August 2025 - Issue #27

The Health Foundation recently awarded ten grants totaling nearly $1 million through the Activation Fund, which supports organizations in building capacity in sustainable ways as they work to address community-identified health issues. The announcement was covered by the Worcester Business Journal and MassNonprofit News.

The ten grant recipients, whose projects are summarized here, represent a diverse mix of organizations located throughout the region.

The Foundation's President and CEO Dr. Amie Shei said, “We received a record-breaking number of applications this year, and we are pleased that the grantees selected by the Board represent a broad set of organizations, issues and geographic areas. In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to help organizations build capacity and resiliency.” 

Senator Jamie Eldridge recently secured $300,000 in the supplemental state budget to address significant transportation gaps in the Nashoba Valley and Devens area. The Foundation will steward these funds to invest in the region.

This is the first time the Foundation was granted state funding in this way, which complements its investment in the region with a $250,000 three-year grant to the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass (CHNA 9), and represents the first initiative in Central Massachusetts aligned with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM), as announced previously.

In June, the Massachusetts Legislature approved over $1 billion in new investments in transportation and education across the Commonwealth through the surplus surtax supplemental budget. The supplemental budget allocates $716 million for transportation, including $73 million for regional transit initiatives, of which $10 million is allocated for microtransit.

The Foundation has been a vocal advocate for increased funding for microtransit in collaboration with many other advocates and through Dr. Shei's service on the Governor's Transportation Funding Task Force in 2024. In addition, the Foundation has invested $1.9 million in the Quaboag Connector rural microtransit service, which was recently found to have generated an economic impact of nearly $45 million by the UMass Donahue Institute.

The Foundation's partners at Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA) are hosting a legislative briefing on microtransit, which will take place on September 10 at the State House.

Here are two recent opinion pieces from Dr. Shei and Alex Corrales, CEO of the Worcester Housing Authority and former Foundation Director, raising awareness of issues important to Central Massachusetts.

The Boston Globe - Boosting schools calls for much more than receivership

Worcester Telegram & Gazette - Worcester Housing Authority bold, responsive and driven by clear mission

Below are resources and information that may be of interest to our nonprofit partners and community members. 

Mass AGO Webinar: Navigating the Changing Non-Profit Landscape

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is hosting a webinar focusing on the changing and challenging landscape currently facing non-profit organizations as a result of the new federal administration. Available resources to the nonprofit sector and recent updates to legal guidance will be shared. Register here for the webinar on August 26.

Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds 

The Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds are dedicated to transforming communities across Massachusetts by prioritizing equitable systems and explicitly focusing on people of color and older adults. The idea submission phase is open to eligible MA-based entities from August 11 - September 8 for the next application cycle in January 2026. Take the Idea Submission Phase Self-Assessment to determine eligibility or submit an idea.

United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM)

The United Way Day of Caring event mobilizes the power of volunteers from local companies and community residents to tackle projects across North Central Massachusetts. This year's Day of Caring will be held on September 19. Organizations located within the UWNCM service region may register projects and number of volunteers requested by August 15 here: 2025 Day of Caring Agency Project Registration Form.

MetroWest Health Foundation

The Meeting the Moment grant program is a one-time responsive grant opportunity created to manage the impact of recent policy and funding changes. Organizations must be located in and serve at least one of the 25 towns served by the Foundation. Funding levels range from $10,000-$20,000. Grants will be made on a rolling basis until fully expended.

© 2025 The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts