The Massachusetts Medical Society and Alliance Charitable Foundation, through its Board of Directors, awards grants to nonprofit organizations and works with communities throughout Massachusetts to creatively address issues that affect the health, benefit, and welfare of the community.
In addition, the Foundation supports physician-led volunteer initiatives to provide free care to uninsured/underinsured patients and increased access to care for the medically underserved.
Given the spectrum of issues that influence health, the Foundation, as an organization of physicians and their families, focuses its efforts on programs that directly promote health in the community. Eligible programs may provide direct care services or target public health issues which impact the health care system and the health of communities.
Funding Priorities
Preference will be given to organizations working with interdisciplinary groups that address health care issues and where strong physician involvement exists.
Programs applying for grants must address one or more of the following goals:
- Affect the health and well-being of the community through community-based prevention, screening, early detection, health promotion, and/or increased access to medical care.
- Promote healthy decision-making around behaviors and lifestyle choices by raising awareness, providing education, improving communication, and/or connecting community members with culturally appropriate programs and services.
- Support physician-led volunteer initiatives to provide free care to uninsured/underinsured patients and/or increase access to care for the medically underserved.
- Enable underserved, at-risk populations, to engage in activities that promote health and identify risky behaviors which contribute to diminished health.
Funding Exclusions
Our current policy guidelines preclude support for:
- Capital Campaigns, endowments, building campaigns
- For-Profit Organizations
- Fundraising Drives and Fundraising Events
- Individuals(unless applying for International Health Studies Grant or scholarships through a directed giving program)
- Private or Parochial Schools, Colleges, or Universities
- Government agencies (except in collaboration with community-based, non-profit organizations which will lead the program and act as fiscal agent)
- Organizations that advocate, support, or practice discrimination based on race, religion, age, national origin, language, sex, sexual preference, or physical handicap
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Research
- Political or Lobbying Activity
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
The proposal should include a clear and concise explanation of the health issue and demonstrate the community needs being addressed by the program. Specific, multi-part questions must be answered in the narrative of the grant application and include the following:
The Foundation seeks to develop meaningful partnerships for health improvement with the community-based organizations that receive our support. In preparing your proposal, please identify specific areas where the Foundation might offer additional resources and expertise or collaborate with your organization in program development, implementation, volunteer recruitment, or evaluation.
Proposals for new programs/projects are preferred over repeat requests. However, new and innovative projects from the same organization will be considered. Repeat applications for funding should specifically document how the new project differs, if it does, from past requests.
Multi-year grants will be considered for start-up programs and may be appropriate when a project needs a few years to get fully established. Generally, multi-year grants are set up with declining amounts each year as other funds replace initial grant funds. Yearly reporting and application is required. It is crucial to demonstrate and outline a plan to sustain such a project.
The Foundation's grants process is competitive. While many proposals are worthy and meet funding guidelines, not all requests can be funded.
Review Process
The Foundation does not have an open or rolling application process. The Foundation only funds organizations whose Concept Papers have been accepted and have been invited to submit full proposals. The Foundation’s Board of Directors will assess the success of all programs based on measurable goals and outcomes.
The Foundation only considers those requests directly related to our mission and our funding focus priorities.
Applying for a grant from the Foundation is a two-stage process.
1. Applicants submit a
Concept Paper (Word Doc, 1 page), narrative and draft
Logic Model for consideration.
2. Select organizations are invited to submit a full proposal.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Concept Paper: Due January 15
Proposals: Due March 1 (if invited to submit)
Funding Decisions: By April 15
Mission
The mission of the Foundation is to support the charitable and educational activities of the MMS and the MMS Alliance; including but not limited to developing and nurturing of cooperation between individuals, the professions, institutions, and the community to creatively address issues that affect the health, benefit, and welfare of the community.
Contact the Foundation
Jennifer Day
MMS and Alliance Charitable Foundation
860 Winter Street
Waltham, MA 02451
(781) 434-7044
jday@mms.org
