Community and Economic Development Program is a grant from Cummings Foundation, formerly known as Economic Services & Development Grants, distributing $30 million annually to approximately 150 nonprofits in the greater Boston area. Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $600 million to date and offers multi-year grants paid over three or ten years. The process begins with a simple letter of inquiry (LOI) submitted through an online portal. Prior grant winners may be automatically considered for 10-year awards. Small nonprofits requesting installments of $25,000 or less may access free LOI assistance through the Cummings Coaches program. Only one LOI per organization per cycle is permitted.

The SCI Youth Grant Pitch Contest is a competitive program from Social Capital Inc. that funds youth-led community improvement projects in Greater Boston. Teams of high school students in grades 9 through 12 residing in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, or Suffolk counties develop project ideas through coaching from local professionals, then pitch their proposals to a live panel of judges. Winning teams receive $1,000 to $2,000 in grant funding to execute their community-strengthening visions. The program builds career skills including public speaking, project management, and team collaboration, while cultivating cross-socioeconomic connections among peers and mentors throughout the region.

The System Innovations Grant (Youth Opportunities Fund) is a multi-year funding opportunity from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that supports collaborative projects working to understand and strengthen systems so they function better for young people. Grants of up to $1,250,000 over five years fund collaboratives of two or more Ontario-based nonprofits aiming to create lasting systemic change that expands opportunities for youth ages 12 to 29, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous, Black, and other racialized youth facing systemic barriers. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations incorporated for at least five years in Ontario with a mandate to serve youth, forming a formal collaborative. Indigenous- and Black-led organizations and collaboratives are prioritized. Applications were due March 11, 2026—check the Ontario Trillium Foundation website for upcoming intake cycles.

Improving Veteran Mental Health Grant Program is a grant from The Cigna Group Foundation that funds nonprofits providing housing stability and wraparound support services to improve the mental health of military veterans. The Foundation committed $9 million over three years addressing housing instability and its mental health impacts, as an estimated 40,000 veterans go without shelter nightly and 1.5 million are at risk of homelessness. Funded programs include mortgage and rental assistance, employment re-entry training, and housing development for veterans. Eligible nonprofits must leverage evidence-informed programs and align with at least one goal: increasing permanent housing, improving housing affordability, or enhancing wraparound services for veterans transitioning from shelters.