Competitive Grants Program

Competitive Grants Program is sponsored by The Paul & Edith Babson Foundation. The Paul & Edith Babson Foundation's Competitive Grants Program supports entrepreneurship and economic development, youth development opportunities, and improvements to the urban environment to enhance the quality of life throughout Greater Boston.

Guidelines | The Paul & Edith Babson Foundation Competitive Grants Program Please be advised that, effective January 1, 2026, the Foundation will transition from two competitive grant cycles annually to a single cycle per year. This change means the Fall competitive cycle will be discontinued. The application deadline for the single annual cycle will be February 21st with funding decisions announced in June.

Types of Support: Unrestricted, special programs, occasional capital support. Geographic Focus : Greater Boston as defined by Route 128. Communities bordering Route 128 will be included.

Organizations located outside of Greater Boston will be considered by trustee invitation only. The Paul and Edith Babson Foundation’s competitive grants program focuses on three program areas: Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Programs focused on providing opportunities for youth and community entrepreneurship education, community economic development, job training for youth, and urban youth business and enterprise initiatives.

Environment and Community Building Programs focused on community building through urban community gardens and urban greenspace initiatives. Programs focused on domestic violence prevention and shelter, and gun control.

Programs Ineligible for Funding The following types of requests will not be considered: Support for specific individuals Fundraising or donor cultivation ** Summer camp funding is done exclusively through Philanthropy Massachusetts’ Summer Fund.

Application portal opens January 21 Applications due February 21* Trustees review March-April Grant decisions early May Award funds distributed early June * If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline is the next business day. Late submissions will not be accepted. _____________________________________________________ Beginning in 2024, the Foundation approved three-year grants to the following organizations.

American Indian College Fund – $10,000 Center for Women & Enterprise – $10,000 Cultural Survival – $5,000 English for New Bostonians – $5,000 Futures Without Violence – $10,000 Hyde Square Task Force – $10,000 Mystic River Watershed Association – $10,000 Native Land Conservancy – $5,000 Perkins School for the Blind – $5,000 Philanthropy Massachusetts, The Summer Fund – $10,000 Sandy Hook Promise – $10,000 YMCA Greater Boston – $10,000 Discretionary Grant Program Discretionary grants are made at the recommendation of the trustees and other members of the Babson family.

If your organization is being considered for a discretionary grant, you will be notified by a trustee or family member. Applications are NOT accepted for discretionary grants. ______________________________________________________ The Susan A.

Babson Opera Fund for Emerging Artists This fund carries on the interest of Susan A. and Donald P. Babson in supporting young artists.

Applications are NOT accepted for this fund , as the distributions are mandated by the donor.