The A.C. Ratshesky Foundation
   History | FAQs | Past Grants

 

Guidelines

The A.C. Ratshesky Foundation is committed to fostering economic and social justice for low- and moderate-income families residing in Boston and its surrounding communities.

Within these broad interests, the Foundation has decided to focus on the fields of childcare, education and training, and arts and culture.

Grant-Making Priorities

The Foundation gives priority consideration to programs from the following fields of interest: childcare, education and training, and arts and culture.

Based on the original declaration of trust, support for programs that serve disadvantaged Jewish populations is also of special interest.

Preference is given to small and medium-sized organizations.  From time to time, the trustees solicit requests that fall outside the usual geographical or program limitations.

The Foundation makes grants for operating support, start-up support/seed money, programs, and organizational capacity building or technical assistance. Examples of areas of interest within its priority areas follow, but are not meant to be exclusive.

Child Care

Child Care grants will support community-based efforts that enhance the well being of low-income families. Priority will be given to programs that improve the capacity of organizations to serve children and enable childcare providers to offer high quality, accessible programming. Areas of interest include projects that:

  • increase the quality and availability of affordable childcare

  • improve children's school readiness

  • increase the skills of child care providers

  • expand the capacity of existing child care services

Education and Training

Education and training grants are made to help young people and adults learn skills, gain experience, and develop the self-confidence required to become active leaders and engaged citizens of their community. Priority will be given to programs that lead to economic self-sufficiency for immigrants, refugees, and underserved populations. Areas of interest include:

  • job readiness programs for low-skilled individuals


  • access to education for low-income youth


  • efforts promoting the development of parenting and related skills that foster the social and academic development of young children


  • after-school academic enrichment programs


  • mentoring programs for youth


  • GED preparation and vocational training

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture grants will support efforts involving low-income communities. The foundation will give preference for projects seeking to:

  • provide arts-based academic enrichment programs for youth


  • increase access to performances and events

Foundation Policies

Geographic Area: Grants are restricted to organizations serving Metro Boston communities within Rt. 128 in Massachusetts.

Organization Eligibility: Organizations must be designated as tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code and are classified as “not a private foundation” under Section 509 (a) of the Code. 

Grant Range: Grants range from $2,000 to $6,000.

Frequency of Application: The Foundation will consider only one proposal application from an organization in any calendar year. 

Reporting Requirements:  All organizations must include detailed, written progress reports with each subsequent application to the foundation.  Organizations receiving final grants should submit reports within 90 days of completion of the grant period.  Grantees should use the Associated Grant Makers Common Reporting Format available on the Internet at www.agmconnect.org

Reapplying:  Organizations whose requests for funding have been denied are expected to wait one full year before being reconsidered for support.

Exclusions: The Foundation does not normally provide grants for:
  • individuals
  • national organizations
  • capital campaigns, endowments or fundraising activities
  • conferences
  • web-sites
  • research
  • municipal, state, or federal agencies
  • religious instruction or worship services
  • health programs
  • public schools, including pilot and charter schools
Proposal Deadlines:   The Foundation has set application deadlines as follows:

October 1 for a January board meeting
February 1 for a May meeting
July 1 for an October board meeting

Please note that if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, proposals are due in the office the following business day.  All applications for summer programs are due on February 1 for a May meeting. All deadlines are received by dates, not postmarked dates.

How to Apply

All applications must include the following materials:

  • A proposal cover sheet and full proposal narrative (not to exceed ten pages) as prescribed by the AGM Common Proposal Format. Forms are available for download at: www.agmconnect.org/cpf
  • Project, program and/or organizational budgets should be submitted using the budget form included in the AGM Common Proposal Format.
  • Information on the number, racial, and gender composition of program participants.
  • A list of funding sources received or committed for expenditure on the project, program, or purpose for which the grant is requested.
  • An audited financial statement and/or IRS Form 990 for the applicant’s most recently completed fiscal year.
  •  Federal 501(c)3 determination letter.
  • Applicants reapplying for continued support are required to submit an interim progress report with all requests for funding.
  • Please submit only one copy of your application.  Faxed or emailed proposals are not accepted.  Do not submit proposals in folders, binders, or report covers.

Governance

The A.C. Ratshesky Foundation Board currently includes seven trustees, and the Board has full authority and discretion to act on all matters brought before it. The Board customarily meets three times each year. 

The trustees review grant applications that meet the criteria for consideration prior to each meeting. All decisions regarding Foundation grants are subject to a majority vote of the trustees.

The trustees receive no compensation, nor are they reimbursed for expenses incurred in the discharge of their responsibilities to the Foundation.

Foundation Officers and Trustees

Timothy Morse, President
Laurie Morse Sprague, Vice President
Linda G. Ortwein, Treasurer
Rebecca Morse Steinfield, Secretary
Eric R. Morse, Trustee
Roberta Morse Levy, Trustee
Alan R. Morse, Jr., Trustee
 

Asset Manager and Custodian

Capital Guardian Group
The Investment Fund for Foundations
Karpus Investment Management

Foundation Office

General correspondence, inquiries, and all applications should be directed to any one of the following staff:

Susan Haff, Foundation Assistant
A.C. Ratshesky Foundation
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, 8th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1006
Phone:  617/426-7080 x.323

shaff at grantsmanagement dot com

Yasmin Shah,  Program Officer
A.C. Ratshesky Foundation
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, 8th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1006
Phone:  617/426-7080 x.317

yshah at grantsmanagement dot com

Prentice Zinn, Program Officer
A.C. Ratshesky Foundation
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, 8th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1006
Phone:  617/426-7080 x.307

pzinn at grantsmanagement dot com



Last Updated 2/14/08