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.

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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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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.

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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.

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RECENT GRANTS

We encourage you to browse a list of selected recent grants to better understand the types of work we fund.

Organization NameProject NameProcess NameProgram AreaGrant Total Paid
Worcester State UniversityOne Circle: Engaging Middle School Girls in Identity, Culture, and WellnessStrategic Grant $37,500.00
Girls Incorporated of WorcesterGirls Summer NightsStrategic Grant $20,000.00
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, IncAll about MEdiaStrategic Grant$225,000.00
Joy of Music Program, Inc.Staying in ControlAnnual GrantArts$5,000.00
Old Sturbridge, Inc.General Operating Support for Old Sturbridge VillageAnnual GrantArts$12,500.00
Worcester County Mechanics Association, aka Mechanics HallCommunity Outreach Programming 2022Annual GrantArts$10,000.00
Worcester Center for CraftsOperational Support for Worcester Center for CraftsAnnual GrantArts$2,500.00
Music Worcester Inc.Keep the music playing and thriving: operating support for Music WorcesterAnnual GrantArts$5,000.00
Salisbury Singers, Inc.Salisbury Singers 48th seasonAnnual GrantArts$1,000.00
Discovery Museums, Inc.Discovery Science: WorcesterAnnual GrantArts$4,000.00
Worcester Children's Chorus, Inc.Let’s Get All Youth in Worcester Singing - Building Capacity for Worcester Children's ChorusAnnual GrantArts$1,000.00
Lovin' Spoonfuls Inc.Food Rescue and Hunger Relief in Worcester CountyAnnual GrantBasic Needs$5,000.00
Community Servings, Inc.Nutrition Program for Worcester County Residents Affected by Critical & Chronic IllnessesAnnual GrantBasic Needs$15,000.00
North Star Family ServicesNorth Star Family Services: Comprehensive Family Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Self SufficiencyAnnual GrantBasic Needs$5,000.00
Abby Kelley Foster House, Inc.Abby's House: Advocacy & Support Services ProgramAnnual GrantBasic Needs$10,000.00
Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc.Dismas House of MassachusettsAnnual GrantBasic Needs$10,000.00
Provision Ministry, Inc.Helping to Bring Food and New Essential Items to WorcesterAnnual GrantBasic Needs$10,000.00
Franklin County Community Meals ProgramSupporting Worcester County clients of the Orange Food Pantry and Orange Community Meal siteAnnual GrantBasic Needs$2,500.00
Overlook Food Awareness Resource of MassachusettsOperating Support for Overlook FARM Annual GrantBasic Needs$2,500.00
Behavioral Health Network, IncQuaboag Hills IPV Survivor AdvocacyAnnual GrantBasic Needs$5,000.00
Community Harvest ProjectVolunteer Farming For Hunger Relief Annual GrantBasic Needs$25,000.00
Rachel's Table (FS)Children's Milk FundAnnual GrantBasic Needs$15,000.00
Regional Environmental Council, Inc.REC Food Justice ProgramsAnnual GrantBasic Needs$15,000.00
Jeremiahs Hospice, Inc. (aka Jeremiah's Inn)Jeremiah's Inn Nutrition CenterAnnual GrantBasic Needs$10,000.00
Investing In Girls Alliance (FS)Investing in Girls AllianceAnnual GrantCapacity Building$100,000.00
Worcester Education Collaborative (FS)Transformations Planning Grant Annual GrantCapacity Building$25,000.00
Worcester Historical MuseumWorcester Historical Museum Organizational SupportAnnual GrantCapacity Building$15,000.00
African Community Education ProgramACE Family Education & Outreach ProgramAnnual GrantEducation$5,000.00
Pakachoag Music School of Greater WorcesterOperating SupportAnnual GrantEducation$3,000.00
Literacy Volunteers of Greater WorcesterESOL for Career Readiness 2022Annual GrantEducation$5,000.00
Nativity School of Worcester, Inc.Nativity Worcester Organizational SupportAnnual GrantEducation$10,000.00
Worcester AcademyWorcester Scholars ProgramAnnual GrantEducation$10,000.00
Science from ScientistsDuring-School STEM Education for Worcester Students AY2022-23Annual GrantEducation$2,500.00
Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc.General operationsAnnual GrantEnvironment$12,000.00
Pathways for Change, Inc.Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivor ServicesAnnual GrantHealth$10,000.00
National Education for Assistance Dog Services, Inc.Expand and Strengthen NEADS’ Breeding Program for Future Service and Assistance DogsAnnual GrantHealth$7,500.00
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.Health Care for Homeless FamiliesAnnual GrantHealth$15,000.00
Lucy's Love BusArt Therapy at The Healing Room™ at UMass Memorial Medical CenterAnnual GrantHealth$5,000.00
VNA Care Network, IncRemoving Barriers to Health for Worcester County ResidentsAnnual GrantHealth$5,000.00
RIA, Inc.RIA – Operating SupportAnnual GrantHealth$3,000.00
Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc.Central Region Playspaces for Young Children Experiencing HomelessnessAnnual GrantYouth$4,000.00
WICN Public RadioWICN Public Radios Youth Program Series Annual GrantYouth$3,000.00
Boys and Girls Club of WorcesterLearning Loss and Recovery After COVIDAnnual GrantYouth$10,000.00
Worcester Chamber Music SocietyNeighborhood StringsAnnual GrantYouth$5,000.00
Worcester County Horticultural SocietyProject Bloom, Connecting Youth with Environmental EducationAnnual GrantYouth$5,000.00
Why Me, Inc.Operational supportAnnual GrantYouth$8,000.00
YMCA of Central MassachusettsAfterschool by the Numbers and Numbers in the Sun ReinforcementAnnual GrantYouth$7,500.00
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ChildrenUpdating Curricula for Healthy Families Greater WorcesterAnnual GrantYouth$5,000.00
Straight Ahead Ministries, Inc.Worcester Youth Re-Entry ProgramAnnual GrantYouth$5,000.00
United Way of Central Massachusetts, Inc.Women's Initiative General Operating and Programmatic SupportAnnual GrantYouth$30,000.00
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc.Finding Forever Homes for Waiting Foster Children in the Greater Worcester Area.Annual GrantYouth$5,000.00
Worcester Youth Cooperatives, IncDare to Co-op Academy (2022-2023)Annual GrantYouth$5,000.00
Worcester Youth Center IncWorcester Youth Center Operational SupportAnnual GrantYouth$7,500.00
YWCA Central Massachusetts, Inc.General Operating SupportAnnual GrantYouth$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 GrantYouth$5,000.00
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