William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy Grant Program

William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Summary

The William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund supports innovative projects in Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy, MA, focusing on low-income and underserved populations. Established in 1995, it aims to enhance community welfare through grants to nonprofits, municipalities, and civic organizations. Eligible projects include those in arts, education, environment, and health services. The fund encourages collaboration and seeks to improve the quality of life in these communities while requiring a one-to-one match for funding.

Overview

The William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams. Cheshire & Savoy The William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire and Savoy was initially created by Margery Barrett in 1995. Mrs. Barrett was born in North Adams on July 11, 1910 and moved to Adams as a child. She graduated from the former Adams High School in 1927 and from the former North Adams Normal School (now the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) in 1929. She was a teacher in the Conway School System and the former Howland Avenue School in Adams. She married William Barrett, with whom she shared her life in Adams until he died in 1969. In 1995, Mrs. Barrett, with the help of her attorney, used Pfizer stock (inherited from her father and husband, both of whom had worked at Specialty Minerals) to establish the fund through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and to increase her income through a charitable remainder trust. The Fund awarded grants anonymously for several years, giving her the joy of seeing her generosity support organizations around her. Upon Mrs. Barrett’s death in 2000, the remainder of the trust was added to the Fund and, at her instruction, her name was publicly announced for the first time. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is proud to serve as steward for the William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy, seeking to improve the quality of life for the residents of those communities, today and in years to come. The fund is an ongoing resource that works across town borders to support innovative projects and services for the maximum benefit of the residents of these towns, with particular emphasis on low income and/or underserved adults and children.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Who Can ApplyNonprofit organizations, municipalities, community organizations or civic entities that provide services to the residents of Adams, Cheshire or Savoy, MA.Projects that benefit the community in any of the following areas will be considered: arts and culture, education, the environment, and health and social services. Requests will be considered for projects, programs, capital improvements and general operating support. Projects that have received prior support from the Barrett Fund may reapply.Nonprofits, teachers, students or parents may apply for projects that enhance the educational experience for the children of Adams, Public agencies may apply for projects that enrich the experience of their communities or offer additional opportunities for public improvements. Please note that grants are not intended to replace tax dollars. All grants will require a one-to-one match either in cash, services or in-kind donations

Ineligibility

The Barrett Fund does not support organizations which in their constitution, by-laws or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender/gender identity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief.