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Small Community Grants Trust Program

The Small Community Grants Trust program funds non-profit organizations that work with and for the people of Boston, providing immediate and direct impact in a number of program areas.

What are the small community grants? 
The Trust Office manages over 300 individual trusts, many of which are for a very specific purpose and generate a small amount of money each year. We’ve grouped a number of these small trusts into the Small Community Grants Program so that we can honor the intentions of the donors by efficiently granting the funds to benefit Bostonians. Grants are awarded twice a year and range from $500- $2000.  

Fall Round 2026

The program opens to applications from organizations twice each year, once in the spring and once in the fall. These grants are intended to have an immediate and direct impact for the citizens of Boston through programs, activities, and events. 

The 2026 Fall Round is accepting applications in these three program areas:

  • Charitable and humane purposes (providing humanitarian aid or services)
  • Special or new recreation
  • Recreational (play or sports) areas for children
Timeline and Important Dates
  • Application Launch Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
  • Information Sessions: See sidebar for dates, times, and meeting link
  • Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. (EST)
  • Review Period: October and November 2026
  • Award Notification: December 2026
Eligibility Criteria

  • In order to apply, organizations must meet the following criteria:

    • Non-profit (registered 501(c)(3) OR non-profit using a Fiscal Sponsor or partnering with a City Department)

    • Founded before September 2025- must be at least one year old

    • Two contact people with different contact information

    • Annual operating budget of at least $2,000 

    • Did not receive a Small Community Grants award in Spring 2026. 

  • Additionally, proposals must meet these requirements:

    • Proposed event, project, or activity fits at least one program area

    • Any grant funds awarded must solely benefit Bostonians, even if your organization serves residents of other towns in Greater Boston

    • Funds cannot be used for gift cards or to fund operating expenses.

  • Finally, your organization must agree to submit a final report after the funds are fully expended. 

Questions?

Please contact Sarah Rodrigo in the Trust Office at smallgrants@boston.gov or 617-635-2131.

Application form instructions can be found in the Guidance section of the application. 

resources

You can view pdfs of presentation decks and a Q+A document that will be updated as we receive questions in the Small Community Grant Program resources folder.  

Who's Involved:

Treasury
617-635-4140
Community Engagement
617-635-3485
Procurement
617-635-4564
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