CSTO Trust Grant Program

Background: The Castle Square Tenants Organization 2020 Charitable Trust was formed in November 2020 with a contribution from Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO). CSTO is the managing partner of Castle Square Apartments, a 500-unit affordable housing development in the South End of Boston, Massachusetts. The Trust is governed by up to eight Trustees (four tenant representatives and four independent trustees appointed by the CSTO Board of Directors).

Mission & Vision: The Trust's purpose is to act as a supporting organization for CSTO as well as to support other organizations in the area which advance its mission. The Trust envisions communities where low-and moderate-income residents and residents of all races and ethnicities have the power, voice, and resources to build a united front where racial and societal wealth disparities are actively addressed and eliminated, advancing a more just, equitable, and prosperous society.

2025 Awards: Trustees awarded mini grants to nine eligible organizations in February 2025 and made final awards to twenty eligible organizations in June 2025, totaling $868,000.

Core Values

• Respect: Recognizes, celebrates, and supports each person's unique talents, experiences, and perspectives
• Impact: Follows the ethos "Do nothing about me without me" - change is only sustainable if leaders are inclusive and reflect their communities
• Outcome: Making a positive difference so all may experience a multifaceted sense of hope, health, and well-being

Funding Priorities

The Trust targets funding to two priority areas:

1. Youth/Child Development and Education

• Organizations and programs serving school-age children ages 6-19 and/or older youth up to age 21 who need support transitioning to adulthood
• Out-of-School-Time programs
• Youth leadership programs
• College/career/job exploration and readiness programs
• ESOL classes for recent immigrants who are older youth
• Mental and behavioral health programs
• Youth anti-violence initiatives

2. Affordable Housing

• Technical assistance for creation and preservation
• Resident services
• Strengthening resident-controlled affordable housing developments (board leadership development, capacity-building)
• Tenant organizing

Geographic Scope

Service Areas (Boston neighborhoods only):

• South End (includes Bay Village)
• Chinatown (includes the Leather District)
• Lower Roxbury (southern border is Malcolm X Boulevard/Dudley Street)

Award Ranges

• Up to $15,000: May be processed on expedited basis based on Letter of Interest; may not require full proposal review
• $15,000-$40,000: Subject to full review process
• Maximum request: $40,000

Leadership

Trustees:

• Jonathan Klein (Chair) - Retired Attorney
• Ann Moy (Vice-Chair) - Retired Boston Public School Teacher
• Terrance Woolfork - Gym Manager
• Vince O'Donnell - Affordable Housing Consultant
• Vernon Mills - Director CSTO
• Chu Huang (Treasurer) - Consultant
• Josephine McNeil - Retired Attorney

Advisors:

• Deborah Backus - Executive Director, CSTO
• Vivian Lee - Senior Advisor, CSTO
• Daphne Bishop - Consultant to CSTO Trust
• Chaletta Huertas, GMA Foundations - Consultant to CSTO Trust

Organizations serving Boston's South End (including Bay Village), Chinatown (including Leather District), or Lower Roxbury, with priority on youth/child development and education (ages 6-21) and affordable housing; affordable housing applications elsewhere in Boston are considered on a rolling basis.

Application Process

Status: 2026 applications are now CLOSED

Application Timeline (when open)

1. Letter of Interest (LOI) Route:
   • For applications up to $15,000
   • May be processed on expedited basis
   • Use access code: csto.loi (for new applicants)
2. Full Proposal Review Process:
   • For applications requesting $15,000-$40,000
   • Required for all requests above $15,000

Access Codes

• Prior Grantees: Use access code csto.renew
• New Applicants: Use access code csto.loi

Required Materials

Detailed application requirements are available through the application portal (see application_url below)

Contact for Questions

Email: info.trust@cstoboston.org