2026 Community Grants (Northeastern University)

2026 Community Grants (Northeastern University) is sponsored by Northeastern University, Office of City and Community Engagement. The Office of City and Community Engagement at Northeastern University awards grants to organizations that support college readiness and student success initiatives in the neighborhoods surrounding its campus: Fenway, Mission Hill, South End, Back Bay, and Roxbury.

Community Grants | City and Community Engagement The Office of City and Community Engagement at Northeastern University is pleased to release our 2026 Community Grants application.

This year we will be awarding grant amounts between $5,000 and $15,000 (totaling $30,000) to organizations that support college readiness and student success initiatives in the neighborhoods surrounding our campus: Fenway, Mission Hill, South End, Back Bay, and Roxbury. Organizations should submit proposals for initiatives, projects, and programs that support college readiness and student success for youth in these neighborhoods.

We are specifically considering proposals that support these areas: College Exploration and Career Awareness: exposure to wide range of college and career opportunities, career exploration for top industries such as: creative professions, healthcare, or artificial intelligence.

Academic Success : tutoring, test prep Mentorship & Student Support: social-emotional support, leadership skill development, support for first-gen college students College Access: education about affordability, college application coaching You are eligible to apply for this grant if: Your organization has 501(c)3 status You engage youth in/from our target neighborhoods: Roxbury, South End, Mission Hill, Fenway, and Back Bay.

Programs that engage students in BPS, but may not be based in these neighborhoods are eligible to apply, though priority is given to those that specifically target these communities. Your proposal clearly outlines a program or initiative that supports one of the areas listed above: College Exploration and Career Awareness, Academic Success, Mentorship and Student Support, or College Access.

The deadline for the 2026 Community Grants has passed. Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact Chelsea Lauder, Director of Outreach and Programs What to know about the Community Grants Process What is the goal of a Community Grant?

The goal of the Community Grants is to help fund the projects and initiatives of our community partners whose work aligns with CCE’s vision and the key goal areas we’ve identified in partnership with community members. These grants serve to support local initiatives focused on college readiness, including college exploration, career awareness, academic success, mentorship and student support, and college access.

College Exploration and Career Awareness: exposure to wide range of college and career opportunities, career exploration for top industries such as: creative professions, healthcare, or artificial intelligence.

Academic Success : tutoring, test prep Mentorship & Student Support: social-emotional support, leadership skill development, support for first-gen college students College Access: education about affordability, college application coaching Who is eligible to apply for a Community Grant? Any Boston-area based community organization, nonprofit, or school that works to support youth in personal, academic, and career development.

Organizations or proposals that demonstrate impact in Roxbury, Mission Hill, South End, Fenway, and Back Bay are prioritized based on our decision making criteria. Your organization's office does not have to reside in these neighborhoods, but rather that you serve people primarily from these neighborhoods.

Programs that engage students in BPS, but may not be based in these neighborhoods are eligible to apply, though priority is given to those that specifically target these communities. How much funding will applicants receive? Organizations may apply for and receive funding for one proposal, as the goal is to fund multiple initiatives in our local communities.

Selected organizations will receive between $5,000 and $15,000. Proposals should specify which grant amount you are applying for, as decisions will be made based on the feasibility of the proposal in relation to the requested amount. Ie.

only request $15,000 if you have a fully developed proposal to utilize all of these funds for the specific college readiness program or initiative. A budget submission with general estimates of how the money will be spent is required. Grant funding will be distributed directly to the recipient 501(c)(3) organization.

Additional guidelines will be provided to those whose proposals are accepted. What type of proposals are funded? The proposals likely to be funded are those that, in addition to meeting our basic requirements above, can demonstrate data-driven impact in at least one of the five neighborhoods listed and can provide a clear, compelling plan for the grant funds.

Proposals that directly align with CCE’s goal area of college readiness and specifically, learning and achievement, mentorship, career development, and college preparedness, are more likely to be supported. College Exploration and Career Awareness: exposure to wide range of college and career opportunities, career exploration for top industries such as: creative professions, healthcare, or artificial intelligence.

Academic Success : tutoring, test prep Mentorship & Student Support: social-emotional support, leadership skill development, support for first-gen college students College Access: education about affordability, college application coaching How will your organization present the program budget utilizing the allocated funding provided? Organizations will be asked to provide a breakdown of general estimates of how the money will be spent.

Proposals where over 25% of the budget is used for existing administrative costs will not be funded. I.e. funds cannot be used to supplement existing staff salaries, but may be partially used to hire support to implement the project / initiative. Grant funding will be distributed directly to the recipient community organization, nonprofit, or school.

Additional guidelines will be provided to grant recipients if their proposal is accepted. Is there any support available when applying for these grants? Organizations should contact Chelsea Lauder at c.

lauder@northeastern. edu with questions about the grant application process. We recognize that there are many incredible organizations meeting this funding criteria who will be applying for a 2026 Community Grant.

The City and Community Engagement team will be collaborating with other partners to review proposals based on the following criteria: Alignment with college readiness focus Alignment with shared university and community goals Opportunity for rich impact and partnerships across the University Eligibility based on location and organization status If chosen as a grant recipient, when can I expect to receive the funding?

Application opens: March 9th Proposals due: April 10th Decisions announced early May. Organizations should expect to receive funding no sooner than 6-8 weeks after completing the steps in our university financial system. Account registration through IntelliBuy (NU finance system) is required for all recipients.

Our staff will walk you through the multi-step process if you are chosen as a recipient.