Activation Fund is sponsored by The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. The Activation Fund provides capacity-building support for organizations working to address community-identified health needs of Central Massachusetts residents and workers.

Activation Fund - The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts The Activation Fund provides support for discrete, one-year projects designed to help organizations move to the next level of capacity and effectiveness. This may involve one or more of the following: Guidelines & Application Process The 2026 Activation Fund grant opportunity is now open and the deadline for submission of Phase I materials is March 1, 2026 at 5:00 p. m.

Please download and carefully review the Activation Fund Applicant & Grantee Guide below,which is intended to demystify the application process with tips for preparing materials at each stage and additional resources available for technical assistance, answers to frequently asked questions, and insights into why we ask certain questions and how we assess requests received.

If you are not sure if you meet the Foundation’s eligibility criteria for grants, TAKE OUR ELIGIBILITY QUIZ and contact Foundation staff for additional guidance, as needed. Activation Fund Applicant & Grantee Guide (PDF) In general, grants are limited to a 12-month duration for projects that will have continued impact beyond the end of the grant period. Request amounts should range between $50,000 – $125,000.

Examples of the types of funding requests considered include but are not limited to: discrete capital projects/equipment and technology purchases; one-time, train-the-trainer professional development activities; and program planning or bridge funding for initial implementation costs of new programs or service areas, provided funding is identified for sustainability beyond the grant period.

For a list of projects selected for funding in previous grant cycles, please click here . Interested applicants are encouraged to attend one of two virtual information sessions the Foundation will be hosting about the 2026 Activation Fund grant opportunity.

During these brief, 30-minute sessions, staff will review the eligibility guidelines, application process and related deadlines, and examples of previously funded projects with time set aside for Q&A. To register, click the link below for the date of the session you wish to attend. A recording will be available upon request.

Please contact Foundation staff in advance if language assistance or other accessibility accommodations are needed. January 26, 2026 at 11:00 a. m.

: Register Here February 5, 2026 at 1:00 p. m. : Register Here Organizations should prioritize needs internally and submit only one request per grant cycle.

While there is no required waiting period between application submissions, the Foundation aims to support as many different organizations as possible; therefore, preference may be given to organizations that have not received Foundation funding within the last 12 months.

2026 ACTIVATION FUND KEY DATES March 1, 2026 * Phase I materials due (* materials must be submitted by end of day the Friday before, as submissions received after March 1 will not be accepted ) Early April 2026 Applicants notified of decisions to invite Phase II applications May 8, 2026 Phase II application materials due (by invitation) Mid-June 2026 Applicants notified of the Board’s funding decisions July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 2026 Activation Fund Grant Period The Activation Fund has a two-step application process.

At each phase, the required materials should be sent via email to info@thfcm. org by the posted deadlines*. Organizations that submit a concept paper in Phase I will be notified by Foundation staff if invited to submit a Phase II application.

*If the deadline falls on a weekend, materials must be submitted by end of day the Friday before, as submissions received after March 1 will not be accepted.

Interested applicants should download and complete the Phase I AF Concept Paper Cover Sheet below, and submit it, along with a one-to-two page Concept Paper outlining the proposed project and grant amount requested, and a list of Board members with affiliations (for nonprofit organizations) or a list of senior leaders/staff (for government/quasi-government agencies).

There is no set format for the concept papers, but they should include the following: Brief summary of the organization’s mission, core programs/services, and geographic service area Project description and its anticipated impact on organizational capacity (e.g., numbers served) Estimated costs (if known), request amount, and other sources of support (if any) Phase I AF Concept Paper Cover Sheet (PDF) Checklist for Phase I submission: Concept paper (1-2 pages) Board list or list of senior leadership (for government/quasi government agencies) Invited applicants may download and submit the Phase II AF Cover Sheet, Phase II AF Application Form and AF Project Budget Form linked below along with the attachments listed on the cover sheet.

Required financials include the IRS Form 990 or financial statements (audited, if available) for the most recent fiscal year. Groups applying under a fiscal sponsor are asked to download and submit the Fiscal Sponsor Commitment Form with your other materials. Phase II AF Cover Sheet (.

pdf) Phase II AF Application Form (. docx) AF Project Budget Form (.

xlsx) Sample AF Project Budget Form (PDF) Checklist for Phase II submission: Phase II AF Application Form Financials (most recent IRS Form 990 or financial statements, audited if available) Fiscal Sponsor Commitment Form (if applicable) Letters of Support (if applicable) Quotes or Estimates (if applicable) Funding requests are reviewed by Foundation staff and a Distribution Committee comprised of Board members and final decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Requests are assessed on multiple criteria, including, but not limited to: evidence of need and/or alignment with local community priorities; organizational capacity; clarity of goals and outcomes identified; impact on marginalized populations; and potential for sustaining impact or results beyond the grant period.

Successful applicants typically possess these characteristics: Demonstrated commitment to health equity Representation of the population of focus in decision-making Track record of sustainable operations (or a fiscal sponsor with financial stability) Proven program effectiveness Measurable Goals and Objectives Questions about the Activation Fund?

To contact staff, send an email to: “The Foundation offered grants that allow us to do what we could to provide services. The Health Foundation goes deeper than just bricks and mortar. They are helping people.

” Timothy J. McMahon, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Worcester County