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Essex County Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$18.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Essex County Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18.1 million (FY2023)
  • Total Assets: $134 million (FY2024)
  • Grant Range: $100 - $200,000
  • Geographic Focus: Essex County, Massachusetts (34 cities and towns)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2-6 months)
  • Grants Awarded: 320 grants (2023)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.eccf.org
  • Phone: (978) 777-8876
  • Email: info@eccf.org
  • Address: 500 Cummings Center, Suite 5450, Beverly, MA 01915
  • Grants Contact: Amy Moran Lowe, Director of Grants and Programs | a.lowe@eccf.org | ext. 138

Overview

Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) was established in 1998 and serves as the community foundation for the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, Massachusetts. The foundation manages over $134 million in assets and has granted more than $157 million to nonprofits, schools, and students since its founding. ECCF manages nearly 240 charitable funds and provides over 1,000 grants annually.

The foundation's mission is "sparking generosity and collaboration to address our greatest needs and unlock opportunities for all – today and tomorrow." ECCF operates under a systems-based philanthropy approach with three primary functions: donor partnerships, nonprofit support, and community leadership. The foundation is Community Accredited Foundation (CAF) certified and serves the region's nearly 800,000 residents. In 2024, ECCF marked its 25th anniversary and is currently undertaking strategic planning for its next phase.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Large Grants ($25,000 - $200,000)

  • NiSource Charitable Foundation Fund for Merrimack Valley: $25,000-$200,000 for basic needs, economic development, safety, STEM education, and environmental stewardship in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover
  • Digital Equity Partnership Grants: Up to $50,000 for collaborative digital equity projects

Medium Grants ($5,000 - $50,000)

  • The Women's Fund of Essex County: $30,000 over 3 years (multi-year grants) for gender-specific programs serving women and girls
  • Dee & King Webster Fund for Greater Lawrence: Up to $40,000 over 2 years for youth education programs (grades 9-12) in Lawrence, Methuen, and Andover
  • Community Response Fund - Essential Needs: Up to $30,000 over 1-2 years for basic needs services
  • Community Response Fund - Structural Support: Up to $20,000 for organizational capacity building
  • Greater Lawrence Community Fund: $5,000-$10,000 for food security, clothing, shelter, and adult education

Small Grants (Up to $5,000)

  • Fund for Excellence in Essex County: Up to $5,000 for nonprofit professional development
  • Creative County Special Project Grants: $2,000-$5,000 for arts and culture initiatives
  • ALAANA Artist Grants: Up to $5,000 for individual ALAANA artists
  • Susan Bradbury Animal Welfare Fund: Up to $5,000 for pet and wildlife care organizations
  • Greater Newburyport Fund for the Blind: Up to $5,000 for vision loss services

Micro Grants

  • Last Mile Fund: $100, $300, or $500 for artists and creative makers (rolling basis)

Priority Areas

  • Human services and basic needs
  • Arts and culture
  • Women and girls programs
  • Education and youth development
  • Digital equity
  • Climate resiliency
  • Economic opportunity and workforce development
  • Veterans support
  • Blue economy

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual grants (except artist programs)
  • Sectarian or religious purposes (programs by religious organizations eligible only if nonsectarian and open to all)
  • Political activities
  • Debt or deficit reduction
  • Capital campaigns, endowments, buildings, land, or vehicles
  • Academic research
  • Work addressing funding gaps caused by mismanagement
  • Previously completed work
  • Public sector responsibilities
  • Feasibility studies
  • Organizations outside Essex County (with limited exceptions)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Senior Staff

  • Stacey Landry, Senior VP for Advancement and Philanthropic Services
  • Kelly Shea Knowles, VP of Marketing and Communications
  • Hehershe Busuego, VP of Equity Initiatives
  • Kate Machet, VP of Systems Initiatives and Government Relations
  • Amy Moran Lowe, Director of Grants and Programs

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by a 19-member board of community, business, and philanthropic leaders. Dick Sumberg serves as Board Chair.

Recent trustees elected in 2024:

  • Chat Reynders (Hamilton) - Chairman & CEO, Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management
  • Luis Román (Boston) - Wealth management advisor, Opus Private Client, LLC
  • Doneeca Thurston-Chavez (Salem) - Executive Director, Lynn Museum and Arts Center
  • Rosario Ubiera-Minaya (Beverly) - Executive Director, Raw Art Works

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Review Guidelines: Read specific guidelines for your target grant program on the ECCF website
  2. Create an Account: Register at the Application Portal with an email login and password
  3. Complete Online Application: Submit through ECCF's online grant portal; drafts can be saved until ready to submit

All competitive grant applications are accepted online. No initial Letter of Intent required for most programs (exception: NiSource Fund requires LOI). Documents can be uploaded directly, and ECCF provides a Project Budget Template.

Decision Timeline

  • Women's Fund: Applications due January; decisions by May
  • NiSource Fund: LOI in January; decisions by end of May
  • Greater Lawrence Community Fund: Applications due October; decisions by end of December
  • Dee & King Webster Fund: Decisions in August
  • Most programs: Expect 2-4 months from application to decision

Site visits are common. An ECCF staff person may contact applicants for additional information and may contact other funders, community leaders, or local agencies to learn more about the organization.

Reapplication Policy

For Greater Lawrence Community Fund, organizations that received a grant must wait one year before reapplying. Other programs may have different policies—check specific program guidelines.

Application Success Factors

ECCF grant reviewers specifically evaluate:

Mission Alignment

  • Evidence that programs meet a documented need of Essex County residents
  • Clear articulation of how the work will strengthen organizational capacity

Diversity and Equity

  • Staff and board leadership that is diverse and representative of the community served
  • Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in organizational leadership, infrastructure, program design, and implementation

Program Quality

  • Measurable solutions that impact residents in positive, sustainable, and empowering ways
  • For youth programs: engaging opportunities that promote skill development, social-emotional health, personal growth, and exposure to new experiences

Organizational Strength

  • Strong administration with capable executive and board leadership
  • Fiscally sound organization with a balanced budget
  • Strong administrative leadership and fiduciary responsibility

For Smaller Organizations

  • The Fund for Excellence gives priority to organizations with budgets under $1,000,000
  • The Women's Fund gives priority to organizations with annual budgets under $5 million

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic requirement is strict: Organizations must serve and generally be located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Out-of-county organizations may apply for certain funds only if they can demonstrate prior work in the region or address unmet local needs.

  • Match programs to your budget size: Several funds prioritize smaller organizations (under $1 million or $5 million budgets). Review each program's eligibility carefully.

  • Emphasize equity and diversity: Commitment to equity and inclusion is a key evaluation criterion across all programs. Demonstrate diverse leadership and inclusive practices.

  • Expect site visits: Most ECCF grant committees conduct site visits as part of the review process. Be prepared for in-person engagement.

  • Multi-year funding available: Several programs offer multi-year grants (Women's Fund, Dee & King Webster Fund, Community Response Fund, NiSource Fund). Consider requesting longer grant periods where eligible.

  • Professional development matters: The Fund for Excellence specifically funds staff training and development—consider capacity building alongside program grants.

  • Contact staff before applying: Amy Moran Lowe (a.lowe@eccf.org, ext. 138) is the primary contact for grant questions. Pre-application consultation is welcomed.

References

Accessed December 2025

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