How to Find Grants for Nonprofits in Massachusetts

You're Not Alone in This

If you're reading this, you've probably spent hours Googling "grants for nonprofits in Massachusetts," clicking through outdated listings, and wondering if there's a better way. You're not imagining it—grant discovery really is frustrating and time-consuming, especially when you're doing it on top of everything else.

The good news? Massachusetts has a strong network of state agencies, community foundations, and support resources designed to help nonprofits like yours. This guide breaks it all down step by step, so you can spend less time searching and more time applying to grants that actually fit.

Start with What's Available in Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a mix of state government grants, federal funding opportunities, and a centralized portal that makes applying a bit easier than in some other states.

State Government Grants

Office of Grants and Research (OGR): Manages over $279 million in state and federal grants for nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal agencies across Massachusetts. This is your starting point for state-level funding.
MassDevelopment: Runs grant programs focused on economic development, small businesses, cultural facilities, and brownfields redevelopment—many of which are open to nonprofits.
Division of Conservation Services: Administers the Landscape Partnership Grant Program, which supports land conservation projects through collaboration between government and nonprofit groups.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA): Offers environmental and conservation grants, particularly for land protection and sustainability projects.

The One Stop Portal

Massachusetts uses a Community One Stop for Growth portal—a single application system for community and economic development grants. You can also use the Grants Management System (GMS) to search, apply for, and manage grants in one place. This is a huge time-saver compared to hunting down individual agency websites.

Pro tip: Bookmark the OGR website and sign up for any email alerts they offer. State agencies often announce new funding rounds through newsletters before they hit Google.

Notable Recurring Programs

Landscape Partnership Grant Program (conservation)
Cultural Facilities Fund (arts and culture spaces)
Brownfields Redevelopment Fund (environmental cleanup)
Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (historic preservation)

Top Foundations to Know in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to some of the most active community and private foundations in the country. Here are the ones you should know about:

Statewide Funders

The Boston Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the U.S., supporting nonprofits across Greater Boston and beyond. They fund a wide range of causes, from education to housing to health equity.
Cummings Foundation: Offers significant grant programs, primarily for nonprofits in specific Massachusetts counties. Their $100K for 100 program is highly competitive but worth watching.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation: Provides general operating support grants to statewide advocacy organizations, particularly those focused on health equity and access.
Massachusetts Medical Society: Offers organizational grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in health-related fields.

Regional and Specialized Funders

Philanthropy Massachusetts: An association of funders that surveys the nonprofit sector and shares insights. They're a great resource for understanding what funders are looking for.
Mass Humanities: Supports cultural and humanities projects across the state, including public programs, exhibitions, and community conversations.

Pro tip: Many foundations publish their past grantees on their websites. Look at who's been funded before—if your organization looks similar in size, mission, and geography, you're likely a good fit.

Your Grant Search Toolkit

Here are the tools and resources Massachusetts nonprofits use most often to find grants:

Free Resources

Paid or Subscription-Based Tools

Pro tip: Start with the free tools. If you're applying to more than a few grants per month, a paid tool might save you time—but only if you'll actually use it.

Eligibility and What Funders Look For

Most grants in Massachusetts require your organization to have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Beyond that, here's what funders typically want to see:

Common Requirements

Proof of 501(c)(3) status (IRS determination letter)
Mission alignment with the funder's priorities
Geographic eligibility (some funders only support specific counties or regions)
Financial health and transparency (recent budget, audit, or 990 form)
Clear project goals and measurable outcomes

Massachusetts-Specific Notes

Some state grants require you to be registered with the Commonwealth or have a physical address in Massachusetts.
Funders increasingly ask about diversity, equity, and inclusion policies—especially larger foundations.
If you're a newer nonprofit or don't have a physical office, you may be ineligible for certain local or state grants. Look for funders that support virtual or statewide organizations.

Pro tip: Before you spend hours on an application, check the eligibility criteria and look at past grantees. If you don't see organizations like yours, it's probably not a good fit.

When to Apply

Grant cycles in Massachusetts vary, but here are some patterns to watch for:

State fiscal year: Many state grants follow a July–June cycle, with applications opening in late fall or early winter.
Foundation deadlines: Private foundations often have quarterly or annual deadlines. Some accept applications year-round.
Seasonal trends: Conservation and environmental grants often open in spring. Cultural and arts grants may align with programming seasons.

Examples from recent cycles:

MassDevelopment's Family Child Care Capital Grant Program closed October 31, 2025, with notifications expected in Spring 2026.
GrantWatch lists grants with deadlines throughout the year, including ongoing opportunities.

Pro tip: Set up a simple spreadsheet or calendar to track deadlines. Missing a deadline by even one day can mean waiting another year.

Getting Started: Your First 3 Weeks

Here's a realistic action plan to help you move forward without getting overwhelmed.

Week 1: Set Up Your Search

Bookmark the OGR website and Community One Stop portal
Sign up for free grant alert newsletters (The Grant Portal, GrantWatch)
Create a simple spreadsheet to track grants you find (columns: Funder, Deadline, Amount, Eligibility, Status)

Week 2: Research and Match

Search for 5–10 grants using keywords related to your mission and location
Read eligibility criteria carefully—rule out anything that's not a fit
Look at past grantees to see if organizations like yours have been funded
Narrow your list to 2–3 grants you're confident about

Week 3: Prepare Your Documents

Gather your 501(c)(3) letter, recent budget, and mission statement
Draft a one-page summary of your organization (you'll reuse this constantly)
Write down answers to common questions like "What problem are you solving?" and "Who do you serve?"
Set a reminder for the application deadline

Pro tip: Don't try to apply to 20 grants at once. Start with one or two that feel like a strong fit. You'll learn what works and get faster over time.

Search Keywords That Work

When you're searching for grants in Massachusetts, try these keyword combinations:

"Massachusetts nonprofit grants"
"Boston Foundation grants"
"MassDevelopment grants for nonprofits"
"Massachusetts community foundation grants"
"Conservation grants Massachusetts"
"Cultural facilities grants Massachusetts"
"Humanities grants Massachusetts"
"Health equity grants Massachusetts"
"EOED grants Massachusetts"
"Grants for [your cause area] in Massachusetts"

Pro tip: Combine your cause area with location terms (e.g., "youth development grants Greater Boston" or "environmental grants Western Massachusetts") to find more relevant results.

Getting Help When You Need It

You don't have to figure this out alone. Here are some places to turn when you need guidance:

MassDevelopment's nonprofit partner organizations: Offer tailored guidance for specific grant applications
Philanthropy Massachusetts: Provides insights into what funders are looking for and how to strengthen your applications
The Grantsmanship Center: Offers training programs and webinars on grant writing and nonprofit fundraising
Your local community foundation: Many offer free workshops, one-on-one consultations, or grant writing support for local nonprofits

Final Encouragement

Grant seeking is a skill, not a talent. It takes time to learn what funders are looking for, how to write a strong application, and which opportunities are worth your time. You're going to apply to grants you don't get. That's normal. Even experienced grant writers have success rates around 10–30%.

What matters is that you're starting. Every application you submit teaches you something. Every funder relationship you build opens doors. And every grant you win—no matter how small—helps you do more of the work that matters.

You've got this. And you don't have to do it alone.

Zeffy Grant Finder

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