William E. Schrafft and Bertha E. Schrafft Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$2,010,000 (approximately 96-100 grants per year)
• Grant Range: $3,000 - $100,000 (median: $16,000)
• 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

• Website: www.schrafftcharitable.org
• Email: funding@schrafftcharitable.org
• Address: c/o GMA Foundations, 2 Liberty Square, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02109
• Phone: (617) 469-2271

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 neighbourhood-based education programming throughout Boston. In recent years, the Trust has expanded its geographic scope to include New Bedford, MA, where it supports organisations 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 96-100 grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Programme Grants: Support specific youth-serving initiatives and programmes

• Range: $3,000 - $100,000
• Median: $16,000
• Most grants fall between $15,000 - $35,000

General Operating Grants: Support organisational operations for established organisations

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

Geographic Focus:

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

Organisational Characteristics:

• Small to medium-sized, community-based organisations
• 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
• Organisations outside Massachusetts
• Organisations operating less than three years (for most grants)
• Organisations 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

• Heidi Brooks - 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 neighbourhoods 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. Organisations 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 programmes
• 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

• Organisations 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 Prioritises:

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

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

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

4. Organisational 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 neighbourhoods
   • 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 Centre (New Bedford): $30,000
• Community Economic Development Centre (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: Organisation must be a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Massachusetts with at least three years of operation.

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

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

5. Relationship-based impact: Emphasise 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 organisations with strong track records.

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

References

• Schrafft Charitable Trust Official Website - Accessed December 2024
• How to Apply - Schrafft Charitable Trust - Application process and deadlines
• Grants - Schrafft Charitable Trust - Recent grant examples
• Meet Us - Schrafft Charitable Trust - Staff and trustee information
• GMA Foundations - Schrafft New Trustee Announcement - Lily Mendez appointment and trustee quotes
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 - Financial data and tax filings
• GuideStar Profile - Organisational overview
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Grant statistics