Boston Foundation announces $450,000 in new COVID-19 related grants

Boston – The Boston Foundation today announced $450,000 in new grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund, bringing the total grants distributed from the Fund to over $5 million, in nearly 190 separate general operating grants to Greater Boston nonprofits.

Grants have focused on organizations serving many of the populations most directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three months, with a focus on immigrants, communities of color and seniors. Over 60 percent of grantees are led by people of color, and fully two-thirds of funded organizations have annual budgets under $5 million.

“Communities of color have borne a disproportionate part of the burden from the COVID-19 pandemic to date, both in health and economic terms,” said Orlando Watkins, Vice President for Programs at the Boston Foundation. “The economy may be beginning to open up, but we know that the level of need in these communities around the region continues to grow, and locally-led, community-based organizations must be at the center of meeting those needs.”

To date, the COVID-19 Response Fund has been supported by $9 million in donations from more than 900 foundations, donor-advised funds, businesses and individuals giving anywhere from $50 to $500,000. The Fund thanks its new major donors, including Safety Insurance Company. 

Each of the grantees below receives a $25,000, one-time general operating support grant from the COVID-19 Response Fund. 

Accion East, Inc. (Boston): to build capacity to rapidly deploy emergency financial relief to vulnerable small business owners in Boston.

Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Inc. (Boston): to provide multilingual technical assistance to artists and arts organizations filing for unemployment and/or applying for stimulus package benefits.

Bethany House Ministries (Millis): to provide returning citizens with basic reentry needs such as clothing, housing, transportation services, toiletries and other items.

Black and Pink Boston (Boston): to respond to the increased needs of incarcerated individuals and returning citizens, with support including financial assistance, basic hygiene products, support navigating housing and medical services, and emotional support.

Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth (BAGLY) (Boston): to support LGBTQIA youth by providing emergency direct aid support and virtual programming that supports social-emotional wellbeing.

Boston Girls Empowerment Network (Boston): to coordinate support services for undocumented women, including distribution of food and feminine hygiene products, culturally responsive check-in services to ensure basic needs are met, and virtual support circles.

Chica Project (Boston): to support the social-emotional and material wellbeing of 120 Boston and Lynn girls with a focus on “chicas” from the Latin American diaspora. 

CommonWealth Kitchen (Dorchester): to mobilize a diverse community of food businesses to provide free meals that reflect and represent Boston's cultural diversity to families hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc., (CAPIC) (Chelsea): to provide direct support services and resources to at-risk individuals and families living in Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Services include rent/mortgage assistance, food gift cards, access to basic necessities, and child/baby-related items.  

DRIVE Boston Community Resources, Inc. (Boston): to support the distribution of non-perishable healthy food options, supermarket and non-restricted gift cards, and diapers and baby food.

East Boston Community Soup Kitchen (East Boston): to support the distribution of grocery store gift cards to individuals experiencing hunger and homelessness in East Boston and surrounding communities.

Everett Grace Pantry & Outreach (Everett): to support increased food distribution in Everett, through a weekly pantry and daily food deliveries to seniors, veterans, and families affected with COVID-19.

Fathers' Uplift, Inc. (Dorchester): to provide mental health services, cash assistance, grocery gift cards, and supply deliveries to families who have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. 

New England Community Services (NECS) (Dorchester): for support to ensure families have access to the most basic needs and services, including food access, housing support, and access to mental health services.

Uganda Boston Community Association (Medford): to assist the Ugandan immigrant community and surrounding communities with access to food, cash assistance and resource referrals. 

Victory Programs (Boston): to support the increased costs necessary to keep client populations at greatest risk safe from infection and/or becoming seriously ill, as well as provide additional food purchases and supplies for families in shelters, and take-home meals for Boston Living Center members.

West End House Boys & Girls Club (Allston): to provide basic needs and social-emotional support to 1700 young people and their families

Young Man with a Plan (Hyde Park): to support students' physical and mental health, home safety, and the economic security of their families. Support includes food, gift cards, personal and healthcare products, cleaning products, and emergency cash assistance.