Community Grants

Community Grants is a grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation that funds nonprofit organizations serving Worcester County, Massachusetts, through multiple competitive grant programs each year.

The foundation offers flexible and supportive funding across focus areas including organizational capacity, mergers and shared services, and nonprofit effectiveness, with each grant program carrying its own eligibility guidelines and parameters. Organizations may apply to multiple grant programs simultaneously. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations operating in Worcester County.

Award amounts vary by program, with some grants available on an ongoing rolling basis.

Greater Worcester Community Foundation | Apply for a Grant Greater Worcester Community Foundation offers a range of competitive grant cycles annually to provide area nonprofits with access to flexible and supportive funding. Each of our competitive grant programs has its own set of guidelines and parameters. Please visit each grant webpage to confirm eligibility and appropriateness.

Organizations may apply for multiple grant programs. Grant Program Focus Area Location Open Deadline Mergers and Shared Services Fund Grants to support nonprofit organizations exploring or implementing an organizational restructure or shared services model. Worcester County Ongoing Ongoing Nonprofit Effectiveness Innovative & urgent projects designed to build the infrastructure and capacity of your organization.

Worcester County Ongoing Ongoing Friends of Learning in Killingly (FOLK) Fund Support for public school educators in Killingly, CT. Killingly, CT 11/17/25 1/21/26 Esler Family Foundation Inspiring Generosity Match Fund General operating, program, project, or capital project support to nonprofits doing critical work in Worcester County with a dollar-for-dollar match.

Worcester County 12/15/25 1/31/26 Worcester Cultural Festival Grants This grant program has been established to support costs associated with hosting a cultural festival in the City of Worcester. Worcester 1/19/26 2/27/26 Facing Change: Sustainable Pathways Grant Program The focus of this grant program is on supporting pathways to sustainability for smaller nonprofit organizations.

The program includes both unrestricted funding and facilitated peer cohorts. Worcester + County 2/2/26 3/27/26 Worcester Neighborhood Arts and Creativity Grant This grant program supports small-scale, resident and artist led projects that activate neighborhoods through arts, culture, and creative expression.

Worcester 2/10/26 3/25/26 Leicester Savings Bank Fund Projects that enhance the life of residents and support needed services in Leicester, MA. Leicester 3/2/26 4/17/26 Worcester County Food Bank Fund to End Hunger Support for nonprofit organizations working towards a shared vision of a hunger-free Worcester County. Worcester County 3/2/26 4/17/26 Facing Change: Nonprofit Effectiveness Details to come soon!

Worcester + County 5/1/26 Ongoing Community Grants: Projects Support for discrete projects and programs highly aligned in the areas of arts & creativity, economic opportunity, basic needs, health & wellbeing and youth and families. Worcester County 5/4/26 6/24/26 Community Grants: Operating Renewals Renewal grants for nonprofits that have previously received operating support from the Foundation.

Worcester County 7/15/26 8/28/26 Community Grants: Operating Grants Operating support for nonprofit organizations whose primary work is highly aligned with our strategic focus areas and that have a strong presence in Worcester County.

Worcester County 8/3/26 9/11/26 Youth for Community Improvement (YCI) Fund TBA Worcester County TBA TBA Director of Grantmaking and Capacity Building Vice President of Community Impact Multi-Year Funding for Innovative Youth Programs The Mary B. Grogan Fund, housed at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, has committed multi-year grant funding to the Millbury Public Library to support its educational youth programming.

A Mission of Science will educate youth on various environmental/science topics, and a new community sensory garden will allow young patrons to explore and appreciate nature.