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Essex County Community Response Fund

ECCF’s collective effort to help nonprofits meet the moment

During times of crisis, Essex County’s nonprofits are first on the frontlines. The Essex County Community Response Fund is a collaborative effort to provide streamlined, flexible support to these organizations, which do the critical work of feeding, sheltering and protecting our friends and neighbors, and strengthening our communities.

Essex County Community Foundation is committed to being there for our local nonprofits, where and when they need us. By working with generous donors and our communities, we are ensuring that our vital nonprofits have the necessary resources to meet the current moment. And together, we are building a permanent mechanism to help them meet the moments of the future.

ECCF’s Community Response Grants are designed to help address acute community needs and establish mechanisms for longer-term recovery across the local nonprofit ecosystem. There will be multiple rounds of grants with special purposes that respond to evolving needs.

The Winter 2026 round of Community Response Grants can be used for these purposes:

Essential Needs: General operating support for nonprofit organizations providing access to food, housing or shelter, clothing, and supplies.

Grant Range: Up to $25,000

Health and Safety: General operating support for nonprofit organizations providing equitable access to health care (including mental health resources) and/or fostering safety and security for communities at risk.

Grant Range: Up to $25,000

Structural Change: Funding for special projects that help nonprofits explore organizational changes as they navigate this uncertain funding and legal environment. Specifically, the Winter 2026 round will offer grants for the following types of projects:

Modifying operating plans and exploring new models in preparation for upcoming Medicaid policy changes.
Exploring structured partnerships, mergers, and/or shared services.

Grant range: up to $25,000

New in January 2026

You may apply as an individual organization or as a collaboration between multiple organizations. Please follow the prompts in the application to indicate whether you are applying in coordination with another organization.

Grant Guidelines

selection criteria

In addition to the eligibility standards listed below, grant reviewers prioritize the following when considering funding:

Clearly defined acute or near-term need stemming from or exacerbated by recent changes in federal funding or policy.
Potential impact of the proposed work on communities in Essex County, Massachusetts, with priority reserved for organizations based within Essex County.
Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in organizational leadership, infrastructure, program design, and/or implementation.
History of sound financial management.

eligibility

Applicants must have 501(c)(3) tax status under the IRS tax code and provide services in Essex County.
ECCF is committed to non-discrimination. We support organizations that use all reasonable efforts to recruit, hire, train, promote, and serve persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where such status is a bona fide qualification for the service being provided and is related to the organization’s mission.
Stand-alone programs applying through a fiscal agent may be eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- The fiscal agent provides the 501(c)3 status but not much more
- The program has a separate budget and raises its own funds to cover this budget. Note: If the program has only a small amount of administrative costs covered by the umbrella organization, they are still eligible to apply.
- There is a letter of agreement/understanding between the program and the umbrella organization
Grants will not be awarded:
- - To individuals
  - For sectarian or religious purposes. Programs sponsored by religious organizations are eligible, provided that enrollment is open to all and the program is free of mandatory religious instruction, worship, or other sectarian activities.
  - For political purposes
  - For debt or deficit reduction
  - For capital campaigns for buildings, land acquisition, or endowment

review process

The advisory committee will be made up of ECCF Staff and Board members, as well as representatives from the community. There will be no formal site visits. Decisions will be announced in March 2026.

reporting requirements

No formal reporting will be required for general operating support grantees, but ECCF staff will reach out to learn more about how the funds were able to help your community. Structural support grantees will submit a brief final report.