New England Grassroots Environment Fund

Boston Grants Initiative

BGI UPDATE for 2012:
The Boston Grants Initiative (BGI) will be folded into a New England wide grant structure that NEGEF is developing for 2012 that will include a small grant program with an accelerated decision making process and a mid sized grant program with two application deadlines annually. More details will be forthcoming later in 2011.

The New England Grassroots Environment Fund will continue our collaboration with our Boston partner organizations that serve the urban community groups and small organizations to support continuing efforts in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville and beyond.

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The Boston Grants Initiative provides grants to groups working on environmental justice, environmental health, greenspace and other environmental projects in the neighborhoods of Boston, Chelsea, Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Fund interprets the word ‘environment’ broadly and will provide funding for a wide range of activities. Whole systems-thinking is critical to initiatives focused on making our environment better, healthier and more sustainable.

Urban Grants are intended to address the needs of urban groups that are too small to receive larger foundation funding. Most projects come from small and emerging neighborhood groups, but some may be part of a larger organization where the initiative would not proceed without additional, project-specific funding. Grants range from $500 to $10,000.

Successful applicants will have:

• Earned credibility as a volunteer driven grassroots organization through community work which strengthens the role of local citizens in solving environmental problems or developing sound environmental policies;
• Identified a significant community need and developed a clear plan for translating that need into action;
• Developed a vision of the long-range impacts of their work; and
• Demonstrated an ability to account for the expenditure of funds.

NEGEF does not fund the following proposals:

• Educational curriculum and/or in-school projects
• Publication of books or reports
• Lobbying or partisan political activities
• Studies with no follow-up action
• Acquisition of land and/or buildings
• Individuals
• For-profits

The goals of the Boston Grants Initiative are to:

• Increase the number of residents involved in concrete actions that improve the quality of the environment and public health in Boston;
• Assist groups to solve environmental problems, foster stewardship and increase community engagement;
• Identify, encourage and support emerging leaders;
• Foster community organizing and collaboration; and
• Establish informed networks of activists across the city.

The Boston Grants Initiative: A Unique Network Model

To assist NEGEF’s Boston Grants Initiative (BGI) program in capturing more high quality grant requests from community groups working on environmental health, environmental justice and greenspace initiatives in Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea or Somerville, NEGEF and the BGI Steering Committee agreed to increase the program’s ground presence in Boston by forming a Production Network. Begun in 2007 the Production Network expanded roles in the Boston Grants Initiative for two key Boston intermediary organizations: Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE) and the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN)

Production Network members’ responsibilities include: * Attend the BGI Steering Committee meetings * Assist in BGI program outreach to attract, engage, coach and support new applicants to the BGI program * Actively promote networking among grantees working on similar issues * Discuss grant proposals with NEGEF staff * Discuss with NEGEF staff possible capacity building or leadership development of BGI grantee organizations as needed