Community Change Grants

Overview

_NOTE: If you have an idea that meets the_ _criteria listed throughout our guidelines, please schedule a time to speak with a Program Officer._

Community Change Grants

We understand that many issues can be best addressed when communities work together, pooling resources and expertise, and developing collaborative and creative solutions. By funding cross-organizational initiatives, we can help organizations broaden their outlook and their reach.

Through its Community Change funding, the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation seeks to forge equitable relationships and more just power dynamics among different constituencies relating to young people and their families affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health challenges, and/or substance use disorders.

Community Change projects must be aligned with the Tower Foundation’s goals and involve multiple, diverse stakeholders – especially those most directly harmed by existing conditions and practices – working together towards common ends.

Such work can include (but is not limited to) initiatives that:

* challenge existing beliefs, assumptions, and entrenched practices involving these populations;
* supplement, coordinate, or more effectively resource relevant continuums of care;
* employ creative approaches to workforce recruitment and development that enhance the availability of and access to high-quality, culturally relevant services;
* support coalitions and networks built on community assets; and/or
* employ innovative approaches to creating equitable relationships and practices among elements within and across systems.

The strongest projects will incorporate most, if not all, elements of the Foundation’s values.

What Does the Foundation Want to Accomplish?

For each of the populations it supports, the Foundation has identified a set of grantmaking goals. Community Change grants should promote one or more of these goals:

* Intellectual Disabilities

* Children with intellectual disabilities are identified early and receive services that meet their evolving needs.
* Young people with intellectual disabilities are engaged in meaningful social, vocational, and educational pursuits.
* Families understand intellectual disabilities and secure needed supports.
* Communities embrace persons with intellectual disabilities and provide them with a full-range of supports and opportunities to engage in community life.

* Learning Disabilities

* Children with learning disabilities are identified early, diagnosed and connected to services that meet their on-going individual needs.
* Youth with learning disabilities understand how they learn and pursue resources that support them accordingly.
* Young adults are confident and do not view their learning disability as a liability.
* Young adults with learning disabilities are ready for work and/or educational pursuits.
* Families are informed about learning disabilities and are able to identify and navigate available services.
* Communities value persons with learning disabilities and accommodate their needs.

* Mental Illness

* Stigma related to mental illness is eliminated.
* Children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges are identified early and connected to appropriate services.
* Young people with mental health challenges understand and manage their conditions and behaviors.
* Families understand mental health challenges and help members live productive lives.
* Communities offer meaningful opportunities and appropriate support to young people with mental health challenges and their families.

* Substance Use Disorders

* Community members understand the prevalence and harmful effects of alcohol and drugs, and work to address them.
* Resources for substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery are readily available.
* Families provide safe environments that support healthy choices about alcohol and drugs.
* Young people make healthy choices about alcohol and drugs.

Eligibility

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Ineligibility

* The Foundation does not fund programs or projects that:

* provide private benefits for any grant recipient or affiliated person,
* attempt to influence legislation or intervene in any political campaign,
* contribute to capital campaigns,
* consist of scholarships, services, or treatment for specific individuals,
* consist largely of general operating support

Application Details

Community Change
2024 Guidelines
Eligibility
• It’s easiest for us to accept grant applications from:
o Not-for-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation that are not private foundations;
o Not-for-profit public benefit corporations;
o Public or diocesan school districts; or
o Private or charter schools.
• We will be making grants to organizations currently providing services in one or more of these
regions:
o Massachusetts: Barnstable County, Dukes County, Essex County, Nantucket County
o New York: Erie County, Niagara County
• At a minimum, grant partners currently provide prevention, treatment, and/or recovery services to
people aged 26 years or younger from at least one of these populations:
o People with intellectual disabilities (including those on the autism spectrum)
o People with specific learning disabilities
o People with mental illness/mental health challenges
o People with substance use disorders
• Our ideal grant partners serve one or more of the populations listed above who also have
intersecting identities as members of historically marginalized communities (e.g., Black/African-
American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous Peoples, disability, housing insecure,
immigrant/refugee, LGBTQIA+).
Funding Availability
The Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation has not made a discrete budget allocation for 2024 Community
Change grants, though we anticipate having approximately $1 million available to award in this portfolio
for the year. While all Community Change grants must support work within our funding geography and
benefit one or more of the populations we serve, there is no pre-defined allocation of funds to any of its
geographies or funding categories.
There is no set amount or cap for Community Change grant awards. Owing to their community-wide or
systems-level focus, Community Change grants may be larger than those seen through our Programs &
Services portfolio (which typically range from $15,000 to $50,000 per year). We are most interested in
establishing a level of support appropriate to the work’s scope and duration.
Organizations are welcome to apply an administrative overhead rate of 15% on grant requests over
$100,000 and 20% for requests of $100,000 or less. We cap the administrative overhead rate for
colleges, universities, and affiliated organizations at 10%.

Application Timeline
We will accept Community Change requests on a rolling basis in 2024. If you have an idea that meets the
criteria listed throughout these guidelines, please schedule a time to speak with a Program Officer.
Further discussion is not an indication of likely support. We don’t have a specific time line for
development or award of Community Change grants, as projects vary in their scope and readiness for
funding.
What We’re Most Interested in Funding
Through its Community Change funding, the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation seeks to forge
equitable relationships and more just power dynamics among different constituencies relating to
young people and their families affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health
challenges, and/or substance use disorders.
Community Change projects must be aligned with the Tower Foundation’s goals and involve multiple,
diverse stakeholders – especially those most directly harmed by existing conditions and practices –
working together towards common ends.
Such work can include (but is not limited to) initiatives that:
• challenge existing beliefs, assumptions, and entrenched practices involving these populations;
• supplement, coordinate, or more effectively resource relevant continuums of care;
• employ creative approaches to workforce recruitment and development that enhance the
availability of and access to high-quality, culturally relevant services;
• support coalitions and networks built on community assets; and/or
• employ innovative approaches to creating equitable relationships and practices among elements
within and across systems.
The strongest projects will incorporate most, if not all, elements of the Foundation’s values:
• Diverse Voices – We listen to and learn from those with different points of view and
perspectives. We seek to be proximate with the communities we serve – continually engaging in
respectful conversation and incorporating what we hear into our work.
• Collaboration – We understand that in order to make progress, we must build relationships with
our partners and share knowledge, resources, expertise, and strategies.
• Innovation – We embrace change and are willing to take risks, recognizing the potential for
transformative effect. We look for opportunities to try new and creative strategies and
encourage others to do the same.
• Perseverance – We recognize that change work can be slow and challenging. We are committed
to the long-term improvement of organizations and communities.
• Equity – We pay close attention to the convergence of our focus areas with systemic issues of
racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and more, because living at the intersection of multiple
identities is a reality that factors importantly into our grantmaking.
Requests to create or expand programs operated or managed by a single agency are more appropriate
for the Foundation’s Programs & Services grant portfolio.
Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation: 2024 Community Change Grant Guidelines
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How to Apply
• If you have an idea for a Community Change project that meets the guidelines in this document,
please get in touch with a Program Officer.
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions that aren’t covered in these guidelines, you’d like to discuss a special
circumstance, or you want to see whether an idea you have for a grant is a good fit for the Foundation,
please get in touch with one of our Program Officers.
• Schedule a phone call: https://calendly.com/towerfdn-program
• Send us an email: info@thetowerfoundation.org
Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation: 2024 Community Change Grant Guidelines
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