Central Mass. United Ways awarded $4.5M to support afterschool programs

The United Way of Central Massachusetts has been awarded $4.5 million, to be dispersed over two years, through the federally funded Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Rebound grant, the nonprofit announced Thursday night. 

The United Way of Central Massachusetts applied for the funding on behalf of all United Ways in Central Massachusetts, including United Way of North Central Massachusetts and United Way of South Central Massachusetts.

The grant will be split into two portions, with $1.5 million distributed in the first year, and $3 million distributed in the second.

The grant program funds regional and statewide nonprofits who subgrant and provide support to after school and out-of-school programs, according to the Massachusetts Department of Education. Recipients are tasked with funding and strengthening services impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The funding marks a major increase in the organization’s funding. United Way of Central Massachusetts has a roughly $5.5 million annual budget.

In 2020, the organization received a $5-million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.