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
The Foundation Board met on September 27, 2021 and decided to return to its traditional application process for grants. Prior to COVID-19 the Foundation accepted general operating and program support grant applications, and organizations were limited to applying only one time per year.
History and Current: As a response to the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Daniels Foundation began in April 2020 only accepting grant applications specifically tailored to organizations providing DIRECT and IMMEDIATE support for basic needs to Worcester’s most vulnerable populations. Subsequently the Foundation allowed only COVID-related grant applications, but they were no longer limited to basic needs. Additionally, the Foundation waived the rule of only one grant per year.
The Foundation is returning to the rule of only one grant per year, and grant applications starting with the October 2021 cycle can be for either general operating expenses or specific one-time program expenses.
The deadline for submitting applications is the last day of the months of January, April, July and October for decisions that are made at the Foundation’s quarterly meetings.
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
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 Daniels Foundation’s Capital Grants program will open on July 1 each year, and the deadline for submission will be September 30, for consideration at the December quarterly meeting of the Foundation Board.
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 | Program Area | Grant Total Paid |
---|---|---|---|---|
Worcester State University | One Circle: Engaging Middle School Girls in Identity, Culture, and Wellness | Strategic Grant | $37,500.00 | |
Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Girls Summer Nights | Strategic Grant | $20,000.00 | |
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Inc | All about MEdia | Strategic Grant | $225,000.00 | |
Joy of Music Program, Inc. | Staying in Control | Annual Grant | Arts | $5,000.00 |
Old Sturbridge, Inc. | General Operating Support for Old Sturbridge Village | Annual Grant | Arts | $12,500.00 |
Worcester County Mechanics Association, aka Mechanics Hall | Community Outreach Programming 2022 | Annual Grant | Arts | $10,000.00 |
Worcester Center for Crafts | Operational Support for Worcester Center for Crafts | Annual Grant | Arts | $2,500.00 |
Music Worcester Inc. | Keep the music playing and thriving: operating support for Music Worcester | Annual Grant | Arts | $5,000.00 |
Salisbury Singers, Inc. | Salisbury Singers 48th season | Annual Grant | Arts | $1,000.00 |
Discovery Museums, Inc. | Discovery Science: Worcester | Annual Grant | Arts | $4,000.00 |
Worcester Children's Chorus, Inc. | Let’s Get All Youth in Worcester Singing - Building Capacity for Worcester Children's Chorus | Annual Grant | Arts | $1,000.00 |
Lovin' Spoonfuls Inc. | Food Rescue and Hunger Relief in Worcester County | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $5,000.00 |
Community Servings, Inc. | Nutrition Program for Worcester County Residents Affected by Critical & Chronic Illnesses | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $15,000.00 |
North Star Family Services | North Star Family Services: Comprehensive Family Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Self Sufficiency | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $5,000.00 |
Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc. | Abby's House: Advocacy & Support Services Program | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $10,000.00 |
Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc. | Dismas House of Massachusetts | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $10,000.00 |
Provision Ministry, Inc. | Helping to Bring Food and New Essential Items to Worcester | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $10,000.00 |
Franklin County Community Meals Program | Supporting Worcester County clients of the Orange Food Pantry and Orange Community Meal site | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $2,500.00 |
Overlook Food Awareness Resource of Massachusetts | Operating Support for Overlook FARM | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $2,500.00 |
Behavioral Health Network, Inc | Quaboag Hills IPV Survivor Advocacy | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $5,000.00 |
Community Harvest Project | Volunteer Farming For Hunger Relief | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $25,000.00 |
Rachel's Table (FS) | Children's Milk Fund | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $15,000.00 |
Regional Environmental Council, Inc. | REC Food Justice Programs | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $15,000.00 |
Jeremiahs Hospice, Inc. (aka Jeremiah's Inn) | Jeremiah's Inn Nutrition Center | Annual Grant | Basic Needs | $10,000.00 |
Investing In Girls Alliance (FS) | Investing in Girls Alliance | Annual Grant | Capacity Building | $100,000.00 |
Worcester Education Collaborative (FS) | Transformations Planning Grant | Annual Grant | Capacity Building | $25,000.00 |
Worcester Historical Museum | Worcester Historical Museum Organizational Support | Annual Grant | Capacity Building | $15,000.00 |
African Community Education Program | ACE Family Education & Outreach Program | Annual Grant | Education | $5,000.00 |
Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester | Operating Support | Annual Grant | Education | $3,000.00 |
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester | ESOL for Career Readiness 2022 | Annual Grant | Education | $5,000.00 |
Nativity School of Worcester, Inc. | Nativity Worcester Organizational Support | Annual Grant | Education | $10,000.00 |
Worcester Academy | Worcester Scholars Program | Annual Grant | Education | $10,000.00 |
Science from Scientists | During-School STEM Education for Worcester Students AY2022-23 | Annual Grant | Education | $2,500.00 |
Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc. | General operations | Annual Grant | Environment | $12,000.00 |
Pathways for Change, Inc. | Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivor Services | Annual Grant | Health | $10,000.00 |
National Education for Assistance Dog Services, Inc. | Expand and Strengthen NEADS’ Breeding Program for Future Service and Assistance Dogs | Annual Grant | Health | $7,500.00 |
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. | Health Care for Homeless Families | Annual Grant | Health | $15,000.00 |
Lucy's Love Bus | Art Therapy at The Healing Room™ at UMass Memorial Medical Center | Annual Grant | Health | $5,000.00 |
VNA Care Network, Inc | Removing Barriers to Health for Worcester County Residents | Annual Grant | Health | $5,000.00 |
RIA, Inc. | RIA – Operating Support | Annual Grant | Health | $3,000.00 |
Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc. | Central Region Playspaces for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness | Annual Grant | Youth | $4,000.00 |
WICN Public Radio | WICN Public Radios Youth Program Series | Annual Grant | Youth | $3,000.00 |
Boys and Girls Club of Worcester | Learning Loss and Recovery After COVID | Annual Grant | Youth | $10,000.00 |
Worcester Chamber Music Society | Neighborhood Strings | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
Worcester County Horticultural Society | Project Bloom, Connecting Youth with Environmental Education | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
Why Me, Inc. | Operational support | Annual Grant | Youth | $8,000.00 |
YMCA of Central Massachusetts | Afterschool by the Numbers and Numbers in the Sun Reinforcement | Annual Grant | Youth | $7,500.00 |
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children | Updating Curricula for Healthy Families Greater Worcester | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
Straight Ahead Ministries, Inc. | Worcester Youth Re-Entry Program | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
United Way of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Women's Initiative General Operating and Programmatic Support | Annual Grant | Youth | $30,000.00 |
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. | Finding Forever Homes for Waiting Foster Children in the Greater Worcester Area. | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
Worcester Youth Cooperatives, Inc | Dare to Co-op Academy (2022-2023) | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |
Worcester Youth Center Inc | Worcester Youth Center Operational Support | Annual Grant | Youth | $7,500.00 |
YWCA Central Massachusetts, Inc. | General Operating Support | Annual Grant | Youth | $25,000.00 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc. | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest 1:1 mentoring program in Worcester City | Annual Grant | Youth | $5,000.00 |