Economic Inclusion Funding

Economic Inclusion Funding is sponsored by Eastern Bank Foundation. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Eastern Bank Foundation | Inside Philanthropy OVERVIEW : The Eastern Bank Foundation supports human services, family and children, economic revitalization, healthcare, social justice, and other community needs in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. IP TAKE : The Eastern Bank Foundation believes in “listening and responding to the lived experiences of people in [its] communities.

” It announced a name change and giving structure reorganization in 2021, so if you haven’t looked through its grant programs in a while, be sure to do so before submitting an LOI. This is an approachable bank foundation with a strong regional focus, and one that invites applicants to reach out with questions or to discuss their proposal before applying.

It is transparent as well with a clearly outlined grantmaking program, and it provides grantseekers with access to information about past grants. PROFILE: Established over 30 years ago, the Eastern Bank Foundation (EBCF) is a corporate foundation based in Boston Massachusetts. It is the charitable arm of Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank founded in 1818.

The foundation aims to “support impactful organizations across our geographic footprint. ” It funds local efforts for human services, family and children, economic revitalization, healthcare, social justice, and other community needs. Grants for Economic and Early Childhood Development, Housing The Eastern Bank Foundation supports organizations that serve the local community in a few different ways.

The Donations programs have a grassroots focus and support “a variety of vital services that matter” to the community. Community Donations support nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. Grant amounts range between $100 to $10,000.

Neighborhood Donations support groups without a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. Grants range from $100 to $1,000. CITC Donations support registered Community Development organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that seek to participate in Massachusetts’ CITC program .

Economic Inclusion and Mobility impact grants support low- to moderate-income individuals and families in the community across five strategy areas: Advancing Equity in the Small Business Ecosystem funds nonprofits “that build ecosystems of support” for entrepreneurs and small business owners from historically marginalized communities, including Black, Latinx, Asian, women, LGBTQ+, Veterans and people with disabilities.

Enriching Early Childhood Development (Ages 0 to 5) supports organizations with innovative early childhood care and education programs. (IP reported on this initiative here .) Securing Safe and Affordable Housing supports nonprofits promoting homeownership by increasing access to safe and affordable housing and assisting those experiencing housing insecurity.

Promoting Workforce Development funds nonprofits with programs that remove barriers to meaningful employment. Innovations in Economic Inclusion and Mobility supports innovative programs working to eliminate systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, and ableism, as well as wealth gaps within the community. Eastern Bank also has an employee volunteerism program to support local causes.

Grants for Racial Justice The Advocacy program is a social justice platform where the bank uses its “voice” to advocate for “a more just and equitable world. ” While this is not a grantmaking program per se, it issued the foundation’s “largest ever donation,” a $5 million grant to the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (see IP’s reporting about the gift here ).

Other grantees from this program include the Latino Equity Fund, the Asian Community Fund, and the LGBT Equality Fund. Grants typically range between about $100 and $25,000, although most are around $1,000. The foundation awarded over $14 million in grants in a recent year and held around $250 million in assets.

Grantmaking focuses on eastern Massachusetts, southern and coastal New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records . This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and uses an online grants management system.

It reviews some types of grant requests on a rolling basis and has application deadlines for others. A list of past grantees is available on the foundation’s main page . Direct general questions to the staff at foundation@easternbank.

com or 781-598-7596. Economic Inclusion and Mobility Enable JavaScript to continue This site uses JavaScript to verify your account, display articles, and provide other features. Please enable JavaScript or allow scripts for Inside Philanthropy, then reload the page.

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