The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation provides grants in three program areas: Program and Operating Grants, Capital Grants, and Strategic Grants which focus on girls ages 10-14. The Foundation seeks to support sustainable, creative solutions to Worcester’s most pressing societal challenges by funding programs and institutions that help people become more self-reliant in their lives and communities. Grant guidelines and information about project grants cycles and required letters of intent can be found in Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Please scroll down for information about each program.
PROGRAM AND OPERATING GRANTS
As a response to the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Daniels Foundation has since April 2020 only been accepting grant applications specifically tailored to organizations providing DIRECT and IMMEDIATE support for basic needs to Worcester’s most vulnerable populations. Funding provided for the June and September 2020 grant cycles could not be used for general fundraising or services not related to the provision of basic needs.
At the September Board meeting the Board members of the Daniels Foundation agreed that the Foundation will continue to accept only COVID-19 related grant applications for the December 2020 quarterly meeting.
However, these grant applications can now be submitted for ANY COVID-19 related need, including but no longer limited to BASIC NEEDS.
The Foundation will continue to allow organizations to apply which have already received COVID related funds from April through the September quarterly meeting. However, the Board is also actively encouraging applications from organizations who have postponed submission or have not applied for COVID related grants because their programs did not focus on BASIC NEEDS.
INVESTING IN GIRLS STRATEGIC GRANTS
Since 2004 the Daniels Foundation has offered three year grants targeting programs which focus on girls age 10-14. The Daniels Foundation selected this focus area because it was the most under-resourced population in the Worcester, MA service area. Applications are competitive, requiring substantial evidence of planning and capability, and follow up with grant recipients is frequent and rigorous. The best grant applications demonstrate significant evidence-based planning with a comprehensive plan for sustainability after three years. Grant recipients must be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization and 100% of received funds must be applied to the Worcester, MA service area. Grants are available for up to $225,000 over three years.
CAPITAL GRANTS
UPDATE MAY 5, 2020: The Daniels Foundation’s Capital Grants program has been cancelled for the 2020 grant cycle. Funding otherwise available for Capital Grants will be re-allocated for support of COVID-19 related emergency program grants. It is the current intention of the Foundation to renew the Capital Grants program for the 2021 grant year, and a final decision to renew the Capital Grants program will be made in June of 2021. If renewed the 2021 Capital Grant cycle deadline will be September 30, 2021 for consideration at the December 2021 meeting.
The Daniels Foundation provides capital grants to organizations located in the Worcester, MA service area that recognized as a 501(c)(3) corporation. Capital grants are for building construction or building improvements only; program operations or program improvements are not funded by capital grants. Grant payments typically are spread over three years and may not start immediately; all payments are scheduled at the discretion of the Foundation. Capital Grant applications are aggregated and approved once per year. The deadline for submission is September 30th for consideration at the December meeting of the board each year.
RECENT GRANTS
We encourage you to browse a list of selected recent grants to better understand the types of work we fund.
| Organization Name | Project Name | Process Name | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc. | Opening Doors, Transforming Lives. Building for the Future of Abby’s House | Capital Requests | $50,000.00 |
| American Antiquarian Society | Goddard-Daniels House Maintenance Projects | Capital Requests | $150,000.00 |
| Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. | Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester | Capital Requests | $25,000.00 |
| Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. | Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester | Capital Requests | $25,000.00 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Girls Inc. of Worcester Capital Renovation | Capital Requests | $50,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Inc. | Roof Replacement, Additional Women's Restrooms, and New Music Library at Worcester's Tuckerman Hall | Capital Requests | $40,000.00 |
| Nichols College | Team-Based Learning and Technology Classrooms | Capital Requests | $200,000.00 |
| Stone Soup Artists Activists Community Resource Center, Inc. | 2019-2020 Stone Soup Capital Improvements & Renovations | Capital Requests | $5,000.00 |
| The Bancroft School | Out in Front: Transformation of Learning Environments | Capital Requests | $200,000.00 |
| The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for Performing Arts | The Hanover Theatre - Theatre District Campaign | Capital Requests | $25,000.00 |
| Worcester Art Museum | Worcester Art Museum (WAM) Lancaster Plaza Project | Capital Requests | $100,000.00 |
| Worcester Historical Museum | Accessing Worcester: Your History. Your Future. Your City. | Capital Requests | $225,000.00 |
| Worcester Natural History Society dba EcoTarium | Third Century Plan Phase Two and Grounds Maintenance | Capital Requests | $250,000.00 |
| Youth Opportunities Upheld, Inc. | Forward to 50: Creating Opportunity for Youth Capital Campaign 2018-2021 | Capital Requests | $40,000.00 |
| Apple Tree Arts | Apple Tree Arts Operating Support | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $5,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children | MSPCC Worcester General Operating Support | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $5,000.00 |
| Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester | Ensuring Access & Diversity: Financial Aid for Music Lessons | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $2,500.00 |
| Preservation Worcester | Preservation Worcester Youth Education Programming | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $1,000.00 |
| Salisbury Singers, Inc. | Salisbury Singers Inc 46th season | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $1,000.00 |
| Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation | Female Safety Awareness and Empowerment | Annual Grants up to $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $4,000.00 |
| Discovery Museums, Inc. | Discovery Science: Worcester | Annual Grants up to $5000 Summer 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| Parents Helping Parents | Parent Support Services in Worcester County | Annual Grants up to $5000 Summer 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| Worcester Natural History Society dba EcoTarium | EcoTarium Access Program | Annual Grants up to $5000 Summer 2019 | $4,000.00 |
| Provision Ministry, Inc. | Helping the Most Disenfranchised in Worcester | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2020 | $5,000.00 |
| Easter Seals Massachusetts, Inc. | Disability Services in Worcester | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| L.U.K. Crisis Center, Inc. | LUK Mentoring | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| RIA House, Inc. - Ready.Inspire.Act | Sisters Leading Sisters in Worcester | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| Tasks For Transit Inc | Tasks for Transit Single-Day WRTA Bus Pass Program | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $1,500.00 |
| Worcester Youth Center Inc | Worcester Youth Center; Operational Support | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| YMCA of Central Massachusetts | Summer Camp Behavior Management Model Pilot | Annual Grants up to $5000 Spring 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| Whitin Community Center | Whitin Community Center's Youth Outreach Program | Annual Grants up to $5000 Fall 2019 | $2,500.00 |
| WICN Public Radio | IT and Server Upgrade | Annual Grants up to $5000 Fall 2019 | $2,500.00 |
| Worcester Chamber Music Society | Neighborhood Strings | Annual Grants up to $5000 Fall 2019 | $3,500.00 |
| Worcester Roots Project, Inc. | Worcester Youth Co-op | Annual Grants up to $5000 Fall 2019 | $4,500.00 |
| Community Servings, Inc. | Nutrition Program for Worcester & Worcester County Residents Affected by Critical & Chronic Illness | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $12,000.00 |
| Living in Freedom Together, Inc. | Jana's Place | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $20,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. | Finding Adoptive Homes for Children and Teens in Foster Care in Greater Worcester | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $5,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc. | Nature for All: Nature Education for Worcester County | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $12,000.00 |
| Music Worcester Inc. | Music Worcester Presents the 2019-2020 Concert Season | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $5,000.00 |
| Nativity School of Worcester, Inc. | One Year Comprehensive Student Sponsorship | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $10,000.00 |
| Old Sturbridge, Inc. | General Operating Support | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $10,000.00 |
| Pathways for Change, Inc. | Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivor Services | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $10,000.00 |
| Straight Ahead Ministries, Inc. | Worcester Girls Youth Re-Entry Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $7,500.00 |
| The Community Builders, Inc. | Reading Bug Jr. (Summer 2020) | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $3,000.00 |
| Worcester Academy | Worcester Academy Summer Scholars | Annual Grants more than $5000 Winter 2019-2020 | $10,000.00 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc. | Worcester Area College Mentoring Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Worcester | Youth Development at Boys & Girls Club of Worcester | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc. | Worcester Playspace Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| Jeremiahs Hospice, Inc. (aka Jeremiah's Inn) | Jeremiah's Inn Nutrition Center | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $7,500.00 |
| Rachel's Table (FS) | Children's Milk Fund | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $15,000.00 |
| Regional Environmental Council, Inc. | REC Food Justice Programs | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| The CASA Project, Inc. | Child Court Advocacy Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Summer 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc. | Dismas House of Massachusetts | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2020 | $10,000.00 |
| African Community Education Program | ACE Family Education & Outreach Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| Audio Journal, Inc. | Equip a Second Recording Studio | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $2,500.00 |
| Community Harvest Project | Volunteer Farming for Health Hunger Relief | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $20,000.00 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc. | Dismas House | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester | English Language Proficiency: Continuing the Road to Economic Security 2019-2020 | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| VNA Care Network, Inc | Elder Wellness Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| Worcester County Horticultural Society | Tower Hill Botanic Garden Request for Organizational Support | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| YWCA Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Girls CHOICE (Choosing Hope, Opportunity, and Independence through Career and Education) | Annual Grants more than $5000 Spring 2019 | $10,000.00 |
| Bottom Line, Inc. | Worcester Success Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $7,500.00 |
| Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc. | Kennedy CHC Infection Control Project | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $7,000.00 |
| Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. | Worcester Healthcare for the Homeless – Healthcare for Homeless Familes Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $15,000.00 |
| Franklin County Community Meals Program | Supporting Worcester County clients of the Orange Food Pantry and Orange meal site | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $2,000.00 |
| Genesis Clubhouse, Inc. | Supported Education Program for Adults with Mental Illness | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $5,000.00 |
| Joy of Music Program, Inc. | Operating Support | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $3,000.00 |
| Why Me, Inc. | Childhood Cancer Lifeline & Sherry's House Program | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $7,500.00 |
| Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Inc. | Worcester Regional Research Bureau Operating Support | Annual Grants more than $5000 Fall 2019 | $5,000.00 |