mission
Essex County Community Foundation inspires philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County by managing charitable assets, strengthening and supporting nonprofits and engaging in strategic community leadership initiatives.
impact by the numbers

granted from ECCF funds in support of important causes

grants awarded to nonprofits and students in Essex County and beyond

donors partner with ECCF to elevate their giving

invested in systems-based community leadership initiatives

individuals directly supported by systems-change efforts

organizations collaborating to address root causes of our most challenging issues
our systems approach
To address our region’s most complex social issues, ECCF employs a new kind of philanthropy, systems philanthropy.

stories of giving
Hearing about the devastation left behind by Hurricane Harvey, Michelle and Ben Langille’s two children got an idea. They would pick and sell the apples to raise money to help the thousands of people suffering in the aftermath.
stories of giving
Bill and Mary Wasserman feel passionate that strong arts and culture are critical to enhancing and sustaining a vibrant lifestyle and economic opportunity in Essex County, today and for the future.
stories of giving
The Pelican Intervention Fund, founded by Newburyport residents Kim and Steven Keene and Elizabeth McCarthy, is a grassroots organization created to help men and women struggling with addiction – most notably heroin addiction.
stories of giving
Linda and Jurg Siegenthaler have had a longtime passion for the city of Lawrence. “When I left the city, it was struggling,” said Linda, who grew up in the Tower Hill neighborhood. “Now there’s a lot of effort to bring it back and I want to be a part of that.”
get involved
Join us in working to address our biggest challenges and improve the quality of life in Essex County.
the latest eccf news
The Message from IFT Keynote Speaker Phil Buchanan? Be Courageous.
At the kickoff, Buchanan, who spoke for about a half-hour before taking questions, talked about the irrationality of expecting nonprofits to run like businesses. He explained his frustration at the false rhetoric he often hears about the social sector – organizations spend too much on overhead or they don’t innovate – and how he seeks to counteract it in every interaction he has with donors.

Column: Philanthropy’s role in vaccine equity
What we know and how we approach the multi-layered issue of COVID-19 vaccine access is continuously evolving. But what remains the same is that access to the vaccine has not been created equal.
NiSource Charitable Foundation and Essex County Community Foundation Announce Awards of $1 Million in Grants to Nonprofits
Today, the Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) on behalf of the NiSource Charitable Foundation, announced $1 million in one-year grants to support nonprofit organizations in the communities of Andover, Lawrence and North Andover.
To learn more about ECCF, please call (978) 777-8876