Guidelines

The Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation supports projects and organizations that address one or more of the Foundation’s major interests:

• To strengthen the education, independence and capabilities of young people, especially girls, and of women and their children;

• To support the healthy development of girls as the foundation for their adult lives; and

• To protect and preserve the natural environment.

Program

The Trustees support organizations and programs that offer opportunities and services that lead to independence and self-sufficiency for women, children and youth. The Foundation looks for efforts that stress prevention rather than remediation. 

It funds programs in education, job training, social services, economic self-sufficiency, and community organizing which will enable women to provide for themselves and for their children. The Trustees are particularly interested in funding organizations that can demonstrate through clear program evaluation that they have a significant impact on the lives of women and children in a cost-effective manner.

Because the Trustees have a special focus on supporting programs and services for girls, the Foundation is particularly interested in all-girls programs in education, enrichment, mentoring, peer leadership, sports and fitness, civic participation, teen pregnancy prevention, and avoidance of domestic violence.  Mixed-gender youth programs that can establish an understanding of, and the ability to meet, girls’ needs will also be considered.

With the exception of grants to environmental organizations in geographic areas supported by the Foundation’s benefactor, the Trustees strongly prefer to fund environmental projects that also include other priorities of the Foundation, such as education or community service opportunities for low-income urban youth.

The Trustees recognize the importance of advocacy, both as a technique for obtaining services for underserved individuals and groups, and as a means of changing public policy.  In general the Foundation chooses to fund advocacy when it is a natural outgrowth of direct services, or where it is directly tied to the major interests of the Foundation.

One-time and multiple-year grants are awarded in amounts up to $30,000 per year to private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.  Awards are normally made for program support, special projects, technical assistance, staff development, and general operating support on the basis of clear organizational objectives, including future financial goals. 

Exclusions

The Trustees also have identified areas where, because of limited funds, the Foundation is not able to provide support: individual day care programs, crisis intervention, family preservation programs, homeless shelters, housing development, medical services, substance abuse, and ex-offender programs.  We recognize the importance of these services for women and their families and encourage the applicant to seek other public and private funding sources.

The Foundation does not fund the core educational programs of public, private, parochial or charter schools.  However, collaborative programs including schools as partners with other organizations are eligible.

The Foundation normally does not support capital campaigns or endowments.

Geography

The Foundation makes grants in the Boston area and in Northern New Hampshire.  In Greater Boston, grants normally are made to organizations serving low-income residents of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea.

In New Hampshire, grants are made through the Northern New Hampshire Foundation.  Contact the Northern New Hampshire Foundation directly for grantmaking guidelines by emailing info@nhcf.org, by calling (800) 464-6641 ext.252, or by writing the Northern New Hampshire Foundation, 37 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.

How to Apply

Because of a limited grants budget, only a small number of the proposals received are funded.  The review process for new applicants is extremely competitive because the Foundation chooses to support some organizations and programs over a period of several years.  Applicants are welcome to telephone for guidance on whether to submit a proposal.

Stearns is one of a group of foundations in Massachusetts that has adopted the AGM Common Proposal Format developed with the Associated Grant Makers. All proposals should include:

• The AGM Common Proposal Format cover summary;

• a cover letter;

• a short narrative description of the organization's history, mission, accomplishments, populations served, the programs or services it provides, and its qualifications to undertake the program for which funds are sought;

• a description of the specific purpose for which the grant is sought and its relevance to the Foundation's goals;

• a timetable of activities and objectives to be met; and

• a program evaluation to include a clear statement of the applicant's expectations with respect to the results of the grant, and how results will be measured.

Attachments should include:

• a copy of the organization's most recent audited financial statement, 990 form, and current annual budget;

• names and positions of board members and key staff, with information on how board and staff members reflect the diversity of the community served;

• information on the number, racial, and gender composition of program participants;

• a budget for the proposed project, including other sources of support already committed and requests pending; and

• IRS letter of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Deadlines and Application Review

The Trustees meet to review proposals in the winter and summer.  The application deadlines are May 1 and November 1.

The Northern New Hampshire Foundation has a separate grantmaking cycle, so be sure to contact the Foundation directly.

Funding for programs taking place during the summer will be considered only during the winter (November) grants cycle.

Receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged, and applicants will be notified by letter of the final grant decision. 

Applicants are limited to one proposal per year and, if denied, must wait at least two years before reapplying for another grant.

If an award is made, the applicant may apply again for further funding based on successful completion of the program and compliance with reporting requirements below.

Reports

A report on the progress of the program or project, and on the use of grant funds, is due within one year of the date of the award. 

The report should restate the objectives of the grant and clearly document how and in what ways the objectives were met.  A report must be received before a new application will be considered.

Foundation Office

Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation
c/o Amy Shorey, Administrator
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, Suite 800
Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-1006 USA
V 617 - 426 - 7080
F 617 - 426 - 7087

Last updated 03/01/05.