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SouthCoast Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.2M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.2M
Decision Time
2mo

SouthCoast Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,231,826 (2023); $3+ million in grants to 225+ nonprofits (2024)
  • Total Assets: $56 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 2 months after application deadline
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $200,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: 41 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts (Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes, and Norfolk counties)

Contact Details

Overview

The SouthCoast Community Foundation (SCCF), formerly known as the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, was established in 1995 with an initial gift of $100,000. Over nearly 30 years, the foundation has grown to manage approximately $60 million in charitable assets across more than 200 funds, distributing over $60 million to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region.

The foundation's mission is to "mobilize philanthropy by matching donors and resources with community needs for the benefit of the Southcoast MA region." As a tax-exempt public charity, SCCF serves as both a convener and catalyst across Southeastern Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on five Gateway Cities: Fall River, New Bedford, Brockton, Attleboro, and Easton.

In 2024, the foundation relocated to new headquarters at 350 Union Street in downtown New Bedford, designed to facilitate collaboration and community engagement. The foundation earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator and operates under a strategic 5G/4C framework focused on capacity, capital, community, and culture.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Senator Montigny's Children Fund

  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $50,000 for programmatic requests; $50,000+ for capital requests
  • Focus: Youth-serving nonprofits in Greater New Bedford (New Bedford, Fairhaven, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett)
  • Emphasis: Arts, education, culture, and recreation for underserved children
  • Preference: Organizations with annual operating budgets at or below $2,000,000
  • Application: Via online portal using access code "GNBGrant"

Leadership Equity Fund

  • Grant Range: Up to $30,000 per grant
  • Focus: Two purposes: (1) BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations working to end racism, and (2) professional development for BIPOC employees of nonprofits
  • Review Cycle: Quarterly
  • First Year Awards: $110,340 total; initial grants of $30,000 each to NAACP New Bedford and YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

Creative SouthCoast Initiative

  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $7,000 (based on past cycles)
  • Focus: Arts and culture organizations, particularly those serving youth and culturally diverse/immigrant communities
  • Partnership: Barr Foundation (matching up to $1.6 million if SCCF meets $280,000 match goal)
  • Past Distributions: $125,000 in unrestricted grants across 24 organizations in one cycle

Women and Children's Fund

  • Focus Areas: Child abuse prevention and treatment, economic self-sufficiency, victims of domestic violence, basic needs for women and children

Donor-Advised Funds

  • The majority of SCCF's grantmaking comes through donor-advised funds where advisors select recipients; no public application process for these grants

Priority Areas

The foundation operates with a racial equity and social justice lens across four core areas:

  1. Arts and Culture: Supporting creative expression, arts access for youth, and capacity building for arts organizations
  2. Economic Opportunity: Workforce development, economic self-sufficiency programs
  3. Access to Education: Youth literacy, early childhood education, educational programming
  4. Racial Equity: BIPOC leadership development, organizations addressing systemic racism

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Grants or loans to small businesses
  • Competitive grants often exclude: certain geographic areas, operating expenses (varies by program), organizations outside specified focus areas
  • Each grant program has specific exclusions detailed in the application guidelines

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dr. Melanie S. Edwards-Tavares, President & CEO A New Bedford native who grew up in neighborhoods including the former United Front Homes Housing Development. Holds a doctorate from Harvard University Graduate School of Education (2019) with focus on system-level leadership, strategic partnerships, and nonprofit sustainability. Previously held roles at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Massachusetts Service Alliance (Interim CEO), Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and PACE YouthBuild New Bedford.

"I look forward to building on the Foundation's past successes and creating a shared strategic vision with our community partners that will translate into meaningful impact for many years to come. It is a powerful time to lead in philanthropy as the sector grapples with its origins, holding itself accountable to a role that transcends funding by leveraging influence and serving as a partner, collaborator, and advocate."

"Community foundations can be advocates, they can be catalysts, they can be thought partners and thought leaders, and also, we're keeping our finger on the pulse of what's happening in the sector."

Senior Leadership Team

  • Julie Ramos Gagliardi - Chief Community Investment Officer
  • Dianne Gauthier - Chief Strategy Officer (joined March 2025)
  • Jess Haas, MBA - Chief Advancement Officer (joined March 2025)
  • Tricia Grime - Director of Philanthropic Services
  • Patti Rego - Director of Communications & Community Engagement
  • Nhamaa Cortes, MBA - Business Manager & Accountant
  • Adrianna Heard - Program Officer (primary contact for grant inquiries)
  • Kim Heard - Operations Coordinator

Board of Directors

  • Gail Fortes - Board Chair
  • The board includes seven additional directors beyond officers, representing diverse community perspectives

Leadership Quotes on Funding Philosophy

"For significant racial equity to occur, we must ensure people of color lead from positions of power and authority." — John Vasconcellos, Former President

"Only by actively renewing the social contract, starting with a race-conscious approach at the Foundation, can we begin to address inequality and social disparities." — Maria A. Rosario, Board Member

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Create Account: Register on the Online Grants Portal at grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfsema
  2. Monitor Opportunities: Check the "Current Grants Available" list regularly for active grant programs
  3. Review Requirements: Each competitive grant has specific eligibility criteria, geographic restrictions, and exclusions
  4. Submit Application: Complete application through the online portal before the stated deadline
  5. Review Contract: The foundation recommends reviewing grant contract and reporting requirements BEFORE applying

Eligibility Requirements

  • Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • Governmental, educational, and religious organizations
  • Must serve the foundation's geographic area (41 cities/towns in Southeastern Massachusetts)
  • Primary funding focus on Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, and Southern Plymouth County communities

Decision Timeline

  • Competitive Grants: Final decisions typically announced within two months after application deadline
  • Leadership Equity Fund: Reviewed and acted upon quarterly
  • Notification: Electronic notification of grant award decisions

Example Timeline (Senator Montigny's Children Fund)

  • October 24: Application opens
  • November 17: Applications due
  • December 17-23: Grantee notifications
  • January 7: Grantee contracts due
  • First quarter 2026: Award checks distributed
  • May 15: Reports due

Success Rates

Competition is strong with limited funding available. In 2023, the foundation made 52 grant awards totaling $6.2 million. Success rates vary based on organizational alignment with program priorities and service area eligibility.

Reapplication Policy

No specific policy documented. Organizations are encouraged to register for notifications of upcoming grant opportunities and to contact programs staff to share updates.

Application Success Factors

What SCCF Looks For

Based on foundation communications and grant program descriptions:

  1. Strong Alignment with Funding Priorities: Grants committees aim to support "effective initiatives and strategies that closely align with funding opportunities"

  2. Geographic Fit: Primary funding focuses on Greater New Bedford, Greater Fall River, and Southern Plymouth County; verify your organization serves the foundation's 41-city/town service area

  3. Organizational Capacity: For some programs (e.g., Senator Montigny's Children Fund), preference is given to organizations with annual operating budgets at or below $2,000,000

  4. Youth-Centric Focus: For arts grants, priority has been given to organizations and projects that are "youth-centric and are focused on increasing the artistic expression of culturally diverse and immigrant communities"

  5. Racial Equity Lens: The foundation views all work through a racial equity and social justice lens; demonstrate how your organization advances equity

  6. BIPOC Leadership: For Leadership Equity Fund grants, organizations must be led by BIPOC leaders actively working to end racism

Building Relationships

  • Register on the website to receive notifications of upcoming opportunities
  • Contact programs staff (Adrianna Heard, Program Officer) to share organizational updates
  • The foundation considers "opportunities to match your needs to donors' interests"
  • Attend the Nonprofit Resilience Network (NRN) free learning sessions to connect with foundation staff and regional funders

Recent Grant Examples

Emergency Response Fund Recipients (Round 15, $2.5M total):

  • Old Colony YMCA: $200,000
  • Brockton Day Nursery: $184,790
  • PACE: $178,432
  • Greater New Bedford Youth Development: $112,150
  • Hockomock Area YMCA: $119,637

Creative SouthCoast Initiative: 24 grants ranging from $3,000-$7,000 to arts and culture nonprofits

Leadership Equity Fund: Initial grants of $30,000 each to NAACP New Bedford and YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Register Early: Create an account on the Online Grants Portal and sign up for notifications to learn about opportunities as they arise—many funds are time-limited

  2. Verify Geographic Eligibility: The foundation serves 41 specific cities and towns; confirm your organization operates within and serves this region before applying

  3. Embrace Racial Equity: The foundation operates with a racial equity and social justice lens across all priority areas; demonstrate how your work advances equity

  4. Start with Smaller Programs: Arts grants range $3,000-$7,000; larger programmatic grants range $15,000-$50,000; capital projects may receive $50,000+

  5. Connect with Programs Staff: The foundation encourages organizations to share updates with staff who may match needs to donors' interests

  6. Attend NRN Learning Sessions: Free professional development sessions offer opportunities to connect with foundation staff and demonstrate organizational commitment to capacity building

  7. Read Requirements Carefully: Each competitive grant has specific exclusions; review the grant contract and reporting requirements BEFORE applying

  8. Most Grants Are Donor-Advised: The majority of SCCF's grantmaking comes through donor-advised funds with no public application; competitive programs represent a portion of total giving

References

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