Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation Grants

Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation Grants is sponsored by Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation. The Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation awards grants to local nonprofit organizations within the bank's marketplace in Eastern Massachusetts, focusing on essential human services, food security, veterans' services, and programs supporting at-risk families and individuals.

## Helping make a difference for the organizations that make a difference. Middlesex Savings Bank is always right there to help support community organizations with funding. But some nonprofits working toward the common good deserve even more support.

That’s why the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation was created. This separate entity has its own endowment and is able to give grants up to $15,000 to worthy 501(c)(3) organizations that raise the standard of living for underserved groups. ### New Grant Application Site The Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation is transitioning to an updated version of the Blackbaud grant system, called the Applicant and Grantee Portal.

The purpose of this transition is to provide a smoother application experience with enhanced functionality, including the ability for applicants to easily manage additional users for collaboration. Currently, the new portal applies only to applicants for Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation grant programs. Applications for Corporate Giving and Community Sponsorship will move to the new portal in July.

All applicants, new and existing, will need to create a new account to access the Applicant and Grantee Portal. Below are instructions on how to do so: 1. Access the link to the Applicant and Grantee Portal: * Educational Opportunities Program * Social Services Program 3.

Choose your preferred sign-in method (Email, Google, Apple, Microsoft, or another available option). 4. Enter your email address.

5. Select Send confirmation code. 6.

Check your email for a message from Blackbaud Authentication Services containing your confirmation code. 7. Copy the access code and return to the portal to enter it.

9. Once you are signed in, select Start New Application to begin an application. For detailed instructions with screenshots, view our Applicant and Grantee Portal Account Creation Guide.

### Save Your Application History If you would like to retain copies of your previous applications and records from the Legacy Grantee Portal, we encourage you to save your information before access is discontinued on July 29, 2026. For step-by-step instructions, view our Legacy Grantee Portal Application History Guide.

### Managing Your Applications The Foundation supports nonprofits, services, and programs in education, public health and welfare, the arts, community development and scholarships for college-bound high school seniors. Our programs include: To be eligible for the A. James Lavoie Scholarship, applicants must be a high school senior, demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement.

They must also plan to attend a four-year college program, and graduate from one of the many public, charter, or vocational high schools inthe communities we serve. The winner is selected from among eligible applicants by an independent committee on the basis of strength and quality of submitted essays. The A.

James Lavoie Scholarship application is closed at this time. Congratulations to our 2026 A. James Lavoie Scholarship recipient Benjamin Stewart.

The Capacity Building Program funds initiatives designed to strengthen and increase the impact of local non-profits by improving their organizational capacity.

### Desired outcomes for non-profits selected to receive grants through this program include one or more of the following: * Improved governance and leadership * Improved management systems and practices * Improved, expanded, or additional services * Expanded strategic assets, including financial and human resources Successful applicants will be able to describe how their enhanced capacity will ultimately benefit the communities that they serve.

### Foundation Directors will review each grant proposal for the following: * The financial size and strength of the organization * The impact of the requested grant on the organization and/or project/program to be funded Learn more about Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation eligibility requirements.

### Grant requests considered up to $15,000 and reviewed on the following: **Application Deadlines:** Cycle 1: April 1, 2026 - closed Cycle 2: July 31, 2026 - closed Grant notifications will be available by the end of October. **If you wish to know the status of your application, this can be found in the grant portal. Application final decisions will be communicated via email.

** The Educational Opportunities Program is designed to encourage organizations to provide unique and meaningful educational opportunities to youths and adults.

### Programs include, but are not limited to: * Job training and job readiness programs * Adult education and English as a Second Language * Credit education and home buying seminars * Youth enrichment programs ### Foundation Directors will review each grant proposal for the following: * Confirmation that the organization is reasonably financially stable, with no overwhelming threats to their continued viability * Evidence of experienced leadership at the staff and board levels * Program uniqueness and the needs of the target population * Anticipated impact of the project on its participants * The significance of the grant on the organization's ability to implement the project * A clear detailing of how results will be measured and communicated, and how success will be defined * Primarily benefits those within the Bank's communities * The financial size and strength of the organization * The impact of the requested grant on the organization and/or project/program to be funded ### Grant requests considered up to $15,000 and reviewed on the following: **Application Deadlines:** Cycle 1: April 1, 2026 - closed Cycle 2: July 31, 2026 - closed Grant notifications will be available by the end of October.

**If you wish to know the status of your application, this can be found in the grant portal. Application final decisions will be communicated via email. ** The Social Services Program funds projects and programs whose primary focus is on: * Shelter – including affordable housing, homebuyer education programs, foreclosure prevention and homeowner counseling programs, housing for the homeless, and emergency home repairs.

* Hunger Security – including projects and programs to provide food for low- and moderate-income and vulnerable populations. Food pantries may apply, but the request must be for a program or other initiative, with no more than 25% of grant proceeds used towards the purchase of food related to the broader initiative.

* Clothing and Basic Needs – includes projects and programs that work to provide clothing and personal hygiene products to low- and moderate-income and vulnerable populations. * Veterans & First Responders – including projects and programs that benefit the physical and mental well-being of veterans and first responders.

### Foundation Directors will review each grant proposal for the following: * Confirmation that the organization is reasonably financially stable, with no overwhelming threats to their continued viability * Evidence of experienced leadership at the staff and board levels * Program uniqueness and the needs of the target population * Anticipated impact of the project on its participants * The significance of the grant on the organization's ability to implement the project * A clear detailing of how results will be measured and communicated, and how success will be defined * Primarily benefits those within the Bank's communities * The financial size and strength of the organization * The impact of the requested grant on the organization and/or project/program to be funded Learn more about Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation eligibility requirements.

### Grant requests considered up to $15,000 and reviewed on the following: **Application Deadlines:** Cycle 1: April 1, 2026 - closed Cycle 2: July 31, 2026 - closed Grant notifications will be available by the end of October. **If you wish to know the status of your application, this can be found in the grant portal. Application final decisions will be communicated via email.

** ## Nominate a Leader for the John R. Heerwagen Leadership Award This award recognizes outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to their community and exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication. The nomination form is now closed.

### About the John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership During his tenure as CEO of Middlesex Savings Bank, John was supportive of the Foundation and its efforts to help strengthen local non-profits. John also believed in the importance of leadership and the need to develop and recognize strong leaders.

To honor his contributions to the Foundation in a way that reflects his personal interests, we are proud to offer The John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership. This annual award recognizes a strong, nonprofit leader whose work has significantly benefited the lives and wellbeing of residents within the Foundation's community.

The award provides a one-time grant of $20,000 to the recipient's organization to be used in a manner that the recipient believes will benefit the organization. The Selection Committee will accept nominations from anyone familiar with the nominee. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

The Selection Committee seeks to recognize experienced, nonprofit leaders who demonstrate the ability to develop and implement effective organizational strategies. The ideal nominee will demonstrate the following capabilities and characteristics: * Creates and stewards collaborations and partnerships to advance the work of their organization in a manner that produces tangible benefits to the community.

* Brings innovative ideas forward and to fruition. * Builds organizational and individual capacity and expertise. * Instills passion in themselves and the people with whom they work.

* Demonstrates the highest levels of integrity and ethical behavior. Only the candidate selected for the award will be notified. ### For additional information, please contact us at: Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation Westborough, MA.

01581-5210 For general and program-related questions, or technical questions regarding the submission process, please contact: givingprograms@middlesexbank. com Middlesex is a full-service bank serving individuals, families and business owners throughout Massachusetts.