Tufts Community Grants

Tufts Community Grants (TCG), began in November 1995 to support our host communities and the important work being done by Tufts volunteers with nonprofit organizations in Boston, Grafton, Medford and Somerville. Tufts Community Grants are funded by donations from Tufts University faculty and staff through the annual Tufts Community Appeal (TCA), an internal fundraising campaign. Tufts University staff and faculty comprise the TCG board, which evaluates grant proposals and awards funding. This year, all grants awarded were $1,000.

In April 2021, 35 programs received $1,000 grants, listed below. Over 135 non-profits have received grants since 1995.

BOSTON RECIPIENTS

Asian Community Development Corporation – Community cleanup of Chinatown Backyard, an open space located next to the Chinatown Gate

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc. – Virtual YouthLead program, with focus on arts and mental health

Building Audacity – Purchase of fresh, culturally diverse produce for weekly distribution to food insecure families in Boston

Chinese Historical Society of New England – Free, single-day seminar about combating anti-Asian racism

Friday Night Supper Program, Inc. – Warm and Dry Feet Program, providing 100 pairs of boots and socks for homeless and low income individuals

Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center Inc. – 5-7 tablet computers for elderly clients to expand access to virtual programming

Haley House – Purchase of commercial dishwasher for their soup kitchen

Josiah Quincy Upper School – Virtual community-building “paint night” event for public school teachers, nurses, counselors, social workers and operations staff

MassVOTE – Supplies and materials to contact residents without internet access and increase voter turnout in municipal elections

The Theater Offensive – Virtual performance equipment such as cameras and microphones for True Colors Troupe, drama group comprised of LGBTQ youth and straight allies, many of whom identify as BIPOC

GRAFTON RECIPIENTS

Apple Tree Arts – Purchase of an outdoor projector for a youth theater arts summer program

Community Harvest – Seeds and garden materials to grow food, made available to food insecure households in the Grafton/Greater Worcester Area

Friends of Grafton Inc./Grafton Food Bank – Monthly gift card distribution to food insecure families in Grafton

Grafton Senior Center – Four months of free medical rides from Grafton to Worcester for seniors and disabled residents

Saint James Outreach/Saint James Church – Emergency relief funds available to Grafton residents in need of assistance with heating costs, food, school supplies and medical expenses, among other needs

MEDFORD RECIPIENTS

ArtsMedford Inc. – "Arts After Dark," a virtual arts program taking the place of “MARV the Art Bus” during COVID-19 restrictions

Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility –"Medford Food Drive" to supply bagged groceries and necessities to Medford High School families

Congregational Church of West Medford – Large scale meal packing event serving 25,000 meals to food-insecure residents

English At Large – Beginner English classes offered to new English speakers living in Medford, including zoom subscriptions, apps, textbooks and other supplies

Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation – Multimedia intern and video equipment to produce content for their newly created YouTube channel

Medford Farmers Market – Funding for SNAP/EBT benefits available to eligible clients of the Medford Farmer's Market

Mystic River Watershed Association – Translation and interpretation of materials for "Trash Free Mystic" initiative, making them available in 4 different languages

Mystic Valley YMCA/Malden YMCA – Implementation of "Your Pantry" app used by clients of the Mystic Community Market

Strong Girls United Foundation –Student Athlete mentor program at the Brooks School, including training materials, team shirts, mentee kits

West Medford Community Center (WMCC) – Performers, speakers and workshops for WMCC'S Juneteenth Celebration

SOMERVILLE RECIPIENTS

The Beautiful Stuff Project – “Mosaic Story Walk,” an outdoor art installation project to engage families in literacy and exercise

Breakthrough Greater Boston – “Summer Learning Kits” for Somerville and Boston youth enrolled in their summer program

CASPAR, Inc. –800 pairs of women's underwear, for distribution to shelter residents and homeless individuals

Hearty Meals for All – Monthly meal distribution efforts, including food, hygiene kits and packaging supplies

RESPOND, Inc. – “Palm cards" to spread awareness and access to resources about domestic violence

St. Patrick's Shelter, Catholic Charities – Two new couches for the shelter lounge, providing a comfortable space for shelter residents

Somerville Community Growing Center – Bilingual "Nature Kits" for children, including books, seeds, journals and gardening supplies

Somerville Family Learning Collaborative – Community closet of winter clothing for students with limited access to climate appropriate clothing

Somerville Food Security Coalition – Food and packing materials for their "Come to the Table" program, providing free to-go meals to residents in need

Somerville Homeless Coalition – All-terrain street outreach cart, and funding to obtain birth certificates,  IDs and phones for homeless individuals

Tufts Community Grants Board

Tufts Community Grant proposals are reviewed and selected by a volunteer board of staff and faculty from across disciplines and departments.

• Sara Allred, Associate Director of Student Programs, Tisch College, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Margot Biggin, Executive Director, University Advancement, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Susan Bhole, Executive Assistant to SVP & General Council, University Relations, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Cheryl Blaze, Hospital Director, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton Campus
• Martha Lucia Forero Assistant Professor, Director of School Based Student Outreach Program, School of Dental Medicine, Boston Campus
• Amy Goldstein, Assistant Director, Experimental College, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Jennifer Greer-Morrisey, Community Service Learning Coordinator, Tufts Medical School, Boston Campus
• Amy Hamilton, Catering Sales Manager, Tufts Dining, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Matthew Hast, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Boston Campus
• MJ Kim Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Marketing, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Mimi Le, Associate Director of Development, University Advancement, Medical Development & Alumni Relations, Boston Campus
• Steve Nasson, Director of Facilities, Boston Campus
• Chris Swan, Civil & Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Medford/Somerville Campus
• Paul Tringale, Secretary of the Corporation, Office of the Trustees, Medford/Somerville Campus

Program Details

Grant Application Submission Period:

The 2021 Tufts Community Grants cycle is closed, grants were announced on April 12, 2021. The 2022 Grant application period will be announced in January, 2022 and updated on this website.

Grant Amount:

All grants awarded by the Tufts Community Grants Board will be $1,000.

Grant Eligibility Requirements:

TCG proposals are welcome from organizations meeting the following criteria:

• Applying organizations must be based in or serve one or more of Tufts University’s host communities of Boston, Grafton, Medford or Somerville.
• Eligible organizations must have had at least one Tufts student, staff or faculty member actively involved as a volunteer in the past three years.
• Must be a nonprofit holding current tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Code or a:
  • A government/municipal agency including libraries, housing authorities, councils on aging, etc. that are requesting funds exclusively for public purposes
  • K-12 public or charter school
  • Faith-based organization with a proposed project/initiative that benefits the community at large, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or other related human services

Grant Proposals:

A Tufts Community Grant may fund any specific project, activity, program, or equipment purchase that furthers your organization's mission and serves the community. Grants are not intended to be used towards general operating budgets or staff salaries. Examples of proposals funded in the past include environmental education programming, instruments for a youth band, preservation of historic documents, furniture for a home for disabled adults, a wig bank for cancer patients, an after-school arts program, a laptop computer for a domestic violence-prevention program, transportation for seniors, food staples for a food pantry, a community gardening program, computer software for special needs children, and winter outerwear for homeless individuals. To see a history of nonprofits awarded in the past, and the projects that have been funded by TCG, visit this page.

Engagement with Tufts Volunteers:

The TCG Board is committed to awarding grants to nonprofits that work with volunteers from Tufts University (students, staff, and faculty). There is a long tradition of community engagement at Tufts. Students across our four campuses volunteer at many organizations in our host communities. They perform service work with nonprofits, schools and local agencies in many capacities. Tufts staff and faculty are engaged too; they run programs, serve on boards, facilitate research, and organize service projects. By supporting the nonprofits that work with Tufts volunteers, the TCG program strengthens connections and partnerships between the university and our host communities. If your organization does not currently work with Tufts University volunteers, the office of Government and Community Relations is available as a resource to help you connect and partner with volunteers within the Tufts community.

Grant Recipient Expectations:

• Organizations that are award a grant are expected to use the funds for their proposal by Dec. 31, 2021.
• Organizations that are awarded a grant are asked to document and report the implementation and impact of the grant received. A brief, 1-2 paragraph summary report should be submitted by Dec. 31, 2021. Grant recipients are also encouraged to submit photos representing the program/initiative implemented if available.  Please submit reports and photos here.
• Grant recipients are asked to share the impact of their grant and tag @TuftsCommunity in social media.

Questions about Tufts Community Grants can be directed to the office of Government & Community Relations at (617) 627-3780 or communityrelations@tufts.edu.