Guidelines
The Harold Brooks Foundation is operated in accordance with the terms of a Declaration of Trust Signed by Harold Brooks of Braintree, Massachusetts in 1961.
The Trust became a Charitable Foundation in 1984 in accordance with the terms of the document. The Trustees are directed to distribute the net income for municipal, religious, charitable, benevolent and educational purposes within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Statement of Purpose
The Foundation will consider any request for a grant which significantly provides for the health, human services, religious, educational, environmental, recreation or cultural needs of the community, particularly in the South Shore area. Within this broad definition, the trustees have adopted a special focus on providing for the needs of low-income children and families on the South Shore and have a preference for funding programs in the areas of health, mental health, hunger, housing/homelessness and education.Special Emphasis
The Brooks Foundation has a special preference for assisting small, community-based organizations with limited resources to establish new programs and increase their capacity to sustain them.
Geographic Focus
The Foundation makes grants to organizations located on the South Shore of Massachusetts. In special circumstances, the Foundation will make grants to organizations outside this area for programs to benefit the South Shore.Type of Support
- Support for new initiatives; pilot projects and capital purposes
- Support for direct services
- Support for technical assistance that helps small organizations to increase their organizational and fundraising capacity
- A preference for conditional and challenge grants to leverage support from other sources
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted only from tax exempt organizations as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which qualify as non-private foundations under Section 509 of the Code. Requests are considered only from Massachusetts-based charitable organizations for purposes to be carried out within Massachusetts, preferably on the South Shore.
Requests from the same organization more frequently than once in a twelve-month period will not ordinarily be considered.
Types of Grants not normally considered
The Brooks Foundation does not normally provide support for:
- Scholarships or fellowships
- Loans
- Grants to individuals
- Regular operating budgets or to help defray deficits
- Organizations that apply more than once in a twelve-month period
- Multiple year grants
Grants will normally be made for one year only, unless special circumstances justify a commitment for a longer period.
How to Apply
Requests for grants should be sent to:
Emma M. Greene
Vice President
Bank of America - Private Bank
100 Federal St.
MA5-100-05-01
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-434-0329
Fax: 617-434-7567
email: emma.m.greene@bankofamerica.com
Only one copy of a proposal is required. A full proposal should include:
1. A cover letter signed by the organization's President or Executive Director, summarizing the request and specifying the amount requested.
2. A copy of the AGM Cover Summary, available for download at: www.agmconnect.org/cpf/CPF_Cover_Sheet.doc
3. A description of the organization's background, history, purpose, current programs, and the people it serves.
4. A detailed description of the project, including its budget and strategies for future funding, if applicable.
5. A list of board members, officers and staff.
6. A copy of the organization's operating budget.
7. The amount raised or expected from other sources.
8. The most recent copy of the organization’s audited financial statements.
9. The most recent copy of the organization's tax form 990.
10. A copy of the most recent IRS 501(c)(3) and 509 rulings. Application without this information will be returned.
11. A report on the expenditure of the last grant received from the Brooks Foundation, if any.
Proposal Deadlines
The Trustees meet in late June and December to consider requests and decide on distributions. A grant request must be submitted not later than the first day of May and November to be considered at the following month's meeting. However, since some requests require more investigation than others do, it may be necessary that a request submitted on time be reviewed at a subsequent meeting.
Grant Notification
The Trustees' decision on a grant request will be communicated by mail, usually within two weeks of the meeting.
Proposal Review Staff for the Foundation
The Harold Brooks Foundation
c/o Amy Segal Shorey, Administrator
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, Suite 800
Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-1006
617 - 426 - 7080
Last updated 06/30/07.
