Philanthropy Massachusetts Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,100,000+ (2023, through Summer Fund)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 3-4 months (February LOI to June awards)
Grant Range: $7,500 - $40,000 per site
Geographic Focus: Greater Boston (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea)
Focus Area: Summer programs for underserved youth ages 6-18

Contact Details

Address: 133 Federal Street, Suite 802, Boston, MA 02110

Phone: 617.426.2606

General Email: info@philanthropyma.org

Summer Fund Email: summerfund@philanthropyma.org

Website: https://philanthropyma.org

Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm; Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm

Overview

Philanthropy Massachusetts (formerly Associated Grant Makers), founded in 1969, is the only regional association of grant makers serving Massachusetts and surrounding areas. While primarily a membership organization for foundation staff, trustees, corporate grant makers, donors, and philanthropic advisory services, the organization directly operates the Summer Fund, a donor collaborative established in 1971 that makes grants to summer camps and enrichment programs. Since 1971, the Summer Fund has provided more than $40 million in resources to build, sustain, and strengthen quality summer programming for underserved youth throughout Greater Boston. In 2023, the Summer Fund distributed over $1,100,000 through its three grant-making initiatives, benefitting more than 12,000 youth at dozens of sites. The organization also provides fiscal sponsorship for other collaborative funds, including the Massachusetts Early Childhood Funder Collaborative and the Massachusetts Community Foundation Partnership. Philanthropy Massachusetts earned a 4-star rating (95% score) from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Operating Grants (Primary program)

First-year recipients: Maximum $7,500 per site
Current grantees: Up to $40,000 per site (not exceeding 25% of camp operating budget, or 30% for multi-site programs)
Funds support day-to-day operations including staffing, field trips, transportation, and supplies
Application: Annual LOI process (typically February), followed by full application (typically April)

Mental Health Grant Program

Funds on-site clinical staff, mental health-focused training and curriculum development, and resources to support staff well-being
Created in response to the youth mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic
Grant amounts not specified separately; integrated with General Operating Grants
First-year recipients may apply for Mental Health funding alongside General Operating funds
Application: Same annual process as General Operating Grants

Homeless Campership Fund

Provides vouchers allocated to shelters and camps to subsidize camp fees for youth experiencing homelessness
Voucher-based system rather than direct cash grants to organizations
First-year recipients may request Homeless Campership Fund slots
Application: Case-by-case review within annual application process

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus:

Youth (ages 6-18) primarily from Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea
Strong presence in underserved and under-resourced communities
Resources distributed commensurate with observed levels of youth poverty and need within catchment area

Program Characteristics:

Summer camps and enrichment programs (not summer school)
Programs offering financial aid through scholarships, sliding scales, or free programming
Organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Programs meeting Massachusetts Department of Public Health standards
At least two days of staff training before camp starts
Experiential learning opportunities tailored to community needs
Programs designed to meet unique education, nutrition, health, childcare, workforce, and disability needs

Community Engagement:

Demonstrated commitment to engaging with Summer Fund trainings and knowledge-sharing opportunities
Participation in strategic grant-making initiatives
Active involvement in the Summer Fund network

What They Don't Fund

Capital improvements or capital expenses
Summer school programs
Individual applicants (only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations)
Programs outside the Greater Boston service area (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea)
Programs with mandatory religious activities (religious organizations may apply if programming is open to all and free of required religious participation)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Mary Skelton Roberts, Chief Executive Officer (appointed May 2024)

Former President of the Climate Beacon Conference and Senior Vice President of the U.S. Energy Foundation
Previously co-director of Barr Foundation's climate team (2009-2021)
Master's in City Planning from MIT with concentrations in consensus-building and environmental policy
Mediation and facilitation accreditations from Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation and the Center for Dispute Resolution in London
Appointed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to serve on the MBTA board of directors (2023)
Described as "an experienced philanthropy leader with a long track record of developing multi-sector collaborations, public-private partnerships, and strategic communications throughout Massachusetts aimed at achieving policy change"

Board of Directors

Board Chair: Prentice Zinn, Director and Principal at GMA Foundations

New Board Members (elected October 2024, three-year terms expiring 2027):

Andrea Borowiecki, Vice President of Charitable Giving and Community Engagement, Rockland Trust
Megan Burke, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Western MA
Javier Juarez, Director of the Latino Equity Fund at The Boston Foundation
Tracy Sawicki, Executive Director of the Tower Foundation

Re-elected Directors:

Karen Gill, Director of Finance and Operations, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (one-year term)
Robert Zaccardi, Senior Vice President, BNY Mellon Wealth Management (one-year term)
Ali Mathias, Head of Community Responsibility Strategy & Vice President, MassMutual Foundation (three-year term through 2027)

Summer Fund Governance

Governed by an Advisory Committee
Proposals reviewed by Summer Fund Advisory Committee members and Summer Fund staff
Geeta Pradhan, President & CEO of Cambridge Community Foundation, served as a Summer Fund Advisory Committee member

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Letter of Intent (LOI) Phase (Typically early February)

First step in the annual application process
LOI submission period typically opens in January and closes in early February
Organizations should sign up for the Summer Fund mailing list for announcements
Contact summerfund@philanthropyma.org with questions before submitting LOI

Site Visit/Meeting Phase (Typically March)

Prospective grantees who submit qualified LOIs meet with Summer Fund staff
Meetings discuss program details and the youth served
Opportunity to clarify questions and strengthen full applications

Full Application Phase (Typically April)

Organizations that successfully complete LOI and site visit stages are invited to submit full applications
Submitted via online portal (link provided when application period opens)
First-year recipients can request funding from multiple programs (General Operating, Mental Health, Homeless Campership)

Review Process

Proposals reviewed by Summer Fund Advisory Committee and staff
Applications evaluated on three main criteria: response to community need, program design, and network engagement

Decision Timeline

LOI submission: Early February
Site visits/meetings: March
Full application deadline: Mid-April
Grant awards announced: May
Grant disbursement: June (contingent on funding goals being met)
Total timeline: Approximately 4 months from LOI to award announcement

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The Summer Fund notes it supports "dozens of sites" in Greater Boston and benefitted more than 12,000 youth in 2023.

Reapplication Policy

Current grantees are eligible to reapply annually and may request up to $40,000 per site (significantly higher than the $7,500 maximum for first-year recipients). The increased funding ceiling for returning grantees suggests the Summer Fund values long-term relationships and rewards organizations that demonstrate strong program outcomes and network engagement.

Application Success Factors

1. Demonstrated Presence in Underserved Communities

The Summer Fund gives explicit priority to organizations with a demonstrated presence in underserved and under-resourced communities. Grant resources are distributed in alignment with observed levels of youth poverty and need within Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea. Applications should clearly articulate the community served, provide demographic data about participants, and demonstrate deep understanding of local needs.

2. Program Design Tailored to Community Needs

The most competitive applications feature programs designed to meet the unique education, nutrition, health, childcare, workforce, and disability needs of their respective communities. Rather than generic programming, the Summer Fund seeks experiential learning opportunities specifically tailored to address the challenges and opportunities facing the youth served. Applications should connect program activities directly to identified community needs.

3. Network Engagement and Collaboration

The Summer Fund prioritizes applicants that demonstrate commitment to engaging with Summer Fund trainings, knowledge-sharing opportunities, and strategic grant-making initiatives. Organizations that actively participate in the Summer Fund network and contribute to collective learning are viewed more favorably. This suggests applicants should attend Summer Fund events, participate in professional development offerings, and engage with the broader community of summer program providers even before applying.

4. Financial Accessibility

Programs must offer financial aid through scholarships, sliding scales, or free programming. The Summer Fund prioritizes ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent youth from underserved communities from accessing high-quality summer experiences. Applications should clearly detail financial aid policies and demonstrate how they ensure accessibility.

5. Staff Training and Quality Standards

Programs must provide at least two days of staff training before camp begins and meet Massachusetts Department of Public Health standards. These requirements reflect the Summer Fund's commitment to quality programming and youth safety. Applications should demonstrate robust staff development systems and compliance with state regulations.

6. Focus on Operational Sustainability

General Operating Grants are designed to help smaller, newer nonprofits fund day-to-day operations and expenses. The Summer Fund recognizes that operational support is critical for organizational sustainability. Applications should clearly articulate how grant funds will support core operations rather than special projects, and first-year applicants should demonstrate how $7,500 will make a meaningful impact on their operating budget.

7. Mental Health Integration

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer Fund has emphasized mental health support through dedicated grant funding for on-site clinical staff, mental health-focused training and curriculum development, and staff well-being resources. Applications that thoughtfully integrate mental health considerations into program design and staff support may be particularly competitive, especially for organizations applying to the Mental Health Grant Program.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic specificity matters: Only programs primarily serving youth from Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea are eligible. Clearly demonstrate that your program serves youth from these specific communities.
Start small and grow: First-year recipients are capped at $7,500 per site, while current grantees can receive up to $40,000. The Summer Fund rewards long-term relationships, so view the first grant as an entry point to a potentially multi-year funding partnership.
Engage before applying: Attend Summer Fund trainings, knowledge-sharing sessions, and networking events before submitting an LOI. Network engagement is one of three primary evaluation criteria.
Emphasize community presence: The Summer Fund explicitly prioritizes organizations with demonstrated presence in underserved communities. Provide specific evidence of your organization's roots in the community you serve.
Connect program design to needs: Generic summer camp descriptions won't be competitive. Clearly articulate how your program design responds to the specific education, nutrition, health, childcare, workforce, and disability needs of your community.
Plan for the site visit: Organizations that submit qualified LOIs meet with Summer Fund staff in March. Prepare to discuss program details, youth demographics, community needs, and how your organization engages with the Summer Fund network.
Apply to multiple programs strategically: First-year recipients can request funding from multiple programs (General Operating, Mental Health, Homeless Campership). Consider whether your program aligns with multiple funding streams, but be realistic about your capacity to implement specialized initiatives like mental health programming or homeless youth services.

References

Philanthropy Massachusetts website - About page. https://philanthropyma.org/about/ (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Summer Fund main page. https://philanthropyma.org/summer-fund/ (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Summer Fund Criteria. https://philanthropyma.org/summer-fund/criteria/ (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Summer Fund Forms. https://philanthropyma.org/summer-fund/forms/ (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Funder Collaboratives. https://philanthropyma.org/Funder-Collaboratives (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Contact page. https://philanthropyma.org/contact/ (Accessed January 2025)
Charity Navigator - Rating for Philanthropy Massachusetts Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/042457605 (Accessed January 2025)
Cause IQ - Philanthropy Massachusetts profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/associated-grant-makers,042457605/ (Accessed January 2025)
Massachusetts Nonprofit Network - "Philanthropy Massachusetts hires Mary Skelton Roberts as its new CEO" (May 2024). https://www.massnonprofit.org/news/philanthropy-massachusetts-hires-mary-skelton-roberts-as-its-new-ceo/article_3f25ce06-071a-11ef-b3a4-23e0df38561e.html (Accessed January 2025)
Massachusetts Nonprofit Network - "Philanthropy Massachusetts elects four new board members" (October 2024). https://www.massnonprofit.org/expert_advice/boards_governance/philanthropy-massachusetts-elects-four-new-board-members/article_2fc12510-962a-11ef-85e4-07b0fbec1c25.html (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - "The Summer Fund Receives $570,000 Multi-Year Grant to Support Homeless Campership Initiative from Liberty Mutual Foundation." https://philanthropyma.org/in-philanthropy/summer-fund-receives-570000-multi-year-grant-support-homeless-campership-initiative (Accessed January 2025)
Instrumentl - Summer Fund Grant profile. https://www.instrumentl.com/grants/summer-fund-grant (Accessed January 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Philanthropy Massachusetts Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42457605 (Accessed January 2025)
Philanthropy Massachusetts - Board page. https://philanthropyma.org/about/board/ (Accessed January 2025)