December 2025 - Issue #31

$250,000 in Year-End Funding Will Help Families Across Central Massachusetts as Community Needs Intensify

The Health Foundation has awarded $250,000 in emergency financial assistance grants to three nonprofit organizations serving the region during this time of economic uncertainty and growing need as reported by MassNonprofit News.

The grant awards to Worcester Community Action Council, Making Opportunity Count, and South Middlesex Opportunity Council will support emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in the region. These community action agencies serve as trusted, local organizations that administer federal and state funding programs aimed at helping residents overcome barriers to economic stability. By working through these agencies, The Health Foundation aims to ensure that funds can quickly reach households facing financial hardship.

The grants were awarded proactively by The Health Foundation in response to rising demand for emergency assistance amid unpredictable federal funding and shifting policies that are threatening safety net programs. The emergency finance assistance will support basic needs such as housing, utilities, and food, with an emphasis on reaching individuals and families who may not qualify for other assistance or who live in communities with fewer available resources.

The Foundation's President and CEO Dr. Amie Shei said, “In this time of great need, The Health Foundation is committed to partnering with three trusted community action agencies to provide financial assistance that will address important basic needs throughout Central Massachusetts. These organizations share a commitment to underserved populations, and their expertise and compassion will ensure that critical financial assistance reaches those who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Foundation Releases Strategic Plan 2026-2030

Earlier this year, The Health Foundation embarked on the development of a new five-year strategic plan to guide the organization's next chapter.

After thoughtful engagement from a wide range of stakeholders across the region, we are pleased to announce the release of our Strategic Plan for 2026-2030. The Health Foundation’s goals for the next five years have been organized into four broad categories of strategies: Promote Effective and Equitable Policies and Systems; Strengthen Community-Based Organizations; Empower Local Communities; and Steward Assets.

We thank all those who contributed to this plan!

Launch of Nashoba Health Equity Partnership

(L-R) Foundation President and CEO Dr. Amie Shei; CHNA 9 Executive Director Chelsey Patriss; Nashoba Associated Boards of Health Shared Services Coordinator Kathryn Witherow; and Nashoba Associated Boards of Health Communications Specialist Jenna Montgomery. (CHNA 9 photo)

Partnership will Strengthen Rural Health Access in Nashoba Valley

On December 4, local and regional leaders gathered to celebrate the launch of the Nashoba Health Equity Partnership, a multi-year partnership between the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Massachusetts (CHNA 9) and The Health Foundation as covered by the Harvard Press and Lowell Sun.

The Health Foundation awarded a three-year, $250,000 grant to the Health Equity Partnership in June to strengthen access to health care and address social determinants of health in the Nashoba Valley region.

The launch builds on work initiated in the wake of the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in August 2024, which placed new strain on an already challenged rural health landscape. As part of the Nashoba Valley Health Planning Working Group initiated by Governor Maura Healey, municipalities, health and social service organizations, and community members collaborated to assess the needs of the community, identify gaps in access, and outline strategies to improve the health outcomes of individuals in the area. 

The Nashoba Health Equity Partnership will carry this work forward under the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts initiative, which works to eliminate racial, economic, and regional disparities in health outcomes with a focus on maternal health and social determinants of cardiometabolic health.

As we near the end of 2025, we wanted to share a snapshot of the work we have supported over the past year, during which we:

Welcomed three new Directors to our Board, Leah M. Bradley, LCSW; Arthur O. DuBois, LICSW, MSW; and Morgan A. Russell, Esq.;

Continued support of our Round 6 Synergy Initiative projects by awarding three pilot grants totaling over $1.2 million to support school-based mental health, food is medicine, and early education and care; as well as our Round 5 Synergy Initiative project addressing safe drinking water from private wells; 

Recognized our President and CEO Dr. Amie Shei being named one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year;

Applauded Governor Maura Healey's $8 billion transportation investment to stabilize and improve transportation, including $10 million in microtransit and the release of an economic impact analysis conducted by the UMass Donahue Institute, which revealed the Quaboag Connector rural microtransit service has resulted in nearly $45 million in total economic benefits since its launch in 2017;

Marked several milestones among past and current grantees, including the opening of the Worcester Regional Food Hub's new headquarters at Union Station in Worcester and the opening of the Fitchburg Arts Community, both previous Synergy Initiative grantees;

Awarded nearly $1 million in Activation Fund grants to ten organizations, after receiving a record-breaking number of applications; and

Awarded a $250,000 three-year grant to the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass.

Recent Director News

Director Publishes Book of Poetry

The Health Foundation Director Mr. Art DuBois has published his first book of poetry, "Desperate Souls, Hopeful Hearts," which also features dozens of Mr. DuBois' own nature photography. 

Desperate Souls, Hopeful Hearts is a heartfelt collection of poems that gently explores life's struggles, losses, and pains. More information can be found here.

Director Announces Retirement

The Health Foundation would like to congratulate Mrs. Carole Steen on her upcoming retirement as Chief Financial Officer of the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, a role she has held for twenty-five years.

Mrs. Steen has served as a Director on The Health Foundation's Board since 2019 and currently serves as Chair of its Audit Committee.

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

The United Response Fund SNAP Rapid Relief grant is a crisis response fund established in Massachusetts to address the significant risk to food security resulting from federal decisions that will disrupt SNAP benefits. This statewide effort, which involves the 13 United Ways across Massachusetts, aims to serve all 351 communities by rapidly deploying critical food resources to meet urgent, immediate community needs. 

Organizations may receive up to $20,000 through this grant, specifically structured to provide relief from the loss of monthly SNAP benefits in Massachusetts.

More information on the fund and how to apply can be found here.

Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts has announced the launch of the FY2026 Nashoba Valley Community Health Grant Program. This year’s grant cycle will focus on programs that improve access to quality healthcare for residents of the Nashoba Valley region. Funding levels range from $5,000 to $20,000. An informational session will be held on December 22, 2025 at 1:00 pm with applications due on January 9, 2026 and awards announced February 13, 2026. Apply here.

Massachusetts Health Policy Commission

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission is recruiting leaders from across the state’s health care continuum who share its commitment to making health care more affordable, transparent, and equitable for all residents to serve on its Advisory Council. Applications are being considered through January 9, 2026 for Individuals interested in volunteering for a two-year term beginning in 2026. To apply, click here.

MassDOT

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has two open grant opportunities with application deadlines of January 9, 2026:

• The Complete Streets Funding Program for municipalities to address gaps in the transportation network; and

• The Shared Streets and Spaces Program open to municipalities and public transit agencies to improve a variety of public spaces to address mobility.

TSNE Shared Services Program 

Recognizing increased needs among nonprofits for administrative and operating support, the Point32Health Foundation has partnered with Third Sector New England (TSNE) to host a webinar highlighting TSNE’s Shared Services Program on January 15, 2026 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. To register, click here.

© 2025 The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts