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William E. Schrafft and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$2.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

William E. Schrafft and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$2,000,000 (approximately 100 grants per year)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $100,000 (median: $15,000)
  • Decision Time: 4-6 weeks for LOI response; quarterly review cycles
  • Geographic Focus: Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts
  • Total Assets: $44.5 million (2023)

Contact Details

Overview

The William and Bertha Schrafft Charitable Trust was established in 1946 by William and Bertha Schrafft, founders of the historic Schrafft Candy Company (established in Boston in 1861). The famous Schrafft neon sign, constructed in 1928, still sits atop the former candy factory in Charlestown, MA. Originally funding Boston hospitals, museums, and community institutions, the Trust has evolved to focus primarily on the intellectual, personal, and artistic growth of underserved youth ages 6-21 through neighborhood-based education programming throughout Boston. In recent years, the Trust has expanded its geographic scope to include New Bedford, MA, where it supports organizations building pathways to economic independence for underserved populations through education, entrepreneurship, and economic development initiatives. With approximately $44.5 million in assets, the Trust distributes roughly $2 million annually through approximately 100 grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Program Grants: Support specific youth-serving initiatives and programs

  • Range: $3,000 - $100,000
  • Median: $15,000
  • Most grants fall between $15,000 - $35,000

General Operating Grants: Support organizational operations for established organizations

  • Requires three-year operational history
  • Consistently balanced budget required
  • Board-approved strategic plan required
  • Plans to expand or deepen services

Priority Areas

Youth Development (Ages 6-21):

  • Academic enrichment programs
  • After-school, evening, weekend, and summer activities
  • In-school experiences at charter and district schools
  • Arts and culture programming
  • Youth mentoring programs

Geographic Focus:

  • Boston: Neighborhood-based education programming for underserved youth
  • New Bedford: Organizations leveraging regional strengths (agriculture, fishing, maritime culture, history) to provide pathways to economic independence

Organizational Characteristics:

  • Small to medium-sized, community-based organizations
  • Charter and district schools
  • Board and staff representative of communities served
  • Active commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital expenditures
  • Scholarships
  • Organizations outside Massachusetts
  • Organizations operating less than three years (for most grants)
  • Organizations not incorporated as 501(c)(3) in Massachusetts

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director

Karen Faulkner - Executive Director

Board of Trustees

  • Kristen McCormack - Chairperson

    • Former James E. Freeman Lecturer in Management at Boston University Questrom School of Business
    • Over 25 years of experience in public, nonprofit, and private sectors
    • Founding Executive Director of the Boston Food Bank
    • Former Director of the Mayor's Office of Jobs and Community Services in Boston
    • Also serves as Trustee of Charles Hayden Foundation

  • Lavinia Chase - Trustee

  • Joe Corrado - Trustee

  • Lily E. Mendez - Trustee (appointed October 2022)

    • President and CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership
    • Former Regional COO for American Red Cross of Massachusetts
    • Former Senior Director of Appointments and Civic Engagement for Governor Deval Patrick
    • Also serves as Trustee of The Hyams Foundation

Trustee Quote: Kristen McCormack stated: "Lily brings extraordinary depth and breadth of experience to The Schrafft Trust's work. Her addition to the board reinforces and amplifies our commitments to young people in under-resourced neighborhoods of Boston and to youth and adults in New Bedford."

Administrative Support

The Trust is administered by GMA Foundations, a Boston-based philanthropic services firm.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust uses a two-tier application process administered through the GMA Foundations GrantInterface portal:

New Applicants (not funded in the last 3 years):

  1. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) first
  2. Access code: sctloi
  3. Use the "New Grantee LOI" form
  4. Organizations may apply once annually

Returning Grantees (funded within the last 3 years):

  1. Submit full proposal directly
  2. Access code: schrafft
  3. Use the "Returning Grantee Application" form
  4. Uses Philanthropy Massachusetts Common Proposal Form

LOI Required Content:

  • Overview of mission, history, and main programs
  • Funding request details including amount and purpose
  • Description of community served and intended outcomes

Deadlines

Letter of Intent (New Applicants): February 15, June 15, August 15, November 15

Full Proposal (Returning Grantees): January 15, April 15, August 15, October 15

Note: Deadlines are adjusted if dates fall on weekends or holidays

Decision Timeline

  • LOI responses: 4-6 weeks after submission
  • Full proposal review: Quarterly cycles
  • Notification: Following board review at quarterly meetings

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations may apply once annually
  • New grantees not invited to submit a full proposal may reapply during the next LOI cycle
  • Returning grantees who are declined may apply again in the following grant cycle

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Prioritizes:

  1. Community Representation: Board and staff that reflect the demographics of the community served; organizations actively engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

  2. Relationship-Based Programming: Demonstrate caring, consistent, long-term relationships between young people and organization staff or volunteers

  3. Evidence of Impact: Provide measurable evidence of program effectiveness using the Philanthropy Massachusetts Common Report Form; set progress goals with defined timelines

  4. Organizational Stability: Three-year operational history with balanced budgets and experienced leadership (especially for operating grants)

  5. Strategic Planning: Board-approved strategic plan showing plans to expand or deepen services

  6. Geographic Alignment:

    • For Boston: Focus on underserved neighborhoods
    • For New Bedford: Leverage regional strengths (fishing, maritime culture, agriculture, history) for economic pathways

Recent Grant Examples (to understand what they fund):

  • Boston Ballet: $10,000 (Arts and Culture)
  • ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art): $25,000 (Arts and Culture)
  • Celebrity Series of Boston: $35,000 (Arts and Culture)
  • Artists for Humanity: $20,000 (Youth Development)
  • Science Club For Girls: $35,000 (Youth Development)
  • West End House: $30,000 (Youth Development)
  • Boston Debate League: $25,000 (Education)
  • Write Boston: $25,000 (Education)
  • Breakthrough Greater Boston: $100,000 (Operating)
  • Community Boating Center (New Bedford): $30,000
  • Community Economic Development Center (New Bedford): $35,000

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Two-track system: New applicants must start with an LOI; returning grantees go directly to full proposals. Use the correct access code and form for your status.

  2. Massachusetts only: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Massachusetts with at least three years of operation.

  3. Youth focus is paramount: Programs must serve underserved youth ages 6-21, primarily in Boston or New Bedford.

  4. DEI commitment matters: The Trust explicitly looks for organizations with board and staff representative of communities served and active DEI efforts.

  5. Relationship-based impact: Emphasize long-term, consistent relationships between staff/volunteers and young people—not just programmatic outputs.

  6. Right-size your request: Most grants are $15,000-$35,000; larger operating grants up to $100,000 are possible for established organizations with strong track records.

  7. New Bedford is a priority: Organizations in New Bedford that leverage regional assets (maritime, fishing, agriculture) for economic independence pathways are of special interest.

References

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