Greater Lawrence Community Fund Grant

The Greater Lawrence Community Fund Grant provides essential program support for nonprofit organizations in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover, focusing on hunger, clothing, shelter, and education. The grant favors collaborative projects and evaluates proposals based on documented needs, organizational capacity, and potential impacts. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations committed to non-discrimination. Grants are typically for specific programs that can be assessed within a year, supporting small organizations as needed.

Greater Lawrence Community Fund Grant Guidelines
The Greater Lawrence Community Fund (formerly Merrimack Valley General Fund) provides program support for nonprofit organizations serving four communities in the Greater Lawrence community of Massachusetts.
Funding Priorities
The Greater Lawrence Community Fund directs support to essential needs in four communities in Greater Lawrence: Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover with a focus on the city of Lawrence. These needs include: hunger, clothing, shelter and education. Shelter is defined as affordable housing or shelter programs, but not actual construction projects. The GLCF Grants Committee looks favorably on collaborative projects.
Selection Criteria
When reviewing proposals, the GLCF Grants Committee considers:
Programs that meet a documented need, are well planned and include evaluation proceduresOrganizations that have the capacity to support the proposed project and have a sound financial plan.Projects that offer the most significant impact for the contribution dollar.The project’s potential impact on the participants.The needs of the target population.Potential for continuation or impact beyond the grant period.
Proposals should demonstrate how the requested funds will be used directly in the program itself or in the building of the organization's physical or governing capacity.
Usually grants are made for specific programs or activities with objectives that can be assessed within a one-year grant period. General operating support is sometimes provided to small organizations (e.g. under $500,000 annual operating budget).

Eligibility

ECCF is committed to non-discrimination. We support organizations that use all reasonable efforts to recruit, hire, train, promote and serve persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where such status is a bona fide qualification for the service being provided and is related to the organization's mission.Only nonprofit organizations recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible for consideration.

Ineligibility

Generally GLCF grants are not awarded:To individualsTo state or local government agencies including public schoolsFor political purposesFor debt or deficit reductionTo replace public funding, or for purposes which are generally a public sector responsibilityTo support academic researchFor travel outside the regionTo organizations headquartered outside of Essex County, unless they have a physical presence in the Merrimack Valley.For summer programs that are already supported by the Greater Lawrence Summer Fund.