Greater Worcester Community Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary by earmarking $2 million to support area nonprofits and launch new programs. The $2 million represents a 50% increase in the organization’s discretionary payout.
Broadly, the funding will be split between two buckets, the foundation announced Tuesday. The first will be $1.05 million split among five nonprofits who work across a variety of issues, including early childhood opportunities, pathways to homeownership, immigrant assistance, improving food security and supporting maternal health. The second bucket, representing $950,000, will be for GWCF-led programs centering around arts, creativity, affordable education, and affordable housing.
“This milestone is both a celebration and a call to action,” Pete Dunn, president and CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation, said in the announcement.
The first batch of funding is broken down as:
- $250,000 to Worcester nonprofit Edward Street Child Services for its HOME3 initiative, a program that centers around using triple-decker homes as platforms for childcare and homeownership for childcare providers
- $150,000 to Community Legal Aid and $150,000 to Ascentria Immigrant Legal Assistance Program, both Worcester-based nonprofits, to support staff to process immigrant documentation and cover associated filing fees
- $250,000 to Fitchburg-based United Way of North Central Massachusetts to support the exploration and implementation of a North County Regional Food Transportation System for North Central food pantries.
- $250,000 to Pernet Family Health Service for its Universal Home Visiting program, which conducts home visits for newborns and their families
The second batch of funding for internally-led programs:
- $500,000 for a new loan fund for community development corporations in Worcester County to support predevelopment costs for affordable housing projects
- $250,000 for a new grant program for Worcester County libraries to offer arts programming for children and youth
- $200,000 for a new emergency fund for GWCF scholarship students to cover unexpected financial expenses
The Greater Worcester Community Foundation holds $227 million in assets, according to WBJ’s Research Department.
Monica Benevides is a correspondent for Worcester Business Journal.
