The Lenny Zakim Fund Community Grants

The Lenny Zakim Fund Community Grants is a grant from The Lenny Zakim Fund that provides $5,000 to $50,000 to small nonprofit organizations in eastern Massachusetts with operating budgets under $350,000.

Funding supports grassroots work across seven focus areas: food and housing access, child and youth development, civil and human rights, health promotion, immigrant and refugee support, LGBTQIA community organizing, and violence prevention. All applicants must have 501(c)(3) status and attend a mandatory online informational session before applying.

The annual cycle opens July 1 and closes September 1, with site visits and award notifications following in late fall. An LZF grant is widely recognized as a credibility marker by other funders.

How to Apply – The Lenny Zakim Fund Mission, Vision, & Values Mission, Vision, & Values Nonprofit organizations based in eastern Massachusetts, with operating budgets under $350,000, that have an IRS 501(c)(3) status or a documented fiscal agent that has 501(c)(3) status are welcome to submit a proposal to The Lenny Zakim Fund during our annual grant cycle.

All prospective grant applicants MUST attend an online informational session before applying. Each year, LZF receives a number of applications, significantly more than we are able to invite to join our grantee partner portfolio. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to keep this in mind when preparing their grant application for consideration by LZF’s Community Investments Committee to ensure it is both complete and compelling.

July 1 : Online Grant Application Portal Opens September 1 : Online Grant Application Portal Closes; Applications Due Late October : Notification of Advancement to Site Visits Mid-November through Mid-December : Site Visits Early February : Notification of Grant Awards Open Grant Guidelines PDF For questions, please contact Madelyn Vining, Assistant Grants Manager at mvining@thelennyzakimfund. org .

Access to Food, Housing, and Economic Opportunity Child and Youth Development and Education Civil and Human Rights Advocacy and Support Health Promotion and Accessibility for All Organizing and Support for Immigrants and Refugees LGBTQIA Community Support and Organizing Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform and Family Outreach LZF does NOT support conferences, sponsorships for fundraising events or other one-time events; one-time film, video, or print projects; requests from individuals; scholarships, research and development or planning grants; or capital campaigns.

Being a grantee partner of The Lenny Zakim Fund is often seen as a “seal of approval” by other grant-making organizations, larger foundations, and individual philanthropists when considering their own grant award funding. With an LZF grant, a fledgling nonprofit gains a foundation to not only pursue their mission but also secure their reputation in the community. The Lenny Zakim Fund is a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization under the IRS.

33 Arch Street, 26th Fl. | Boston, MA 02110 | (617) 406-5945 | office@thelennyzakimfund. org Run 26.

2 to Grow the Grassroots! Give today to help our runners go the distance by reaching our $20,000 goal—and help LZF’s grantee partners do the same in their communities.