Safety Net Grants: FAQs and Funding Considerations
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
We have narrowed the focus of the Safety Net Grants program to provide timely investment in organizations responding to immediate essential needs in marginalized communities.
Essential needs are defined as resources that restore health, wellness, safety and belonging for individuals or families in crisis. They can include, but are not limited to:
- Childcare assistance
- Direct cash assistance
- Disability assistance
- Food security
- Health care access
- Legal support
- Mental health support
- Rental and housing assistance
- Support for survivors of trauma
Our focus will include supporting specific populations, including Immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, People with Disabilities and Seniors.
Yes, but proposals for funding should serve communities primarily located within our catchment area. If your organization has statewide or national reach, we encourage you to focus your application on your work in the Boston Foundation’s catchment area specifically.
A pre-conversation is not necessary to apply for a Safety Net Grant; however, if you have questions, please email safetynetgrants@tbf.org and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.
An eligible organization has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit designation from the IRS or operates under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit. If applying under a fiscal sponsor, your organization is responsible for having that relationship in place before applying and will be asked to attach a fiscal sponsorship letter with your application submission.
Absolutely. The Foundation encourages collaboration. One organization should submit the application as the lead organization on behalf of the collaborative partners. Should you have any questions about how to represent both organizations on the application, please reach out to safetynetgrants@tbf.org and our team can help provide guidance.
Applications
Should you have any questions regarding when your organization is eligible to re-submit an application for funding, please email safetynetgrants@tbf.org and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.
Unfortunately, we are not able to review draft applications before they are submitted. While we understand the value of receiving early feedback about an application, due to capacity constraints we are not able to offer this assistance to all applicants. However, if you need assistance with the application, you are welcome to reach out to us via email (at safetynetgrants@tbf.org) and we are happy to help resolve any questions.
Review Process and Applicant Notifications
The funding considerations information below the FAQ outlines some of the considerations undertaken when reviewing applications. In utilizing a racial equity lens in our grantmaking Safety Net Grants are especially focused on supporting organizations whose leadership reflects the communities they serve, and organizations engaged in diversity, equity and inclusion practices, programs and/or initiatives. We aim to maintain a diverse funding portfolio and also consider a variety of additional factors when determining which applicants are selected for investment—including but not limited to: budget size, geographic area served, service population, and mission.
Please note funding considerations have been updated from previous years, if you have applied previously, please refer to this updated version.
Site visits are not a part of our review process—this is largely due to our team's capacity and inability to grant site visits to every applicant. That being said, a member of our grant review team may reach out to you via email or phone call should they have questions regarding your application.
Applicants who submitted a request for the March 11th deadline should hear back by mid-April.
Funding Considerations
We anticipate that the Safety Net Grants program will be very competitive with demand far outpacing available resources. In addition to the criteria listed below, the Foundation also considers the following: geographic area served, service population, budget size and mission, and alignment with field of interest funding, among other factors.
- Aligns with the strategic vision for The Boston Foundation
- Clear mission and vision that guide the organization;
- Strong staff and board leadership, that is diverse and representative (demographic composition and lived experience) of the community they serve;
- Deep commitment to equity (internally and externally);
- Strong emphasis on incorporating learnings from a measurement/assessment plan; and
- Strong collaboration/partnerships with community and community-based organizations
- The grant size will have a meaningful impact on the organization's effectiveness and ability to meet its mission;
- Authentically serves populations and communities historically excluded from institutions and/or systems
- Combating hate and discrimination;
- Food, fuel, and shelter;
- Legal aid; and
- Poverty alleviation
Our focus will also include supporting specific populations, including immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and seniors.
Please visit the Safety Net Grants page to learn more and access an application form.
The Boston Foundation does not make grants for capital construction costs, endowments, medical or academic research, scholarships, sectarian or religious purposes, or to support candidates for political office. Private non-operating foundations, 501(c)(4) organizations, and Section 501(a)(3) Type III Non-functionally Integrated organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, grants are not made to individual persons. Parent Teacher Associations and tuition-based schools (including K-12 and post-secondary schools and universities) are also not eligible for this funding.
We are currently not accepting grant proposals from CDCs certified under Certified under MGL Chapter 40H and small businesses.