Yawkey Foundation invites Initial Proposals from organizations that have a project or initiative that addresses a need that strategically aligns with the Foundation’s mission, Areas of Giving, and the perpetuation of Tom and Jean Yawkey’s philanthropic legacy. Yawkey Foundation currently accepts Initial Proposals for its Program & Small Capital, Strategic Investments, and Transformational Capital grants. Organizations that have not been previously funded by
the Foundation, in recent years, are encouraged to submit Initial Proposals for Program & Small Capital Grants to familiarize the Foundation with its work before submitting an Initial Proposal
for Strategic Investment or Transformational Capital.
Initial Proposal narratives may not exceed 800 words and should include:
- A concise overview of the nonprofit’s mission, impact, programs, and services;
- A description of the program/project/initiative for which funding is being sought, how it meets a well-defined need, anticipated outcomes, and sustainability once grant funding has been expended;
- A description of how individuals, families, and/or communities served by the nonprofit will benefit from the support;
- A detailed project or program budget specific to the proposal. We ask organizations to use the Budget Template from Philanthropy MA.
Nonprofits new to the Yawkey Foundation and grantees previously funded by the Foundation are welcome to submit an Initial Proposal for consideration by the Yawkey Foundation once a calendar year, regardless of the Type of Grant and subject to the eligibility criteria.
Please note that grants are extremely competitive, and the most compelling Initial Proposals will reflect a nonprofit’s strong leadership and proven impact in providing direct services and programs for unmet needs in underserved regions aligned with the Yawkey Foundation’s geographic priority areas, including Gateway Cities in Eastern Massachusetts. Initial Proposals for Transformational Capital and Strategic Investment Grants must demonstrate that a nonprofit’s Board has made a commitment to and has approved the capital project or strategic initiative. Organizations applying for these grants are required to submit their board-approved plan when applying for an initial proposal.
Should the Foundation wish to learn more about the Initial Proposal after the preliminary evaluation, an organization may be invited to submit a full Grant Application. At this juncture, Foundation staff will provide the nonprofit with specific instructions and guidance regarding the Grant Application process, required questions, suggested content, and approximate deadline and evaluation timelines.