Community Resilience Grant opportunity

Community Resilience Grant opportunity is sponsored by Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. An upcoming grant opportunity to support local organizations responding directly to emerging community needs, providing essential support to individuals and households during a period of significant federal and state funding reductions.

Community Resilience Grants 2026 - Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and tags on every page of your site. What T he Funding Support s The Community Foundation is launching a one-time $1,000,000 Community Resilience grant process to provide urgent, flexible support to frontline community organizations across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

This initiative is intended to help nonprofits meet the moment and ameliorate the impact of reductions in federal and state funding that are affecting residents and the organizations that serve them. The program will enable community organizations to continue providing essential support to help individuals and families remain safe and stable during this challenging funding landscape.

One-time grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to organizations providing direct services that ensure people can access essential daily needs. Organizations may apply for grants of up to $50,000 and are encouraged to request the amount that most accurately reflects their current needs.

Requesting the maximum amount will not disadvantage an applicant, as proposals will be evaluated on the specifics of the individual request; however, applicants are asked to carefully consider the level of support necessary to address the need described.

Given that overall funding decisions must balance requests across many organizations and overall community needs, award amounts may ultimately vary based on organizational size, scope of need, and the range of requests received.

What the Funding Supports Grants will support organizations addressing critical and urgent needs such as: Food access and distribution Housing stability and shelter supports Utility, fuel, and rental assistance Essential supplies and clothing Physical and behavioral health supports Childcare and family stabilization services Legal support related to safety and discrimination Transportation to essential services Other urgent supports that help households function safely Funding may be used for general operating support necessary to sustain these services, allowing organizations the flexibility to respond to current community conditions.

Organizations do not need basic needs to be their primary mission; however, the funded services must be a significant and ongoing part of their direct service delivery.

This opportunity is intended for organizations that: Have IRS designated 501(c)(3) status or an established fiscal sponsor Serve individuals or communities experiencing challenges due to reductions in public funding and/or federal policy changes Are serving individuals or families within one or more of the following counties: Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Are experiencing increased demand or operational pressure Provide direct services to individuals or households Farming & Food System Eligibility Local farms and food producers are eligible if they are a non-profit or fiscally sponsored organization and when they play a direct role in community food access (for example: hunger relief distribution, subsidized CSA shares, mobile markets, culturally responsive food distribution, or partnerships with food access organizations).

General agricultural production alone is not eligible. Current grantees are eligible to apply.

Award Amount: up to $50,000 Funding Type: Flexible, general operating support tied to active service delivery Total Initiative: $1,000,000 Geographic Focus: Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties Goal: Rapid deployment of funds to address urgent community needs Organizations are encouraged to begin preparing a brief description of their current services (1000 characters or fewer), a brief description of how the organization has been impacted by a reduction in public funding (1000 characters or fewer), and a summary of how they anticipate utilizing the requested funds (1500 characters or fewer).

Application Opens: March 12, 2026 Application Closes: April 9, 2026 at noon (12 pm) Awards Announced: mid-May 2026 Funds Distributed: by June 1, 2026 Join the Community Impact Team for a virtual information session to learn more about the Community Resilience 2026 grant process, application, and criteria, and to ask questions.

View the info session presentation April 7 from 9:30 – 10:45 am Please reach out to Community Impact and Partnerships at grants@communityfoundation. org .