Applicants must have a 501(c)(3) tax status under the IRS tax code and serve residents of the designated communities of Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover.

Agencies located outside the area are eligible to apply but proposals must include details on how Greater Lawrence youth are able to participate. (e.g. transportation is a factor in approving such programs.) Approved programs should reserve funds received from GLSF to youth from the designated communities.

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 within umbrella organizations may be eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• The umbrella organization 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.
• The program is core to the mission of the umbrella organization and serves a substantial number of the core client population.

GLSF grants will not be awarded:

• To individuals.
• For sectarian or religious purposes. Note: GLSF is limited to non-sectarian programming for youth of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. Programs sponsored by religious organizations are eligible, provided enrollment is open to all youth, 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.
• To support academic research.

Residential camps should meet American Camping Association (ACA) guidelines. Day programs should meet the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) licensing requirements.

In addition to the priorities outlined above, we consider the following:

• Strong leadership that is diverse, inclusive, and representative of the community it serves
• Ability, expertise, and relationships to achieve the program’s intended impact
• Demonstration of equity and inclusion as values
• The program should be fiscally sound with a balanced budget

Proposals must be submitted through ECCF’s Application Portal.

If you do not yet have a login for our application Portal, please read our Grant Application Process page which will give you access to the Portal.

ECCF staff, together with the GLSF Committee members, reviews all proposals to the Fund each spring. The Committee makes grant recommendations to the ECCF Board of Trustees for approval. The review process takes approximately two months. Our goal is to notify agencies of the grant award by the end of May, well in advance of program start dates.

The GLSF Committee awards grants to agencies based on need and quality of programming. These are established through Committee proposal reviews and the information gained through annual site visits which are done while the programs are in session.

A staff person or member of the Committee may contact applicants for additional information about a proposal or to arrange a site visit during the review process.  The Committee may also contact other funders, community leaders or local agencies to learn more about the organization applying for funds and to discuss the outlined plans.  Copies of proposals submitted to ECCF may be shared with others during the review process.

GLSF grant recipients must submit a final report via the application via the application portal by October 1.