Men & Boys' Fund Grant

The Men & Boys' Fund Grant, established in 2016, aims to enhance the lives of men and boys in Connecticut's Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott areas. Grants support nonprofit organizations focused on education, health, leadership, and workforce readiness. Eligible applicants must serve males of any age and provide strong documentation of community impact. The Fund prioritizes self-sufficiency and requires follow-up reports from previous grantees to ensure continued support and accountability.

NOTE: Contact the Director of Grants & Programs or another member of the grantmaking team to discuss your proposal at least at least 1 week prior to the deadline.
Main Street Community Foundation welcomes grant requests from organizations that serve our geographic area, which includes Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott, Connecticut.
The Men & Boys' Fund was established in 2016 by a group of local, committed men. Through its grantmaking program, the Fund works to make it possible for men and boys to improve the quality of their lives, increase self-sufficiency and make a positive difference in their community. Grants are made from the Men & Boys' Fund to organizations serving males of any age in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding from the Men & Boys’ Fund, organizations must meet thefollowing criteria:Grants are made for a charitable purpose and must serve the public to be a charitable expenditure. General Competitive Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) not for profit organizations and 170(c)(1) public or governmental units.Either the organization or the program for which funding is requested, must provide a service to males of any age in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott. Strong documentation must be provided from out-of-area agencies that they serve individuals from our six- town service area, and such requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.A Statement of Non-Discrimination Policy must be signed.Repeat requests from agencies are certainly welcome. If an organization’s request for funding is approved three years in a row, the organization is asked to wait one year before submitting another request for funding. Follow up reports from all closed grants must have been completed and returned to Main Street Community Foundation. If they have not, the organization will not be eligible for funding.Grantmaking CriteriaThe Men & Boys’ Fund seeks to support local nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the lives of men and boys in the area of education, health and wellness, leadership, life-skills and workforce readiness, with a focus on self- sufficiency.Each request must include stated outcomes and criteria by which they will be evaluated.In general, grants are made for future, planned expenditures and not to cover operating deficits or previously incurred obligations.A proportionate amount of salaries, overhead/operational expenses can be included in the program or project budget for which funding is being requested.Grants for capital expenditures will be given consideration if the project is designed to directly benefit programs which meet the fund’s guidelines. The Main Street Community Foundation, at its sole discretion, may provide outright grants, challenge grants or grants which require matching funds.

Ineligibility

Grants are not available to individuals. Religiously affiliated or supported organizations may solicit grants for secular projects; however, grants for religious activities will not beentertained.Projects not generally funded by the Men & Boys’ Fund include, but are not limited to the following: Operating/budgets deficitsPreviously incurred obligationsEndowments, research, political and/or lobbying activitiesProperty repairs/maintenanceLoans and memorialsReplacement of governmental or other public fundingFundraising events