MCSB Foundation Grants

The Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation, established in 1997 with a $1 million endowment, focuses on improving community life in its service areas in New Hampshire. It allocates 5% of its endowment annually to support non-profit organizations, particularly in civic, arts, social services, and health sectors. The Foundation prioritizes local needs and considers requests from 501(c)(3) organizations, while excluding individuals and lobbying entities from funding.

Background
In May of 1997, Merrimack County Savings Bank established the Foundation with an initial investment of $1,000,000. The Trustees anticipate distributing 5% of the Foundation’s endowment, each year, in the form of grants to not-for-profit organizations.
It was the donor bank’s intent to see that regardless of economic ups and downs, funding to these organizations be made available.

Eligibility

The Foundation’s geographic focus will be those communities that the bank services. The service area will be defined as the Bank’s Assessment Areas in New Hampshire:Allenstown, Andover, Boscawen, Bow, Bradford, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Danbury, Dunbarton, Epsom, Franklin, Henniker, Hill, Hollis, Hooksett, Hopkinton, Hudson, Loudon, Merrimack, Nashua, New London, Newbury, Northfield, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Salisbury, Sutton, Warner, Weare, Webster, Wilmot.Requests from statewide organizations may be considered, but the decision process will center around the use of a grant to fund programs to benefit the communities within the Foundation’s geographic focus.Grant requests are encouraged from not-for-profit, civic, arts, environmental, social service, health and affordable housing organizations that have 501(c)(3) status.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not fund requests from individuals, municipalities, private schools, political, labor, religious, fraternal, nor organizations whose main function is lobbying.The Foundation will not consider multi-year pledge requests or requests for endowments.