Sailors' Snug Harbor of Boston: Annual Grant

Sailors' Snug Harbor of Boston: Annual Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Sailors Snug Harbor of Boston
Last Updated: June 30, 2025

Summary

Sailors' Snug Harbor of Boston offers annual grants to support 501(c)(3) organizations addressing the social service needs of fishermen, their families, and low-income elders in coastal Massachusetts. Preference is given to programs in Gloucester, New Bedford, and Cape Cod that help prevent homelessness and support independent living. Grants focus on operating or program support rather than capital funding, particularly for organizations with few funding alternatives.

Overview

NOTE: Organizations serving low-income elders in the city of Boston may apply upon invitation only. Background Sailors’ Snug Harbor of Boston began its formal grantmaking program with a focus on assisting seamen and their families. In 1970, the trustees voted to extend eligibility for grants to agencies that serve low-income elderly men and women in the Greater Boston area. From 1994 to 2015, the foundation also addressed issues facing Massachusetts’ fishing communities, with a particular focus on those in New Bedford, Gloucester, and on Cape Cod, through a special funding initiative undertaken in collaboration with the Island Foundation. In June 2016, the trustees voted to consolidate these two funding streams into a single grantmaking program that addresses the social service needs of fishermen, their families, and low-income elders residing in coastal communities of Massachusetts, maintaining its focus on Gloucester, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. Overview and Goals The foundation’s grantmaking will focus on the social service needs of fishermen, their families, and low-income elders in coastal communities of Massachusetts, with a particular preference to support programs for those residing in the traditional fishing communities of Gloucester, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. The trustees are interested in making grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that are presently providing such services, as well as to agencies seeking to expand or develop new programs to serve the particular needs of these populations and communities. Preference will be given to programs that address social service needs of fishermen and their families that are the direct result of ongoing changes in the fishing industry, and to programs that help low-income elders live independently. For both of these population groups, the trustees have a particular preference for funding programs that prevent homelessness, re-house homeless families and individuals, or that provide the necessary services and supports to help families and individuals remain safely housed. Potential applicants should please note that, while grantmaking will not be restricted to these areas, proposals falling within these stated preferences are more likely to receive Sailors’ Snug Harbor of Boston support: A geographic preference for the traditional fishing communities of Gloucester, New Bedford, and Cape Cod A preference for providing operating or program support, as opposed to capital support An impact preference for organizations and/or programs with fewer funding alternatives Annual Grants The majority of Sailors’ Snug Harbor’s grantmaking will support one-year requests in the program areas described above. Past applicants should please note that the online application process has changed somewhat, and the foundation now requests uploaded copies of Philanthropy Massachusetts’ Common Proposal Format.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are made only to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.Sailors’ Snug Harbor of Boston supports nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working to address the social service needs of fishermen, their families, and low-income older people living in coastal communities of Massachusetts, with a particular focus on Gloucester, New Bedford, and Cape Cod. Types of grants to nonprofits include support for general operating, program support, seed money/start-up, and special projects. Grants are very occasionally made for capital support, and challenge or matching grants are made on rare occasion.

Ineligibility

No grants are made directly to individuals.The foundation does not support conferences/seminars, debt reduction/cash reserves, endowment, or publications/ films/videos.