The Fund uses grantmaking, networking and skills-building to fuel civic engagement, local activism, and social change.
The New England Grassroots Environment Fund’s (NEGEF) grantmaking program directly funds groups,
both informal and small non-profits, that are generally too small or new to meet the guidelines of private and community foundations. A grant from NEGEF can help a group find success, complete its project, gain
visibility from other funding sources, and get the ever-important morale boost that local-level grassroots
groups need to be key players in social change.
The Small Grants Program awards grants of $500-$2,500 to local groups across New England. All projects must
demonstrate a major element of volunteer involvement. The Fund defines a grassroots group as one that is all or largely volunteer driven, has no more than two paid, full time staff persons or staff equivalents, and has an annual budget,
including projects, of less than $100,000.
The Boston Grants Initiative awards grants of $500-$10,000 to groups working at a neighborhood or city level on environmental health, environmental justice or green space initiatives in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea or Somerville
while demonstrating significant element of volunteer involvement in their programs.
The Special Grants program allows NEGEF to make additional grants to its grantees that are informal or ad hoc groups without 501©(3) charitable designations. Funds for these special grants are comprised of individual or foundation gifts
specifically directed to these grantees but given to NEGEF to administer.
Community activists often need a range of community organizing skills to advance their organizing efforts. NEGEF sponsors a range of capacity-building and leadership development trainings around the region, and
provides scholarships for grantees to attend other organization’s trainings and conferences that are relevant.
NEGEF organizes and runs an annual gathering for its grantees. The NEGEF Grassroots Retreat is primarily a
networking and skills-building opportunity with workshops and activities led by professional leadership and community organizing trainers.
Community-level volunteers and activists gain much support and collective knowledge from their peers. With twelve years of grantmaking behind us and with a funding presence in 40% of all municipalities in New England, NEGEF’s staff is ready to answer any question, meet any challenge and connect groups to each
other for peer-to-peer support.
The New England Grassroots Environment Fund Network topped 1,000 unique groups in 2008.