Clowes Fund: New England - Massachusetts Grant

Clowes Fund: New England - Massachusetts Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Clowes Fund
Amount: Up to US $150,000
Last Updated: December 19, 2025

Summary

The Clowes Fund focuses on supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals in New England, particularly in Massachusetts. It offers grants for immigrant services, workforce development, arts education, and K-12 education, with specific priorities for communities with high immigrant populations. Applications are open to first-time grantees and returning organizations, with a strong emphasis on transparency and accessibility in the funding process.

Overview

NOTE: We no longer accept Introductory Applications for K-12 education grants.We no longer accept Introductory Applications for arts education grants.Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - The LOI deadline represents when the Introductory Applications or Continuation Grant Statements of Intent is due online via GOapply.Introductory Grant: Immigrant Services or Workforce Development PrioritiesContinuation Grant: Immigrant Services, Workforce Development, Arts Education or K-12 Education PrioritiesFull Proposal - Invite Only - This final application phase is only for organizations who have been invited to submit a Final Application for the current cycle. Fund staff may choose to schedule a meeting or site visit to discuss the proposal. New England Funding Priorities The Clowes Fund supports organizations and programs that focus primarily on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. New England funding is concentrated in four geographic regions, including parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, and the State of Vermont. In New England, we accept Introductory Applications for first-time Immigrant Services and Workforce Development grants. All current and recent grantees, including those focused on K-12 Education and Arts Education, are welcome to submit a Continuation Grant Statement of Intent. Massachusetts Geographic Priorities The Fund supports immigrant services, workforce development, K-12 education and arts education requests serving Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex and Worcester counties, as well as other communities with significant populations of immigrants, refugees and asylees. Funding Priorities Immigrant Services – We are interested in supporting efforts to address the economic, linguistic, legal, and mental and emotional hurdles that immigrants, refugees and asylees and their children face during integration into the United States society and its economy. Note: In Boston, the Fund supports English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs primarily through English for New Bostonians.Workforce Development – We are interested in ensuring that all individuals have access to both jobs skills training and the support services necessary to enable them to participate fully in the economic life of their communities. In addition, we are interested in supporting youth development efforts that prevent students (ages 15 to 25) from dropping out of school and assist in their return to school or their pursuit of an alternate course to economic self-sufficiency. Note: In Boston, the Fund supports workforce development primarily through SkillWorks.K-12 Education – We support primary and secondary education through efforts that emphasize classroom instruction, such as professional development for educators or programs that are fully integrated into the school day. We do not fund after-school or summer enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. We consider such programs for teens as youth development within our workforce development interests. Note: In Boston, the Fund primarily supports education through EdVestors.Arts Education – We support arts education programs that foster critical thinking skills and creativity. Grant Application Process & Funding There are two entry points to applying for a Clowes Fund grant, after you have reviewed Where and What We Fund and What We Do Not Fund. Your answer to the following question determines your application type (due November 1). Has your organization received a Clowes Fund competitive grant payment within the past five years? If No - Apply for an Introductory Grant: $40K over 2 years ($20K/year) - For Immigrant Services or Workforce DevelopmentMost Introductory Grants are awarded to organizations with operating budgets less than $2.5 million.If Yes - Apply for a Continuation Grant - $60K, $90K or $150K over 3 years ($20K, $30K, $50K year, respectively) - For Immigrant Services, Workforce Development, Arts Education or K-12 Education Transparency is core to strong relationships, so we are compelled to share that fewer than 10% of Introductory Applications will result in an Introductory Grant. The likelihood of funding is much higher for returning grantees seeking Continuation Grants.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Fund primarily awards multi-year operating grants that focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals through Immigrant Services, Workforce Development, Arts Education and K-12 Education.

Ineligibility

The Clowes Fund will NOT consider grants for the following types of activities or entities:Organizations that are not 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations based in the United States that are also described in Internal Revenue Code section 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2) or (in certain cases) 509(a)(3). Organizations that discriminate in either policy or practice against people because of their age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, cultural beliefs, disability or sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Programs that proselytize or promote specific religious doctrine. Sponsorships for fundraising events. Scholarships or direct financial awards to individuals. More than one request per organization per calendar year. Lobbying or political elections. Certain Type III Supporting Organizations.