Yawkey Foundation: Strategic Investment Grant

The Yawkey Foundation's Strategic Investment Grant supports nonprofit organizations aiming for strategic growth through board-approved plans. Grants, ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, may fund regional expansions, collaborative efforts among nonprofits, and organizational mergers. Initial Proposals are highly competitive and must demonstrate strong leadership, proven impact, and alignment with the Foundation's Areas of Giving. Review periods for proposals can take 6-12 months, during which feedback is not provided.

NOTE:
It is suggested, though not required, that organizations which have not been previously funded by the Foundation submit Initial Proposals for Program & Small Capital Grants as a way to familiarize the Foundation with their work.Nonprofit organizations seeking to be considered for Yawkey Foundation funding will be required to complete an online Eligibility Quiz and upon completion, may submit an Initial Proposal for a specific Type of Grant. As stated in Guidance For Initial Proposals, submissions should include information on budgets, expenses, anticipated outcomes, and sustainability once grant funding has been expended.
Strategic Investment Grants support high-impact nonprofit organizations by catalyzing board-approved plans for strategic growth. These plans may entail reimagining, rescoping, or re-energizing mission delivery for long-term optimized impact.
Strategic Investment Grants may fund a nonprofit’s regional expansion (within Yawkey Foundation geographic priority areas), synergistic collaborations between two or more nonprofits for improved program or service delivery, and mergers or consolidations of organizations in transition. These grants should advance a nonprofit’s efforts around the feasibility and progress of a strategic plan. Grant amounts range from $250,000 to $1 million, most often payable over multiple years.
Initial Proposals are extremely competitive and should reflect a nonprofit’s strong leadership and proven impact in providing direct services and programs for unmet needs in underserved regions aligned with the Yawkey Foundation’s Areas of Giving and geographic priority areas, including Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts. Initial Proposals for Strategic Investment Grants should demonstrate that a nonprofit’s Board has made a commitment to and has approved the strategic initiative. As stated in Guidance For Initial Proposals, submissions should include information on budgets, expenses, anticipated outcomes, and sustainability once grant funding has been expended.
The time for reviewing Strategic Investment Grant Initial Proposals to determine which nonprofits will be invited to submit a Grant Application is between 6-12 months. The Yawkey Foundation cannot provide feedback during the review period and will contact a nonprofit should more information be required for the Initial Proposal.

Eligibility

The Yawkey Foundation supports 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organizations (fiscal sponsors acceptable) making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities through direct programs and services in its six priority Areas of Giving: Health Care, Education, Human Services, Youth and Amateur Athletics, Arts and Culture, and Conservation and Wildlife.
At this time, the Yawkey Foundation’s primary geographic focus areas are Eastern Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina.For the purposes of Yawkey Foundation’s grantmaking, the Eastern Massachusetts region encompasses nonprofits providing direct programs and services in cities and towns within the following counties: Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Middlesex and Essex.

Ineligibility

The following entities and programs are ineligible for grants from the Yawkey Foundation:Organizations that are not 501(c)(3) public charities, including private operating foundations and 509(a)(3) Type III non-functionally integrated organizations Public entities (e.g., school districts, charter/public schools, libraries, government agencies) and nonprofits whose core programming relies on access to or partnership with these entities
Funding for specific staff positions, stipends, consultants, or recruitment efforts
Emergency response efforts, events, conferences, sponsorships, advertisements, films, travel, or individual benefit requests
Intermediaries, pass-through organizations, funder collaboratives, private foundations, or general endowments
Sectarian activities of faith-based organizations
Athletic and sports programs not primarily focused on baseball or softball
Early education, preschool, or elementary school programs
Organizations whose direct services primarily benefit individuals or communities outside the United States

Nonprofits serving Eastern Massachusetts (emphasis on Gateway Cities) whose missions align with a Yawkey Foundation Area of Giving; the initiative must be approved by the applicant's board. Initial Proposals accepted in two annual windows (January and June); new organizations are encouraged to apply first for Program & Small Capital Grants.