Announcing 2026 Activation Fund Grants | | |
The Health Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 Activation Fund grant recipients. Ten grants, totaling over $1 million, were awarded to support organizations across the Central Massachusetts region as they address community-identified health issues. The announcement was covered by the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise (paid article) and MassNonprofit News.
This year’s ten grant recipients span a diverse mix of organizations and issue areas, underscoring the many ways local groups are responding to evolving community needs. A summary of all ten projects can be found here.
The Foundation's President and CEO Dr. Amie Shei said, “We are proud to support these ten organizations during this crucial moment. The Activation Fund grant is designed to help community organizations advance their work in bold and sustainable ways. This year’s recipients have earned the trust of the communities they serve and are providing vital services across Central Massachusetts.”
| | Elevating Community Voices through the Media | | |
Local leaders, media, and communications experts gathered in June. (THFCM photo)
In June, The Health Foundation hosted an in-person conversation exploring the Massachusetts media landscape, the role of op-eds, and the importance of elevating community voices. A panel of media and communications experts comprised of Michael Jonas of CommonWealth Beacon, Michael McDermott of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and Eileen O'Connor of Keyser Public Strategies shared their perspectives with community leaders from across Central Massachusetts. The discussion offered practical insights into the state's evolving media environment, strategies for developing and pitching op-eds, and the critical role that local voices play in shaping public conversations.
The event marked the culmination of the Foundation's first investment in building local op-ed capacity and amplifying community voices across the region. As part of its 2026-2030 strategic plan to empower local communities, the Foundation supported 20 leaders from across Central Massachusetts to participate in The OpEd Project's nationally recognized Write to Change the World online workshop. The program equips participants with the skills, confidence, and strategies to write compelling op-eds, engage in public discourse, and position themselves as thought leaders on issues affecting their communities. Participants leave with practical tools to shape public conversations, influence change, and increase their visibility in the media.
| | Celebrating a Win in Early Investments in Expanding Employer-Supported Child Care | | |
The Health Foundation’s Synergy Initiative grants are intended to address complex challenges through collaborative problem solving and innovation. The aim is for the strategies that are developed through these initiatives to be sustained through policy and systems change. We are proud to celebrate a recent example of a project supported by our seed funding transitioning to state funding for its next phase of work. From 2024 through mid-2025, the Foundation provided $400K to launch an employer-supported child care initiative in collaboration with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts (CFNCM). During the grant period, the Commonwealth announced a new funding opportunity aimed at supporting different models of employer-supported child care. The project soon pivoted towards preparing for the opportunity.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently announced the award of nearly $2 million through the Employer Child Care Innovation Fund (ECCIF) pilot program to support partnerships among employers, child care providers, and community organizations across Massachusetts. The funding will expand access to affordable, reliable child care for working families while helping employers recruit, retain, and support the workforce they rely on. We congratulate the UWNCM on receiving $800,000 from the ECCIF for a regional effort in North Central Massachusetts in partnership with Heywood Healthcare of Gardner, the CFNCM, and Upwards.
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Dr. Amie Shei recently appeared in these Boston Globe pieces.
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What happens to a rural community after its hospital closes?
Two years after Steward-owned Nashoba Valley Medical Center closed in Ayer, finding solutions to help the region’s most vulnerable residents access health care remains a work in progress. Dr. Shei and local leaders discuss these challenges in this recent opinion piece (paid article).
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Contaminated private wells also need state investment
In a recent Letter to the Editor (paid article), Dr. Shei emphasized that all Massachusetts residents deserve equal access to safe drinking water, regardless of where they live. She noted that while Massachusetts has made important investments in wastewater surveillance to protect public health, residents who rely on private wells remain vulnerable because wells may contain harmful contaminants, like PFAS, and are not subject to statewide testing requirements.
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After Merrimack Valley transit strike, a question lingers: What will it take to keep free buses?
In this recent article (paid article), Dr. Shei, who was a member of the state's 2024 Transportation Funding Task Force, noted the challenges with the current approach to transportation funding.
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Director Announces Retirement from Advocates
The Health Foundation congratulates Ms. Diane Gould on her recent retirement as President and CEO of Advocates, Inc., following forty years of dedicated leadership and service.
The Foundation is grateful that Ms. Gould continues to serve on its Board of Directors, a role she has held since 2022. She also serves as Chair of the Distribution Committee.
| | | | Welcome Director of Strategic Initiatives | | |
The Health Foundation is pleased to announce that Courtney Pelley, MA has joined the Foundation as the inaugural Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Ms. Pelley previously served as Senior Vice President of External Affairs at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving nearly 35,000 individuals of all ages across Central and MetroWest Massachusetts.
As the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Ms. Pelley will work with the Foundation's President and CEO to lead major strategic initiatives complementing the Foundation’s primary grantmaking and investment strategies and support its advocacy, capacity building, communications, and community engagement activities. She will also lead the development of implementation and monitoring activities for the Foundation’s strategic plan.
| | Nonprofit and Community Resources | | |
The following resources may be of interest to our nonprofit partners and community members.
Health Care For All
Health Care For All is offering free webinars to explain the upcoming changes to MassHealth resulting from OB3, including federal work requirements and more frequent eligibility renewals. Learn more and register here.
Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF)
GWCF is offering new grant opportunities that are accepting applications.
Community Health Equity Survey
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Health Resources in Action are hosting a webinar on outreach strategies and regional connections related to the Community Health Equity Survey. This is an opportunity to make sure that your community’s priorities show up in the data that state government and community organizations use to make decisions about funding, services, and policies. Register for the webinar on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
Community Leadership Institute Class of 2027
As an initiative of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the Community Leadership Institute offers a 9-month immersive experience designed to develop the next generation of leaders through hands-on learning, exclusive access to regional leaders, and collaborative community projects. Participants gain the skills, connections, and insights needed to lead effectively in today’s technology and knowledge-driven economy. Applications are being accepted through Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Promise Fund
The Promise Fund, a specialized investment initiative designed to provide resources for, accelerate, and scale early-stage social innovations in the early childhood development sector, is accepting applications for the Imagine Award, which provides $20,000 in flexible funding and a six-month cohort-based learning experience for community-centered early childhood leaders. Proposals are due by Friday, August 28, 2026.
Reliant Foundation
Reliant Foundation is accepting proposals for its Community Grants. Programs focusing on substance use disorder (primarily the opioid epidemic), mental health/behavioral health services for children and youth, and programs and initiatives which reduce stigma around these issues will be given top priority. Proposals are due by Friday, October 9, 2026.
| | The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts is dedicated to improving the health of those who live or work in Central Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations and unmet needs. Through its unique and impactful approach to grantmaking, The Health Foundation supports community-identified health issues, with health defined broadly to include social determinants of health and with a focus on promoting health equity. As a health conversion foundation launched in 1999 following the sale of the not-for-profit HMO Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc., The Health Foundation’s grants have totaled over $64 million to more than 250 unique organizations over its history. For more information, visit www.thfcm.org. |
| © 2026 The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts | | | | |
