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.

In April 2021, 35 programs each received $1,000 grants. Over 140 non-profits have received grants since 1995.

Tufts would like to thank Cummings Foundation for making a generous dollar for dollar matching gift to the Tufts Community Grants program this year. During the most recent internal fundraising campaign, every dollar donated by Tufts staff and faculty to the TCG program was matched by Cummings Foundation. Thanks to this record breaking support from staff, faculty and Cummings Foundation, we are able to increase award amounts this year from $1,000 to $2,000. Tufts is grateful to Cummings Foundation for its impactful matching gift and for supporting the work of Tufts' community partners serving Boston, Grafton, Medford and Somerville.

Program Details and Application

Please read the following program details before applying for a Tufts Community Grant; the application button is below the details and requirements.

Grant Application Submission Period:

The 2022 Tufts Community Grants application period is February 15 - March 15, 2022. The deadline to submit a proposal is March 15, 2022.

Grant Amount:

All grants awarded by the Tufts Community Grants Board will be $2,000.

Notification:

Grant award and denial notifications will be sent in early April.

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.

Serving Tufts' Host Communities:

Tufts Community Grants are intended to support organizations based in or serving Tufts' host communities of Boston, Grafton, Medford or Somerville. Preference is given to nonprofits that are located in and/or directly serving residents of these four communities. Nonprofits not based in one of these four communities may apply for funding as long as their programming and proposed project will directly and primarily benefit one the four host communities. Applying organizations not based in Boston, Grafton, Medford or Somerville will be asked to identify and describe their connection to the host community that will benefit from their proposed project.

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, 2022.
• 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, 2022. 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.