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.
- Operating support: This grant provides funds for the ongoing operations of the organization, including (but not limited to) operations, program, marketing, fund raising or leadership development expenses.
- Program support: This grant provides funds for one-time program costs, including (but not limited to) COVID-19 expenses, upgrading computers, replacing a boiler, capacity development, or installing a new piece of program equipment.
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
UPDATE July 10, 2022: The Daniels Foundation’s Capital Grants program has reopened. The Foundation met in June and decided to reopen the Capital Grants program. The Capital Grants cycle will open in July 2022 and deadline for submission will be September 30, 2022 for consideration at the December 2022 meeting of the Foundation Board.
Deadline for submission is September 30, 2022.
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 | Program Area | Payment Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. | Expansion/Renovation of 26 Queen Street | Health | $100,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc. | Your Sanctuary in the City: A Campaign for Broad Meadow Brook | Environment | $150,000.00 |
| Worcester Historical Museum | Accessing Worcester: Your History. Your Future. Your City. | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $225,000.00 |
| Apple Tree Arts | Grafton Town House Capital Completion Campaign | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $30,000.00 |
| Worcester Natural History Society dba EcoTarium | Third Century Plan Phase Two and Grounds Maintenance | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $250,000.00 |
| Worcester Jewish Community Center JCC | JCC 2015 Capital Campaign | Youth | $20,000.00 |
| National Education for Assistance Dog Services, Inc. | NEADS Kennel and Early Learning Center | Health | $10,000.00 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Girls Incorporated of Worcester Centennial Capital Campaign | Youth | $100,000.00 |
| Nichols College | Team-Based Learning and Technology Classrooms | Education (schools, colleges) | $200,000.00 |
| American Antiquarian Society | Goddard-Daniels House Maintenance Projects | Preservation (Historic) | $150,000.00 |
| Quinsigamond Community College Foundation, Inc. | Capital in Support of WiT QuEST | Education (schools, colleges) | $60,000.00 |
| Greater Worcester Land Trust, Inc. | Holbrooke Forest | Environment | $2,500.00 |
| Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Inc. | Tuckerman Hall Backstage Stair Access Project | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $5,000.00 |
| Seven Hills Foundation | Ensuring Assistive Technology Sustainability through Assessment, Evaluation, and Training | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $5,000.00 |
| New Garden Park, Inc. | WOOteria Creative Performance and Collaborative Space | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $75,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra Inc. | Roof Replacement, Additional Women's Restrooms, and New Music Library at Worcester's Tuckerman Hall | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $40,000.00 |
| The Bancroft School | Out in Front: Transformation of Learning Environments | Education (schools, colleges) | $200,000.00 |
| Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc. | Opening Doors, Transforming Lives. Building for the Future of Abby’s House | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $50,000.00 |
| Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. | Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $25,000.00 |
| The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for Performing Arts | The Hanover Theatre - Theatre District Campaign | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $25,000.00 |
| Youth Opportunities Upheld, Inc. | Forward to 50: Creating Opportunity for Youth Capital Campaign 2018-2021 | Mental Health | $40,000.00 |
| Worcester County Horticultural Society | Ramble, a Children’s Garden, & Essential Infrastructure Improvements at Tower Hill Botanic Garden | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $75,000.00 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Girls Inc. of Worcester Capital Renovation | Youth | $50,000.00 |
| Worcester Art Museum | Worcester Art Museum (WAM) Lancaster Plaza Project | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $100,000.00 |
| American Antiquarian Society | Preserving the Goddard-Daniels House: Essential Upgrades | Education (schools, colleges) | $50,000.00 |
| Stone Soup Artists Activists Community Resource Center, Inc. | 2019-2020 Stone Soup Capital Improvements & Renovations | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $5,000.00 |
| Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Inc | All about MEdia | $206,250.00 | |
| WICN Public Radio | Girls in Radio | Youth | $2,500.00 |
| The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for Performing Arts | A Christmas Carol Student Matinee Performance | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $20,000.00 |
| Joy of Music Program, Inc. | Staying Vibrant Virtually | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $3,000.00 |
| Worcester Historical Museum | Worcester Historical Museum’s Response to COVID-19 | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $25,000.00 |
| Worcester Chamber Music Society | Neighborhood Strings | Youth | $3,000.00 |
| Discovery Museums, Inc. | Discovery Science: Worcester | Education (schools, colleges) | $3,000.00 |
| Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Inc. | WRRB Operating Support | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $2,500.00 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Worcester | Learning Hub | Youth | $10,000.00 |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Organizational Technology Equipment Updates | Youth | $5,000.00 |
| Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. | Healthcare for Homeless Families Program | Health | $20,000.00 |
| Investing In Girls Alliance (FS) | The Investing in Girls Alliance | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $100,000.00 |
| Old Sturbridge, Inc. | General Operations / COVID-19 Relief | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $10,000.00 |
| UMass Memorial Foundation, Inc. | Community Intervention Program for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness | Mental Health | $5,000.00 |
| Bottom Line, Inc. | Worcester Success Program – Advising & Supports to Address COVID-19 Challenges | Youth | $5,000.00 |
| Worcester Youth Center Inc | WYC COVID-19 Response | Youth | $5,000.00 |
| Music Worcester Inc. | Music Worcester Presents: Concerts in COVID-Times | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $5,000.00 |
| Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester | Pakachoag Connecting: Tuition AND Technology Support for Music Learning | Education (schools, colleges) | $3,000.00 |
| YMCA of Central Massachusetts | Home Meal Delivery Program | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $15,000.00 |
| United Way of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Women's Initiative General Operating and Programmatic Support | Youth | $30,000.00 |
| Salisbury Singers, Inc. | Salisbury Singers 47th season | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $1,000.00 |
| Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc. | Dismas House Utilities and Food | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $12,000.00 |
| Provision Ministry, Inc. | Fresh Food Boxes to Worcester to Combat Food Insecurity | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $5,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. | Breaking Down Barriers: Adoption for Foster in Worcester County. | Youth | $5,000.00 |
| Nativity School of Worcester, Inc. | Nativity Worcester Organizational Support | Education (schools, colleges) | $10,000.00 |
| United Way of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | YouthConnect Worcester | Youth | $10,000.00 |
| United Way of Central Massachusetts, Inc. | Women's Initiative Girl's Leadership Program Planning Support | Youth | $5,000.00 |
| Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc. | Strengthening Environmental Science Education in the COVID-19 Era | Education (schools, colleges) | $12,000.00 |
| Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Inc | S'more Fun Together - Little at Camp Laurel Wood | $20,100.00 | |
| Girls Incorporated of Worcester | Girls Summer Nights | $40,000.00 | |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc. | S’more fun Together – Littles at Camp Laurel Wood | $12,550.00 | |
| Worcester Youth Center Inc | WYC COVID-19 Response | Youth | $7,500.00 |
| UMass Memorial Health Care | Healthy Food Rx: Leveraging Clinical Resources to Address Hunger | Health | $10,000.00 |
| American Red Cross of Central MA | Ensuring blood donor/blood safety and collecting convalescent plasma for Covid-19 patient treatment | Health | $15,000.00 |
| Worcester Historical Museum | Worcester Historical Museum Landmark Exhibit - PRETTY POWERFUL: 100 Years of Voting & Style | Capacity Building (coordination among multiple organizations) | $10,000.00 |
| Community Harvest Project | Produce Production to Aid COVID Recovery | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $25,000.00 |
| RIA, Inc. | Sisters Leading Sisters: Peer Mentoring & Support Groups | Mental Health | $3,000.00 |
| Apple Tree Arts | Songwriting for Youth Empowerment | Arts (Performing arts, Museums, Gardens) | $3,000.00 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester | Literacy Academy: ESOL for Career Readiness | Education (schools, colleges) | $5,000.00 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Worcester | Worcester Cares 4 Kids (WC4Ks) | Youth | $20,000.00 |
| Worcester Academy | Worcester Academy Neighborhood Scholarship Program | Education (schools, colleges) | $10,000.00 |
| Worcester Youth Center Inc | WYC COVID-19 Response | Youth | $10,000.00 |
| Rachel's Table (FS) | Children's Milk Fund | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $15,000.00 |
| Regional Environmental Council, Inc. | REC COVID 19 Continued response and recover | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $15,000.00 |
| Science from Scientists | Worcester Public Schools STEM Enrichment COVID-19 Individual Kits | Education (schools, colleges) | $2,000.00 |
| VNA Care Network, Inc | Removing Barriers to Health | Health | $5,000.00 |
| Discovery Museums, Inc. | Discovery Science: Worcester | Education (schools, colleges) | $3,000.00 |
| Worcester Interfaith | Health Equity Family Outreach and Engagement Program | Health | $5,000.00 |
| Worcester Natural History Society dba EcoTarium | EcoTarium Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Protocol Support | Youth | $10,000.00 |
| Jeremiahs Hospice, Inc. (aka Jeremiah's Inn) | Jeremiah's Inn Nutrition Center | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $10,000.00 |
| Provision Ministry, Inc. | Helping Families and Children in Worcester County with New Basic Essential Items | Basic Needs (Food, shelter) | $10,000.00 |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust, Inc. | University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, gene editing and RNA editing | Health | $25,000.00 |