Mulberry Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Mulberry Foundation, Inc. (EIN 04-3505849, Worcester MA) is a faith-based private foundation named after the mulberry tree parable from Luke 16:16, which speaks of the power of faith to accomplish the seemingly impossible. With $2.5M in assets, the foundation supports Christian nonprofits and service organizations across four categories: poverty/needs relief, disaster relief, Christ-centered discipleship, and faith-based education.

The foundation operates in New England as its home geography but explicitly includes a global mandate ("throughout the world"), giving it broader scope than most regional foundations. The focus on "physical AND spiritual needs" reflects a holistic Christian service philosophy that combines tangible aid (food, shelter, disaster response) with spiritual formation.

The website is minimal — a single home page with a mission statement and navigation links, with all inner pages returning 404. This suggests the foundation operates primarily through relationships rather than public-facing grant programs, and may be in a period of website transition.

Given the private foundation model and lack of accessible application pages, relationship-based outreach to Worcester area Christian nonprofit networks is the most likely pathway to engagement.

## Funding Patterns

• Asset Base: ~$2.53 million (EIN 04-3505849, Worcester MA)
• Focus: Faith-based nonprofits — poverty relief, disaster response, Christian discipleship, Christian education
• Geographic Scope: New England (primary) + international
• Grant Model: Preselected — private foundation selecting its own grantees
• Website Status: Inner pages returning 404 (website in partial maintenance/transition)
• Annual Payout: ~$125K estimated (5% payout)
• Eligible Organizations: Must be 501(c)(3); must serve physical or spiritual needs through Christ-centered mission
• Scriptural Basis: Luke 16:16 (mustard seed/mulberry tree parable) — faith-based boldness and impact despite small beginnings

## Peer Comparison

Faith-based foundations with similar profile in New England and nationally:

• Maclellan Foundation (Chattanooga, TN) — Major Christian grantmaker; evangelical focus; Mulberry is much smaller but aligned philosophically
• Fieldstead & Company (Irvine, CA) — Howard Ahmanson Christian philanthropy; broad faith-based giving
• Eastern Point Trust (Boston, MA) — New England Christian philanthropy
• Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust (Boston) — New England charitable trust; different focus but regional peer
• Covenant Foundation — Jewish philanthropy New England; secular peer in religious community giving

What distinguishes Mulberry: (1) Worcester-based with New England primary focus but global mandate; (2) explicit four-category framework (poverty, disaster, discipleship, education) creates clarity about fundable work; (3) the mulberry/faith metaphor suggests a founder who views small-but-bold giving as having outsized impact; (4) private operations suggest tight network of trusted grantees rather than broad application-based model.

## Recent Activity

• Website: mulberryfoundation.org operational homepage with 2026 copyright; inner pages (About, Grants, Organizations, Contact) all returning 404 errors
• Status: Foundation appears operational but website is partially broken — may indicate recent platform migration or maintenance
• No Public Grant Announcements: Foundation operates quietly without published grant lists
• EIN: 04-3505849 (Massachusetts) — established, older EIN format
• Worcester Base: Consistent with active Massachusetts nonprofit community

## Application Tips

Important: The Mulberry Foundation's inner pages (grants, contact, about) are currently not accessible via web. The foundation does not have a publicly accessible grant application process.

For Faith-Based Nonprofits in New England:

Organizations most likely to receive support from the Mulberry Foundation are faith-aligned nonprofits that fit one or more of these four categories:

1. Serving the poor and those in need — Food pantries, homeless services, hunger relief, or poverty alleviation with a Christian mission 2. Disaster relief — Organizations responding to natural disasters, providing emergency shelter, food, or recovery support 3. Christ-centered discipleship — Programs focused on spiritual formation, Christian mentorship, evangelism, or discipleship programs 4. Christ-centered education — Faith-based schools, Christian colleges, or educational programs explicitly equipping students for a life of service

Geographic Priority: New England organizations (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine) are most likely to align with the foundation's primary geographic focus, though international mission organizations may also qualify.

Outreach Strategy: - Connect through Worcester MA Christian nonprofit networks (Greater Worcester Community Foundation, local evangelical churches, YMCA connections) - Reach out through New England regional Christian philanthropy networks - If the website contact page is restored: use it to submit a brief faith-aligned inquiry

What Will NOT Fit: Secular nonprofits, organizations without explicit faith/service mission, organizations outside New England or international missions context.