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Essex County Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$18.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18 million (recent year)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; typically 3-5 months from application deadline
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $200,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Essex County, Massachusetts (34 cities and towns)
  • Assets: $126+ million

Contact Details

Main Office: 500 Cummings Center, Suite 5450 Beverly, MA 01915

Phone: (978) 777-8876 Email: info@eccf.org Website: www.eccf.org

Grants Inquiries:

Overview

Founded in 1998, the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) serves 800,000 residents across the 34 cities and towns of Essex County in northeastern Massachusetts. With over $126 million in assets and managing nearly 240 charitable funds, ECCF has awarded more than $85 million in grants to nonprofits, schools, and students since its inception. In a recent year, the foundation distributed over $18 million in grants. ECCF's mission is to inspire philanthropy that strengthens communities through managing charitable assets, supporting nonprofits, and engaging in strategic community leadership. The foundation conducts its grantmaking through an equity and racial justice lens, emphasizing systems change approaches to address root causes of inequality. In 2024, Stratton Lloyd became President and CEO after serving on the ECCF team for six years. The foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024, marking a quarter-century of community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

ECCF offers multiple competitive grant programs across different focus areas:

The Women's Fund of Essex County: $30,000 over 3 years (multi-year grants). Supports programs addressing gender-specific needs for at-risk women and girls in five key areas: Economic Empowerment, Health and Well-Being, Equity and Social Justice, Academic Achievement, and Leadership Development. Awards over $200,000 annually; has donated more than $3.84 million since 2003. Application deadline typically in January; decisions announced by mid-May.

NiSource Charitable Foundation Fund for Merrimack Valley: $25,000 - $200,000 (up to 3 years multi-year funding). Part of a five-year, $10 million commitment ending in 2025. Supports nonprofits in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover working in Basic Needs & Hardship Assistance, Economic & Workforce Development, Safety, STEM and Energy Education, and Environmental Stewardship. Requires Letter of Inquiry (LOI) in January; decisions by end of May.

Creative County Initiative (CCI): Varies by sub-program. Part of a multi-year commitment of $2+ million in partnership with the Barr Foundation. Supports partnerships for local creative culture and public art, special projects, artists who self-identify as ALAANA (African, Latine, Asian, Arab, Native American), and microgrants for artists. Note: Applicants may only submit one proposal to one CCI grant program per calendar year. Rolling application timelines.

Digital Equity Partnership Grants: Up to $50,000 for collaborative projects. Part of ECCF's $3 million multi-year commitment to advancing digital equity. Supports projects focused on devices, access, literacy, and collaboration. In 2025, awarded $627,000 to 13 nonprofits. Application typically in fall; decisions in January.

Fund for Excellence in Essex County (FEEC): Up to $5,000 for one-year grants. Supports professional development of nonprofit staff (training, leadership coaching, succession planning, conferences). Priority for organizations with budgets under $1 million. Staff salaries not eligible; consultant fees for capacity building may be considered.

Greater Lawrence Summer Fund (GLSF): Supports summer programming for youth in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover. Operating for 30+ years; awarded $270,000 to 44 nonprofits serving 4,282 youth in 2021. Focuses on skill development, reducing summer learning loss, and affirming racial and cultural identity.

Community Response Fund: Grants up to $30,000 over 1-2 years for essential needs including food, shelter, and clothing.

Essex County Land and Environment Initiative: Grants up to $25,000 for environmental projects.

Scholarship Programs: Various scholarship funds up to $10,000 for local students based on merit, need, or activities.

Priority Areas

  • Human services and basic needs
  • Arts and culture
  • Women and girls
  • Education and youth development
  • Environmental stewardship
  • Digital equity
  • Economic opportunity and workforce development
  • Racial equity and social justice
  • Health and mental health
  • STEM education

What They Don't Fund

Across most programs, ECCF generally does not fund:

  • Individuals (except scholarships)
  • Religious or sectarian purposes
  • Political purposes
  • Debt reduction
  • Endowment or capital campaigns (with rare exceptions)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  • Government agencies
  • Work already completed
  • Organizations/projects outside Essex County (with rare exceptions for regional initiatives)

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Stratton Lloyd, President & CEO - Appointed in June 2024 after six years on the ECCF team. Lloyd emphasizes: "Unlocking the untapped talent, resources, life experience, ideas and innovation we KNOW exist across our region is one of ECCF's highest priorities." He has stated that ECCF "will always strive to be the central hub for collaboration and collective action in Essex County" and emphasized priorities including operational excellence, innovation, and climate resiliency.

Senior Staff:

  • Hehershe Busuego, Vice President of Equity Initiatives
  • Kate Machet, Vice President of Systems Initiatives and Government Relations
  • Stacey Landry, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Philanthropic Services
  • Amy Moran Lowe, Director of Grants and Programs
  • Rebecca Turner, Senior Program Manager, Grants & Nonprofit Services
  • Carol Lavoie Schuster, Vice President of Community Engagement

Board of Trustees

ECCF is governed by a 19-member Board of Trustees comprised of community, business, and philanthropic leaders. Recent additions (September 2024) include Rosario Ubiera-Minaya (Executive Director of Raw Art Works, Lynn), Reynders, Román, and Thurston-Chavez (co-founder of Creative County ChangeMakers and member of NextGen steering committee).

The foundation also maintains a County Leadership Council as an advisory committee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All competitive grant applications are accepted online through ECCF's Application Portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=eccf

Standard Process:

  1. Review grant guidelines for the specific program you're applying to for information on eligibility and deadlines
  2. Create an account in the Application Portal by selecting an email login and password (all ECCF communications will be sent to this email)
  3. Complete the online application - the system allows you to save drafts until ready to submit, upload documents directly, and share drafts internally
  4. Use ECCF's Project Budget Template
  5. Receive immediate submission confirmation upon submitting

Note: Some programs (like the NiSource Fund) require a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before full application.

Site Visits: Most ECCF grant committees conduct site visits as part of the review process. Applicants will be contacted directly by the reviewer to schedule a visit.

Reporting: All ECCF grantees are required to submit a final report on the impacts of their grant. Reports are submitted via the application portal. No reporting is required for general operating support grantees.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program:

  • NiSource Fund: LOI due in January; site visits after initial review; final determinations by end of May
  • Women's Fund: Application deadline in January; decisions announced by mid-May
  • Digital Equity Grants: Application typically in fall (December); awards announced in January/February
  • Community Response Fund: Decisions announced in August

Typical timeframe from submission to decision is 3-5 months across most programs. Notifications are sent via email.

Success Rates

ECCF does not publicly disclose overall success rates for competitive grant programs. The foundation notes that funding is limited and programs are highly competitive, particularly for smaller grants like the Fund for Excellence.

Reapplication Policy

ECCF does not publicly specify restrictions on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations are encouraged to contact program staff for feedback and guidance on future applications.

Application Success Factors

What ECCF Looks For

ECCF explicitly seeks evidence that the organization and its programs/services meet a documented need of Essex County residents. The foundation is described as "an approachable and transparent funder that conducts its grantmaking through an equity and racial justice lens."

Selection Criteria (from NiSource Fund, representative of ECCF's approach):

  • Clearly defined objectives
  • Potential impact on target communities
  • Quality of programming
  • Experienced management
  • Fiscally sound programs

For Women's Fund:

  • Programs addressing racial or gender-based disparities
  • Primarily organizations with annual budgets under $5 million
  • Clear articulation of how programs address systemic social inequities specific to women and girls

For Fund for Excellence:

  • Clear organizational mission
  • Clear articulation of how professional development strengthens organizational capacity
  • Diverse staff and board leadership

Strategic Alignment

ECCF has adopted a systems change approach to philanthropy, focusing on addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. President Stratton Lloyd stated: "As we continue to foster collaboration and drive meaningful change, operational excellence and innovation will be essential."

The foundation prioritizes:

  • Equity and Racial Justice: ECCF implemented a racial equity strategy supported by a Racial Equity Committee that guides the foundation in leveraging resources and relationships to advocate for racially equitable systems, structures, and practices
  • Collaboration and Partnerships: Digital Equity Partnership Grants explicitly require working with at least one other partner; the foundation values regional and county-wide systems thinking
  • Systems Solutions: ECCF seeks to influence efforts that result in more equitable systems and structures, giving greater access and opportunity to all in Essex County
  • Community-Driven Priorities: Lloyd noted: "We heard loud and clear from our local communities that climate resiliency was a high priority and one that people felt ECCF could support as a hub for countywide solutions"

Practical Tips

  • Match to the Right Fund: Each fund has unique requirements and deadlines. Carefully review which fund best aligns with your work
  • Show Community Need: Document the specific need your organization addresses for Essex County residents
  • Emphasize Systems Change: Where applicable, demonstrate how your work addresses root causes and contributes to systemic solutions
  • Highlight Equity: Explain how your work addresses racial, gender, or other inequities through an equity lens
  • Budget Appropriately: Priority is often given to smaller organizations (under $1-5 million budget depending on program)
  • Build Partnerships: Collaborative approaches are valued, particularly for Digital Equity and regional initiatives
  • Use Available Resources: ECCF offers information sessions, office hours, and staff are available to answer questions before application deadlines
  • Apply Through the Correct Program: With nearly 240 charitable funds, make sure you're applying to competitive grant programs (not donor-advised funds)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is firm: Your organization must be located in and serve Essex County, Massachusetts (with specific programs limited to sub-regions like Greater Lawrence or Merrimack Valley)
  • Equity lens is central: ECCF explicitly conducts all grantmaking through an equity and racial justice lens—your application should demonstrate understanding and alignment with this approach
  • Systems change focus: The foundation has pivoted from traditional charity to systems philanthropy; proposals that address root causes and systemic solutions are favored
  • Site visits are standard: Plan for grant committee members to visit your organization as part of the review process for most programs
  • Match your budget to the program: Different funds prioritize different organization sizes; many prefer budgets under $1-5 million
  • One CCI application per year: If applying to Creative County Initiative programs, you can only submit to one CCI grant per calendar year
  • Multi-year funding available: Several programs offer multi-year grants (Women's Fund, NiSource Fund, Community Response Fund)—consider requesting longer-term support where eligible
  • Strong staff support: ECCF staff are accessible and hold office hours and information sessions—use these resources to strengthen your application

References

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