Our Grants in Action

The Foundation supports non-profit organizations committed to providing quality health care services to the un/underinsured; behavioral health services when not available; improved access to health care through overcoming barriers to health care delivery; health promotion through proactive prevention, education, and outreach; and programs aimed at addressing the social determinants of health.



June 2023 GRANT SPOTLIGHT - Gratis Healthcare

Gratis Healthcare was established in May of 2020 in recognition of the growing need for access to basic health care for those communities that are uninsured or underinsured in the MetroWest and Greater Boston area. Gratis provides free medical and mental health services to those in need by utilizing volunteer clinicians in multiple specialties along with Portuguese and Spanish interpreters. Gratis’ vision is to remove barriers to basic health care and strive to connect patients to the Massachusetts health care system and community resources. Most of the population served is Portuguese Brazilian (65%) and Central American Spanish (25%) speaking people.

Between Summer 2022 and December 2022, Gratis provided 250 children with the required back to school visits. This is most important in 2023, as the local community health center has had to initiate a waiting list for new patients. Gratis is now open on Monday evenings to see pediatric patients by appointment for back-to-school physicals. In collaboration with the departments of public health in the MetroWest area, Gratis is working to establish a vaccination program for children. A women’s health and screening program will be offered in late summer 2023.

Gratis warmly welcomes new volunteers. If you would like further information visit GratisHealth.org.

Your Foundation has awarded Gratis Healthcare in Framingham with two grants totaling $43,500. With our support Gratis has been able to offer (multilingual) access to healthcare for their medical, pediatric, and psychiatric patients. Recent support expands their scope with the addition of Women’s Health.

Gratis Healthcare
Photo Credit: Kristin Howard, MD

December 2019 GRANT SPOTLIGHT – Access to Care
The Geography of Uninsurance in Massachusetts: An Update for 2013–2017, reveals that an estimated 2.8 percent of Massachusetts residents were uninsured as of 2017. While this is the lowest state level uninsurance rate in the country, there is still much work to be done. While enrollment in health insurance is important, the issue of access to appropriate health care and the social factors affecting health must also be addressed to ensure that people get the health care they need and deserve. The Foundation remains committed to filling major gaps in care and services in Massachusetts and is proud to award grants that work to intervene in early predictors of poor health outcomes. Learn more about organizations recently receiving grants.


September 2019 GRANT SPOTLIGHT – Food Insecurity
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The USDA’s 2018 Household Food Insecurity Report, released in September 2019, reports an average food insecurity rate of 9.3% in Massachusetts, up from an average of 8.3% 10 years prior. Research has linked food insecurity to negative health outcomes and health disparities. Poor nutrition can increase the risk of developing health problems, including diabetes and hypertension. This being so, the Foundation is proud to support organizations across the Commonwealth working to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes.


Other recent grants include:

Asian Women for Health received $10,000 in May 2019 to support the launch of “MobilizAsians for Health”,  an innovative pilot project to assess the feasibility of using WeChat® as an effective intervention tool to mobilize breast cancer survivors.

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Amherst Survival Center received $15,000 in May 2019 directed toward supplementing a free clinic provided by medical volunteers and staff.

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For more information on prior grants visit our annual report.

Additionally, the Foundation supports medical students and resident physicians who are pursuing international education that focuses on underserved populations by subsidizing up to $2,000 of travel expenses.

Global Surgery in Sierra Leone


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2022-2023 Grants

The Foundation awarded more than $147,000 to 23 Massachusetts non-profits addressing the most vulnerable in our communities, with the majority of the funds awarded supporting access to health care, behavioral health services, and food insecurity. Additionally, $15,000 was awarded to five medical students and seven resident physicians to offset travel and lodging expenses for study abroad.

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Our Donors

We would like to acknowledge all of those who have donated generously to the Foundation during the past year. Thank you!

2023-2024 Contributors »

Become a Member of our Recurring Gift Program

Generous contributions from members and friends of the Foundation are vital to sustaining our programs.

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Copyright 2023 Massachusetts Medical Society and Alliance Charitable Foundation

860 Winter Street, Waltham Woods Corporate Center, Waltham, MA 02451-1411

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