February 2026 - Issue #33

Activation Fund Phase I Submission Deadline

The 2026 Activation Fund grant opportunity is open. The deadline for submission of Phase I materials is March 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The Activation Fund supports discrete, one-year projects in Central Massachusetts (targeting between $50,000 and $125,000) aimed at helping an organization move to its next level of capacity and effectiveness that can be sustained over time. In general, grants support projects that will not require ongoing fundraising beyond the end of the grant period. The Health Foundation does not name specific health issues or priority areas, instead looking to community-based organizations to identify health issues and potential solutions.

Prior to submitting Phase I application materials, please download and carefully review the Activation Fund Applicant & Grantee Guide. Applicants should also take our Eligibility Quiz if you are not sure you meet The Health Foundation’s eligibility criteria for grants.

If you have questions about eligibility guidelines, the application process and related deadlines, you can request a recording of this year's information sessions, which may answer your questions. You can also request a consultation with staff to discuss any questions specific to your organization or project.

A Milestone for Foundation Leadership

Board chair Christie L. Hager

(THFCM photo)

New Board Chair

The Health Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Christie L. Hager, JD, MPH as Chair of the Board of Directors. With this appointment, Ms. Hager is the first woman elected to the role in The Health Foundation’s 27-year history.

Ms. Hager, senior advisor for behavioral health at MassHealth within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and associate professor at UMass Chan Medical School, has served on The Health Foundation's Board since 2020.

Executive Committee

(L-R) Chair Christie Hager, Assistant Secretary Dr. Kathryn Lee, Executive Committee Member Diane Gould, and Treasurer Paula Aiello (missing from photo Secretary Dr. Sejal Daga) (THFCM photo)

The Health Foundation also recently elected its 2026 Officers and Executive Committee members for a one-year term. For the first time, The Health Foundation's Executive Committee consists entirely of female leaders.

Grantee Spotlight

Foundation Staff Tour Quinsigamond Community College's Dental Clinic

The Health Foundation and Quinsigamond Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic staff. (QCC photo)

Last month, staff from The Health Foundation toured the Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) Dental Hygiene Clinic and witnessed firsthand the clinic’s community impact. In 2024, QCC received a $125,000 Activation Fund grant to modernize the clinic, which enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art dental chairs to replace outdated dental hygiene stations. These upgrades have both enhanced the student learning environment and dramatically improved the overall patient experience. Beyond meeting accreditation requirements, the new equipment ensures students are trained using the tools and technologies they will encounter in today’s professional practice, better preparing them for successful careers in oral health care.

We're Hiring!

The Health Foundation is accepting applications to fill the new Director of Strategic Initiatives position.

Please view the full job description here and share with your networks!

Nonprofit and Community Resources

The following resources may be of interest to our nonprofit partners and community members.

Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts

Applications for the 2026 Organizational Development Grant Cycle are now being accepted. These grants are intended to support targeted investments that strengthen an organization’s internal capacity, operational effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. Funding levels range from $2,000-$10,000. Informational sessions will be held on Thursday, February 12 at 10:00 am. and Tuesday, February 17 at 1:00 pm. with applications due on Friday, February 27, 2026. Learn more.

MetroWest Health Foundation

The Spring 2026 Grant Cycle is now open, and proposals will be considered in the Foundation’s priority areas aligned with their 2026-2031 strategic plan: Equitable Access to Care, Food Security, and Health & Housing Stability. Concept papers are due by Friday, March 13, 2026 and proposals are due Friday, April 3, 2026 by 4:00 pm. For more details, please review the grant guidelines.

Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds

The Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds' 2026 grantmaking cycle is now open, making funds available for communities that have historically not benefitted from Determination of Need (DoN) dollars. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2026, by 5:00 pm, and grants are anticipated to start Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Click here to access the application. Massachusetts-based nonprofit organizations, municipalities, quasi-governmental groups, and coalitions may apply for Planning or Full Grants within the following funding streams:

• Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change

• Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP)

• Healthy Aging

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 $62 million to 250 unique organizations over its history. For more information, visit www.thfcm.org.

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