OUR APPROACH
Seeking to understand and build authentic relationships
We bring curiosity, humility, and a commitment of continuous learning to our work. Through flexible, responsive funding, we hope to amplify the innovation, resilience, and strengths of our nonprofit community.
PROGRAMMATIC GRANTS
Support for specific programs, initiatives, or pilots that test novel approaches, including the staff time needed to run them.
OPERATING GRANTS
Support for the overall day-to-day operations of an organization.
CAPITAL GRANTS
Support for capital projects, such as facility construction or improvements (limited number awarded, targeted focus).
LEARN ABOUT FUNDING
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Applications are first reviewed for eligibility and completeness; complete applications are evaluated against the Foundation’s priorities and goals; applicants being advanced for funding will be contacted for a site visit.
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We fund high-quality early childcare, educational enrichment and out-of-school-time programs and invest in initiatives that strengthen family stability and create economic opportunities for underserved communities. We also support capacity building.
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Application cycles align with quarterly Trustee meetings. The Foundation receives more requests than it can fund, and not all eligible proposals will be awarded.
Grant Details
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Sound leadership, preferably rooted in the community being served
Clear goals, a focused strategy, and alignment across the organization
Meaningful collaboration with external partners
A demonstrated ability to understand and assess impact
Diverse funding sources
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At this time, program and general operating grants are one year. Capital grants may be extended across multiple years depending on the nature of the project. The Foundation awards challenge grants from time to time when it serves the grantee to leverage additional resources.
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Individuals, endowments or private foundations, religious organizations where the grant is to be used for sectarian purposes, political campaigns, event sponsorships or advertisements, seed funding.
STEPS FOR PROPOSALS
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Review our eligibility self-assessment.
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Application deadlines for 2027 will be February, May, and September. Exact dates updated this fall.
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To access the grant application, you will need to create an account first if you do not already have one.
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Once the application is live we recommend previewing it prior to completion to save you time. More helpful hints can be found in the application itself in the “Before you Begin” section.
Click here to access the tutorial on how the platform works »
How to Apply
Have questions? Please visit our FAQ page for more information.
APPLICANT GUIDELINES
Eligibility Self-Assessment
The following self-assessment can help organizations determine if they are eligible for funding from the Amelia Peabody Foundation.
Nonprofit Status and Budget
We are a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) public charity or have a fiscal sponsor that is.
Our operating budget is over $100,000, and we have at least one year of financial reporting.
Our funding comes from a variety of sources, e.g., multiple funders.
Program/Project Alignment
Our work aligns with the Foundation’s focus on improving lives for underserved children and their families.
In our application, we can explain how we define and evaluate our impact.
Geographic Alignment
Our proposed work will benefit at least one underserved Massachusetts community, preferably outside of Greater Boston.
Funding Request
We have not applied to the Foundation already this year, whether funded or not.
We are not requesting more than 10% of our annual operating budget.
For capital requests only, the Foundation is currently targeting three specific areas: 1) increasing access to childcare for low-income families; 2) increasing access to healthcare through community health centers or other community-based interventions; and 3) building affordable housing for households with children.