MetroWest Health Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The MetroWest Health Foundation supports access to health care, healthy aging, and adolescent mental health in the MetroWest region outside Boston.
FUNDING AREAS: Access to health care, healthy aging, adolescent mental health
IP TAKE: Attend a grant-writing class and reach out to this accessible funder with questions. There are also responsive grant opportunities here for short-term needs.
PROFILE: Established in 1999, the MetroWest Health Foundation is based in Framingham, Massachusetts and serves a 25-county region just west of the Boston city limits. This foundation is one of the largest health-focused foundation in the state. Grantmaking interests include access to health care, healthy aging, and adolescent mental health.
Adolescent mental health grants focus on high school students and LGBT youth. The funder has worked to decrease bullying, strengthen mental health programs in schools, and collect data about risky adolescent behaviors. Access to care grants involve primary and preventive care in high-need communities, increasing health insurance coverage, and promoting patient-centered medical homes. Priority has been given to efforts in Framingham and Milford. Healthy aging grants address the growing elder population in this region and the chronic health conditions common to this age group. Caregiver support, social engagement efforts, and fall prevention initiatives are favored. The foundation has provided elder LGBT support recently as well. The foundation provides conference space for local nonprofits and community groups. They provide scholarships, capacity building support, and formal leadership development programs. This comes in the form of capacity-building grants and technical support, as well as a Health Leadership Program and Community Health Awards. Grant-writing classes and bidders’ conferences are hosted as well. Capital grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
Grants range from $5,000 to $150,000. A list of recent grants is here. Communities served are as follows:
Ashland
Bellingham
Dover
Framingham
Franklin
Holliston
Hopedale
Hopkinton
Hudson
Marlborough
Medfield
Medway
Mendon
Milford
Millis
Natick
Needham
Norfolk
Northborough
Sherborn
Southborough
Sudbury
Wayland
Wellesley
Westborough
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. MetroWest grantmaking involves two requests for proposals each year, in the spring and fall. The application process is all online. Direct general questions to the foundation staff at info@mwhealth.org or 508-879-7625. Keep up with foundation happenings on the funder’s news and events page.
PEOPLE:
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