Funding priorities & eligibility

Funding priorities

As one of the largest funders in Brookline, BCF is committed to partnering with community organizations and programs that advance opportunity for those most impacted by inequities and to focusing our collaborative efforts on addressing challenges head on.

We recognize that the challenges in our community, and elsewhere, have become increasingly acute over the past several years. Black communities, Indigenous communities, other communities of color, and vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by these challenges. That is why our aim for grantmaking is to make transformative investments in organizations and community efforts that create an inclusive and equitable Brookline for all, and  prioritize efforts led by and focused on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and other vulnerable populations. For the purposes of our grant programs, this includes but is not limited to individuals and/or communities who identify as immigrants, women, children, older adults, LGBTQ+, disabled, members of racial, ethnic, religious and/or linguistic minorities, incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, and those consistently excluded from access to resources and services vital for thriving.

While our grants support many types of organizations and activities, they share a common purpose. Through our grantmaking, we aim to work with organizations, efforts, and initiatives with a shared commitment to advancing equity. In particular, we aim to support organizations and efforts that seek to address the root causes of inequity, remedy the immediate and long-term impacts of inequity in Brookline, and remove barriers to opportunities for community members. Our current grant programs offer several ways to partner with BCF in advancing your work.

What we fund

Through our grantmaking, we fund organizations, efforts, programs, and initiatives that support the Brookline community in areas such as health and wellness, education, essential needs, the arts, and more. We will consider requests for general operating expenses, project and program funding, capital improvements, sector-building efforts, community- and movement-building initiatives, and capacity building. Proposed projects or programs should directly benefit members of the Brookline community, which we define as those who live, learn, work, or play in Brookline. We welcome the opportunity to connect with grant seekers prior to submitting applications so we can learn more about your work and your ideas.

501(c)(3) nonprofits organizations, Town departments or agencies, and community groups can apply for funding. If you are a Town department or agency, please see our additional guidelines. If an organization or project is new and, not yet tax-exempt, or is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, an application may be submitted through a fiscal sponsorship. If you are interested in pursuing fiscal sponsorship, please review our FAQ or contact our Program & Partnerships team.

To be eligible, an applicant must be operated and organized so that it does not discriminate in the hiring of staff or provision of services on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

BCF is unable to provide direct support or scholarships to individuals and our grants cannot be used to cover travel costs, political campaigns, or lobbying.

In addition to grants, we offer sponsorships for community events. If you are interested in sponsorship support from BCF, please contact us directly.

Funding cycles

Funding cycles for our Community Grant, Racial Equity Grant, and Youth Development Grant programs vary. Please visit the specific page for the grant program you are interested in applying to for the latest application dates or contact our team directly with questions.

Our Safety Net Grant program has rolling applications and is open until all available funds have been allocated for the current fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Please visit the specific page for the grant program you are interested in apply to for more information or contact our team directly with questions.

Additional questions

If you have additional questions please review our FAQ or contact our team with questions.