Application Information

Your proposal should tell us as directly as possible about your organization, what you want to do, how you want to do it, how much you think it will cost, and who is served by your project.

The Foundation's staff and Trustees do not provide preliminary advice on a proposal, indicate preliminary interest in a proposal, opine on the appropriateness of a proposal, offer advice on which of several proposals to choose, nor opine on the dollar amount appropriate for a given proposal. Letters of interest should not be sent. Other than a call to the Foundation's Wellesley office with procedural questions regarding the filing process itself, if necessary, your first contact with the Foundation should be the completed grant application.

Please do not include additional background information such as letters of support, lengthy program and facility descriptions, extensive organizational histories, publicity materials, newspaper clippings, brochures, flyers, and organizational videos, etc. If we need additional materials to fairly process your proposal we will ask you for them.

Be advised that there are four filing deadlines corresponding with a subsequent meeting date. Please see the current deadline list on the Homepage.

Grant Application Considerations

  • We look first and most of all at the leadership of the organization. Experience has taught us that the people who lead and staff the organization are most instrumental in bringing about positive changes in the lives of the youth and families in the communities they serve.
  • Amelia Peabody Foundation grants only support projects and programs that are carried out in Massachusetts.
  • Grants are made for almost any project that serves to promote and enhance the grantee organization's mission: for existing and new programs; for operations; capital acquisitions; for the renovation of existing buildings and facilities; for the repair, maintenance, and purchase of equipment.
  • Examples of organizations supported by Amelia Peabody grants are: neighborhood and community centers, youth centers, charter schools, out of school time and sport programs, YMCAs and YWCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.
  • Examples of program types supported by Amelia Peabody grants are: work preparedness, education persistence and enrichment, mentoring and youth guidance, increased opportunities and deeper benefits for youth, facility and technology improvements, and expansions in the number of youth or communities served.
  • Grants are not made directly to individuals, nor are they made for: promotional videos, endowments, independent research, seed money, advertisements, sponsorships, fundraising events, for lobbying or other items listed in the Grant Agreement. Program-related investments (PRIs), as defined by the IRS, are not made. You may download a typical Grant Agreement form for additional information.
  • Grants focused outside of Boston are of particular interest to the Board. Replication of successful programs to areas outside Boston are also encouraged.
  • We favor grants that help organizations to leverage additional funds.
  • From time to time the Foundation will issue a challenge grant requiring the grantee to match funding by a specified time from other sources as detailed in the challenge. Such other sources vary from grant to grant, but have included as examples: only Board members, only individuals, only funders from the same city, only new funders and/or increased amounts from previous funders, only amounts above a given threshold. Challenges can be offered for all of an application request or a portion thereof.
  • We encourage applicants to consider if a directed challenge of this nature would be helpful to address any fundraising areas needing development and apply for a challenge if desired.
  • The Trustees may also issue a challenge to a grantee without an application request for the challenge.
  • We particularly favor grants to organizations that employ members of the populations that they serve.
  • Most grants are for one year only. However, in some instances capital grants can last up to three years.
New applicants or those seeking answers to issues with the online application process should read our Online Application Tips page.
Online Applications Tips