000 (established 2015 as part of Institutional Master Plan)
Grant Range: Variable; recent awards from $24,825 to $250,000
Application Method: Proposal submission with demonstration of broad community support
Focus: Capital improvements to public realm
2023 Awards: $274,825 distributed to multiple projects

Priority Areas

Community Fund Priorities:

Programs benefiting youth in Allston-Brighton
Services for senior citizens
Support for economically disadvantaged residents
Neighborhood beautification projects
Holiday programs and community celebrations
Educational enrichment programs
Food security and basic needs assistance
Community safety initiatives

Neighborhood Improvement Fund Priorities:

Public parks and open space improvements
Neighborhood beautification
Transportation and roadway improvements
Public safety projects
Public art installations
Projects enhancing the public realm

Geographic Priority: Strong preference for areas closest to Boston College campus, including Lake Street, Foster Street, Cleveland Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, and Brighton Center.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside of Allston-Brighton neighborhoods
Individual requests (programs must serve the broader community)
Fully funded programs (grants intended to supplement existing budgets)
Private property improvements (NIF restricted to public realm)
Multiple grants to same organization within same year

Governance and Leadership

University Leadership

President: William P. Leahy, S.J. - 25th President of Boston College

Provost: David Quigley - Oversees academic life and faculty

Board of Trustees

The Board consists of 52 members, with approximately 35% working in finance, 35% in business, and others representing nonprofits, academia, law, and the Society of Jesus.

Notable Trustees include:

Robert B. Ford '94 - Chairman and CEO, Abbott Laboratories
René F. Jones '86 - Chairman and CEO, M&T Bank
Philip W. Schiller '82 - Apple Fellow, Apple Computer, Inc.
Mark C. Reed - President, Loyola University Chicago
Yolanda Lyle - Pfizer executive

Governance Philosophy: As stated in the Board of Regents description, the university is "rooted in the ideals of Jesuit higher education and the mission of Boston College," emphasizing the value of the university in the world today and service to the broader community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Allston Brighton/Boston College Community Fund:

Access Application: Visit the Boston College Neighborhood Center website during application periods
Submit Online Form: Complete the online application form with project details
Application Windows: Fall cycle (due early December) and Spring cycle (due early May)
Required Information:
- Organization details and contact information
- Project description
- Community benefit statement
- Budget information
- Demonstration that organization is based in Allston-Brighton

Neighborhood Improvement Fund:

Contact: Reach out to Anabela Gomes or Jeanne Levesque to discuss project concept
Demonstrate Support: Gather and document broad community support for the project
Submit Proposal: Submit detailed proposal including project scope, budget, and community benefit
Review Process: Projects evaluated for public realm impact and community support

Decision Timeline

Community Fund:

Deadline: Typically first week of December (Fall) and early May (Spring)
Review Period: 4-6 weeks
Notification: Winners announced approximately 6-8 weeks after deadline
Award Distribution: Shortly after announcement

Neighborhood Improvement Fund:

Timeline varies by project scope
More extensive review process due to larger grant amounts
Requires demonstration of community support as part of review

Success Rates

Based on recent cycles, success rates are relatively high:

Fall 2024: 13 organizations funded (estimated 15-20 applications, ~70-85% success rate)
Spring 2025: 18 organizations funded (estimated 20-25 applications, ~70-85% success rate)
Fall 2023: 12 organizations funded
Spring 2023: 15 organizations funded

The Community Fund appears to fund the majority of eligible applications that meet the geographic and mission requirements, suggesting a relatively accessible funding opportunity for qualifying organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply in both Fall and Spring cycles
Restriction: Only one grant per organization per year will be awarded
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent cycles
Previous recipients are eligible to reapply in future years (after the one-year restriction period)

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of funded projects and program priorities:

Strong Alignment with Jesuit Values: Projects that demonstrate service to vulnerable populations (youth, seniors, economically disadvantaged) align with Boston College's Jesuit mission. As the university states, it is "rooted in a world view that calls us to learn, to search for truth, and to live in service to others."

Clear Community Benefit: Successful applications clearly articulate how programs and services are "available to the people of Allston and Brighton" and serve community members' needs.

Types of Projects That Succeed:

Holiday programs and celebrations (Allston Village Holiday Lights, Shop with a Cop, Holiday Gift Drives)
Youth development and education (Swim Lesson Enrichment, Youth Leadership Development, tutoring programs)
Basic needs assistance (Diaper Pantry, food programs, immigrant support)
Community beautification and public realm improvements (bike racks, park restoration, holiday lights)
Cultural and recreational programs (youth hockey, rowing programs, community events)

Budget Supplementation Focus: The program explicitly seeks "to supplement existing budgets of established organizations and agencies in order to promote a program or service for which financial support is not otherwise available." Applications should clearly show how the $3,000 grant fills a specific gap.

Geographic Requirement: Being based in Allston-Brighton is essential. Organizations must demonstrate they are located in and serve these specific neighborhoods.

Broad Community Support (for NIF): Larger Neighborhood Improvement Fund grants require applicants to "garner and demonstrate broad community support" as part of the application and review process.

Established Organizations Preferred: While independent groups may apply, the program shows preference for "established organizations and agencies" with track records in the community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic restriction is absolute: Your organization must be based in Allston-Brighton neighborhoods to be eligible; this is not negotiable
The $3,000 amount is fixed: All Community Fund grants are exactly $3,000; don't propose projects requiring more funding without other sources identified
One grant per year maximum: Plan strategically about which cycle (Fall or Spring) best aligns with your project timeline since you can only receive one award per year
Emphasize vulnerable populations: Projects serving youth, seniors, or economically disadvantaged residents receive special consideration per the program guidelines
Supplement, don't replace: Frame your grant request as supplementing existing work where other funding is unavailable, not replacing current funding sources
High success rates make this accessible: With 70-85% estimated success rates, this is a relatively accessible funding source for qualifying Allston-Brighton organizations
For larger projects, explore NIF: If your project involves public realm improvements and you can demonstrate broad community support, the Neighborhood Improvement Fund offers grants up to $250,000
Jesuit values matter: Connection to BC's mission of service, justice, and community engagement strengthens applications

References

Boston College Neighborhood Center - Community Programs. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/sites/neighborhood-center/community-programs.html (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College Office of Governmental & Community Affairs - Programs & Services. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/offices/office-of-governmental-community-affairs/programs.html (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College - Mission & History. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/about/mission.html (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College - Board of Trustees & Leadership. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/about/trustees.html (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College - Fall 2024 Grant Winners. https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/sites/neighborhood-center/about/news/fall-2020-grant-winners.html (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College - Jesuit, Catholic Mission. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/jesuit-catholic.html (Accessed November 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Boston College Trustees (EIN: 04-2103545). https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42103545 (Accessed November 2025)
Boston College NIF Grant 2023 (PDF). https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/bc1/offices/govt-comm-aff/pdfs/Boston College NIF Grant 2023.pdf (Accessed November 2025)