Greater Worcester Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $10 million
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2.5-8 weeks from deadline to notification)
Grant Range: $2,500 - $25,000 (Community Grants); up to $10,000 (Nonprofit Effectiveness)
Geographic Focus: Worcester County, Massachusetts (60 cities and towns)
Total Assets: $200 million endowment

Contact Details

Email:

General inquiries: info@greaterworcester.org
Grant-related questions: grants@greaterworcester.org
Donor services: donorservices@greaterworcester.org

Phone: 508-755-0980

Address: 1 Mercantile St Ste 010, Worcester, MA 01608-3102

Pre-Application Support: Organizations should create an online account and contact a program officer at grants@greaterworcester.org to discuss ideas before applying. Program officers are happy to review materials, answer questions, and offer suggestions.

Overview

Founded in 1975, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF) has built a $200 million endowment composed of more than 600 named charitable funds and awarded over $167 million in grants since its founding. The Foundation serves the needs of residents across the 60 towns and cities that make up Worcester County, home to more than 850,000 people. GWCF's mission is "to enhance our community, now and in the future, through philanthropic leadership." The Foundation makes grants of approximately $10 million annually through a variety of funds that donors have created. Under the leadership of President and CEO Pete Dunn, who joined in August 2023 with nearly 30 years of community foundation experience, GWCF demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, community voice, and systems change. Recent strategic initiatives include a $1 million investment over three years to strengthen nonprofit capacity through their Nonprofit Support Center and a $1 million Worcester County Green Fund to advance local climate action efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grant Program - Project Support: $2,500 - $25,000 The signature funding opportunity awarding close to $2 million annually. Supports discrete projects or programming across five strategic focus areas. Applications submitted online with deadlines announced throughout the year.

Community Grant Program - Operating Support: Grant amounts vary based on organizational budget Provides valuable unrestricted dollars to help advance nonprofit missions. In recent years, 90 nonprofits received $1,295,200 for general operating support. Applications submitted online with separate deadlines from project support.

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Program: Up to $10,000 Supports nonprofits pursuing fresh perspectives on routine operations, including building internal capacity, navigating executive transitions or succession planning, and inclusive leadership development. Application opens March 1 with an April 15 deadline. In 2023, awarded more than $122,000 to 19 nonprofit organizations.

JMAC Access Grant Program: Amounts vary Provides cultural organizations and individual artists/creatives with resources to share their stories and programs openly with Central Massachusetts audiences. Funded by GWCF and the Barr Foundation ($400,000 over three years). Applications evaluated on whether the presenter has leadership from and/or programming that uplifts historically marginalized or underrepresented groups, such as the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Worcester County Green Fund: Grants vary by program Supports local climate action efforts throughout the region with $100,000 annually for five years, matched by GWCF for a total investment of $1 million. Current focus includes land trust capacity-building grants supporting strategic planning, volunteer management, leadership development, and scaling internal systems.

Priority Areas

Five Strategic Focus Areas:

Arts & Creativity: Supporting cultural organizations and creative programming that enriches community life
Basic Needs: Addressing fundamental needs such as food security, housing, and essential services
Economic Opportunity: Promoting financial stability, workforce development, and economic advancement
Health & Wellness: Improving physical and mental health outcomes for community members
Youth Development: Investing in programs that support young people's growth and success

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

Equity and inclusion, particularly programming that uplifts historically marginalized communities
Nonprofit capacity building and organizational sustainability
Environmental sustainability and climate resilience
Systems change and community collaboration

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly detailed in public materials, standard community foundation restrictions typically apply. Organizations should review full grant guidelines available on the website or contact program staff at grants@greaterworcester.org to confirm eligibility for specific projects.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Pete Dunn - Joined in August 2023 with nearly 30 years of experience in the community foundation field. Previously served as President and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation in Syracuse from 2008 through June 2023. On his vision: "I look forward to working with the board, staff and community partners to build on the Foundation's legacy of impact and develop innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of the Greater Worcester area." On the Foundation's role: "The Foundation's commitment to promoting philanthropy and supporting nonprofits is critical to building a strong and vibrant community."

Board Leadership

J. Christopher Collins - Board Chair, from Mirick O'Connell

Thomas J. Bartholomew - Treasurer, from Bartholomew & Co., Inc. (term expires 2027)

Leadership Team

Jonathan Cohen - Vice President of Community Impact
Kelly Stimson - Vice President of Philanthropic Services
Sandy Flynn - Vice President, Finance and Administration
Melody Maclean - Senior Director of Communications
Kaela Schmaus - Manager, Executive Operations

Board of Directors

The Board includes members such as Dennis F. Kerrigan, Esq., Michael P. Angelini, Warner S. Fletcher, Gerald M. Gates, Gerald L. Gaudette III, R. Joseph Salois, Peter H. Levine, MD, Ross K. Dik, Michael D. Brockelman, Sarah G. Berry, Sumner B. Tilton, Jr., Robert H. Wetzel, John Adam, Jr., and Ed Augustus Jr. Board of directors, corporators, and committee members are all volunteers and serve without compensation.

Corporators

Over 250 individuals from the business community, education, and the nonprofit sector serve the Foundation annually as corporators, acting as ambassadors applying their expertise, talent, and knowledge to help the Foundation grow its philanthropic impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted online through the Foundation's application portal. The first time an organization applies, it creates an organization account to use for each future application. Applications require organizations to upload narratives, budgets, audits, progress reports, board lists, and other attachments to the web portal.

Pre-Application Consultation Strongly Encouraged: Program officers want to ensure they put the best proposals in front of community reviewers. Organizations should contact a program officer at grants@greaterworcester.org to discuss ideas before applying. Staff are available to review materials, answer questions, and offer suggestions at any stage of the process.

Eligibility Requirements:

Organizations must be based in and exclusively or primarily serving Worcester County residents
Must have an authentic presence and connection to Worcester County (have local relationships, are engaged in local conversations, and/or are helping to change pressing local needs in this region)
Provide an unduplicated service in Worcester County and can demonstrate authentic partnerships and relationships with local stakeholders
Organizations should be in good financial standing with an intact governance structure

Decision Timeline

Timelines vary by grant program. Applications undergo a fair and thorough review by Foundation staff and community volunteers, with applicants notified at each step regardless of outcome.

Example Timeline (JMAC Access Grant Program):

LOI Form Submission deadline: December 1
Notification if moving to Phase 2: December 19 (approximately 2.5 weeks)

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Program:

Application opens: March 1
Application deadline: April 15
Decision timeline: Not specified publicly

Community Grant Programs:

Deadlines announced throughout the year
Specific timelines vary by funding cycle

Note: For Donor-Advised Fund grants (different from competitive grants), grants are processed and paid within two weeks.

Success Rates

Specific success rates for competitive grant programs are not publicly available. However, recent grant announcements provide context:

In 2024, the Foundation awarded $1.17 million through 100 project grants
In 2024, 90 nonprofits received $1,295,200 for general operating support
The Community Grant Program awards close to $2 million annually across all funding categories
Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants: 19 organizations received awards in 2023

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not publicly specify a formal reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. However, the Foundation emphasizes that program staff are available for follow-up conversations to share themes and feedback on how an application fared through the process. Organizations considering reapplication should contact program staff at grants@greaterworcester.org to discuss feedback and future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Guidance from the Foundation

Consider Your Audience: "Assume the community reviewers are not familiar with your organization and include important and descriptive information and avoid industry jargon."

Paint A Picture: "Create a compelling narrative that tells your organizational story using a variety of numbers, details and storytelling techniques. Lead reviewers along a story that clearly states how you are the right organization to deliver your stated impact."

Proofread for Clarity: "Consider having someone from outside your organization review your application for clarity, typos, jargon, and acronyms. Additionally, GWCF program team are also happy to review your application before submitting."

Budget Guidance: "Include the trust costs and ask for what you need. GWCF does not have an overhead cap and seeks to support all aspects of the work. Overshare where possible and be specific about expenses."

Leverage Staff Support: "Program Officers want to ensure we put the best proposals in front of our community reviewers, so we are always happy to discuss your proposals, review materials, answer questions and offer suggestions."

Alignment with Foundation Priorities

Applications are evaluated based on alignment with one of the five strategic focus areas: Arts & Creativity, Basic Needs, Economic Opportunity, Health & Wellness, and Youth Development. Strong applications demonstrate:

Authentic connection to Worcester County and local relationships
Commitment to equity and serving historically marginalized communities
Unduplicated services or collaborative approaches that address community needs
Clear articulation of impact and organizational capacity to deliver results
Financial stability and strong governance

For programs like the JMAC Access Grant, applications are specifically evaluated on whether the presenter has leadership from and/or programming that uplifts historically marginalized or underrepresented groups.

Recent Funding Examples

2024 Community Grants: 100 nonprofits received project grants totaling $1.17 million, with 90 organizations receiving $1.295 million for operating support

2025 Green Fund Grants: Seven land trusts received $138,000 for capacity-building, including Greater Worcester Land Trust ($20,000 for Stewardship Coordinator), Metacomet Land Trust ($18,000 for strategic planning), and Mount Grace Land Trust ($20,000 for feasibility study)

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants 2023: 19 organizations received more than $122,000 for capacity-building projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Pre-application consultation is essential: Contact program staff at grants@greaterworcester.org before submitting. They actively want to help strengthen proposals and are available to review materials and answer questions.
No overhead cap: GWCF does not limit indirect costs and seeks to support all aspects of the work. Include true costs and be specific about expenses in your budget.
Write for community reviewers: Applications are assessed by Foundation staff AND community volunteers who may not be familiar with your organization. Avoid jargon, provide context, and tell a compelling story about your impact.
Demonstrate authentic Worcester County connection: The Foundation values organizations with genuine local relationships, engagement in local conversations, and efforts to address pressing community needs. Geographic presence alone is not sufficient.
Emphasize equity and inclusion: The Foundation demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, community voice, and systems change. Articulate how your work uplifts historically marginalized communities.
Leverage the Nonprofit Support Center: Beyond grant funding, GWCF offers capacity-building resources through their Nonprofit Support Center, including workshops, training programs, and partnerships with platforms like Resilia. Take advantage of these resources to strengthen your organization.
Multiple pathways for support: Don't limit yourself to one program. Organizations may be eligible for multiple grant streams (project support, operating support, nonprofit effectiveness, specialized funds), as well as capacity-building resources and networking opportunities.

References

Greater Worcester Community Foundation Official Website - www.greaterworcester.org (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "How to Apply" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-non-profits/apply-for-a-grant/applicant-resources/how-to-apply (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Apply for a Grant" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-non-profits/competitive-grant-opportunities (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Community Grant: Project Support" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-non-profits/competitive-grant-opportunities/community-grant-project-support (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "GWCF Names Peter Dunn as CEO" - https://greaterworcester.org/news/gwcf-names-peter-dunn-as-ceo-bringing-decades-of-philanthropic-experience (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Mission, Vision & Values" - https://greaterworcester.org/about-us/mission-vision (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Our People" - https://greaterworcester.org/about-us/our-people (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Program" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-non-profits/competitive-grant-opportunities/nonprofit-effectiveness-grant-program (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "JMAC Access Grant Program" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-non-profits/competitive-grant-opportunities/jmac-access-grants (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Worcester County Green Fund" - https://greaterworcester.org/for-community/worcester-county-green-fund (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Greater Worcester Community Foundation Awards $1.17 Million in Project Grants" - https://greaterworcester.org/news/greater-worcester-community-foundation-awards-1-17-million-in-project-grants-to-local-nonprofits (Accessed November 2025)
Greater Worcester Community Foundation, "Announcing First Investments Through Worcester County Green Fund" - https://greaterworcester.org/news/announcing-first-investments-through-worcester-county-green-fund-supporting-seven-local-land-trusts (Accessed November 2025)
Mass Nonprofit News, "Greater Worcester Community Foundation awards $1.17 million with 100 project grants" - https://www.massnonprofit.org/news/greater-worcester-community-foundation-awards-1-17-million-with-100-project-grants/article_d0104482-8b45-11ef-beca-4719a3a7306d.html (Accessed November 2025)
Inside Philanthropy, "Greater Worcester Community Foundation" - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/massachusetts-grants/greater-worcester-community-foundation (Accessed November 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, "Greater Worcester Community Foundation Inc" - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/42572276 (Accessed November 2025)