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BACKGROUND 

The 17th round of the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) is funded as a benefit tied to Harvard's proposed 10-year IMP that is currently under review. The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) grant opportunity is administered by Harvard University in partnership with the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the City of Boston. 

The Fund is governed by the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee (“the Committee”). It is composed of seven voting community members and four non-voting ex officio members. 

The voting members are residents of North Allston/ Brighton who are appointed by the Mayor and include: 

• representatives nominated by state representatives from North Allston/Brighton and by the Allston-Brighton City Councilor 
• at least one representative from the Harvard Allston Task Force 

The non-voting members include: 

• Two representatives from the City of Boston 
• Two representatives of Harvard University

PURPOSE OF THE FUND 

The Fund was established to provide grants, pursuant to an annual public process, to non-profit organizations and community groups that will result in a measurable impact on the North Allston/Brighton community. The impact area of North Allston/Brighton is bounded by the Massachusetts Turnpike, Soldiers Field Road, Western Avenue and Market Street. Grants are intended to address community needs that may include: 

• Neighborhood improvement projects in a visible location within the impact area 
• Sustainable cultural enrichment programs in the impact area 
• Sustainable educational programs, including, but not limited to public health education programs, initiated by the North Allston/Brighton community 

Grants will support specific programs, projects, or activities that fulfill the purpose of the Fund as defined by the Cooperation Agreement. Funding priorities include: 

• New programs or services, 
• Expansion of current programs, 
• Expanded access to existing programs for residents, and 
• Sustaining high-impact programs and services delivered in the impact area. Grants can also include the cost of program supplies, furnishings, and equipment. 

The Fund will not pay for indirect costs. Grants will not be awarded to individuals. Food access programs are no longer eligible for the Partnership Fund.

FUNDS AVAILABLE 

A total of $200,000 is available. The maximum grant amount is $25,000. Small grants up to $10,000 are also available. An organization can only submit one application in response to this RFP. If, in any year, the Committee decides that the total number of qualifying applications will expend less than $200,000, any unused funds will remain in the Fund for distribution in a later year. Any fund balances will be appropriately invested by the Boston Planning & Development Agency in an FDIC-insured institution.  

This short form application is for requests up through $10,000.

Requests greater than $10,000 will require the long-form application and supporting attachments. 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS 

Funding is available to non-profit, 501(c)3 organizations and community groups in good standing that: 

• Serve the North Allston/Brighton community defined in the section Purpose of the Fund (above)
• Have been an established non-profit organization or community group for, at least, the previous three years or submit a proposal under the written fiscal sponsorship of an existing 501(c)3 non-profit organization that meets the eligibility requirements. The sponsor’s letter must describe how it would manage a grant from the Fund. 
• Demonstrate sound financial condition, reporting, and controls 
• Demonstrate the ability to execute the proposed project or program 
• Demonstrate successful completion of, or satisfactory progress on, work described in all previous grant awards as described in this Grant Report link.
• Priority consideration will be given to organizations and community groups located in the impact area.  

The Committee reserves the right to add, remove, or change any of these criteria at any time.  

APPLICATION PROCESS 

All applicants must submit their application to the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee via Submittable by or before the 5 PM deadline on Friday, January 10th, 2025. A Zoom information session will be held on December 12th from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.  Please send an email with your name, email address, phone number, and organization to edportal@harvard.edu if you would like to attend the information session.  Questions may be submitted throughout the application period via email: edportal@harvard.edu.

All essential fields must be filled out in the Submittable application. 

1.  Grant Budget and Estimated Expenses 
2.  If your organization has received a Partnership Fund grant last year, a Grant Report is required (download this form) 
3.  Forms 990 and Financial Statements.  
4. Include all other required attachments listed below. 

Send an email to edportal@harvard.edu with any questions on submitting the proposal. 

Applications that do not provide the information as requested will be considered incomplete and non-responsive, and thus not eligible for funding. Email any questions regarding the application requirements to  edportal@harvard.edu.

REQUIRED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The provisions of M.G.L. c. 12, s. 8F requires organizations that have gross support and revenue of more than $200,000 in a fiscal year to submit financial statements that are either audited, or reviewed, by an independent certified public accountant (CPA). 

• An account review is sufficient for organizations with annual gross support and revenue of $200,000 to $500,000. 
• An audit is required if an annual organization’s gross support and revenue exceed $500,000. 

These are general guidelines. Specific guidance can be found on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s website, under “Information for Existing Charities”. 

Organizations whose annual gross support and revenue are less than $200,000 can submit a Treasurer’s Report or a Balance Sheet to meet the requirement for annual financial statements.

DEADLINE 

Applications will only be accepted through the Submittable Platform. Complete applications must be received by or before 5:00 pm on Friday, January 10, 2025. Late submissions are not eligible for funding. The Committee is not responsible for submissions that are lost, mis-delivered, or otherwise not received in accordance with this RFP. The Ed Portal staff may not be able to help with the completion of an application on the day of the deadline. Please email any questions regarding the application requirements to edportal@harvard.edu well ahead of the deadline.

REVIEW PROCESS 

Applications and proposals will be evaluated on the basis of eligibility, ability to carry out the proposed work, community benefit and impact, financial soundness, compliance with the purpose of the Fund, and adherence to the terms and intent of the Cooperation Agreement. 

All submissions will be considered confidential, and their contents will not be disclosed to, or discussed with, persons outside the Committee, except to the extent that the Committee deems necessary to adequately evaluate the submissions. 

The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee reserves all rights to make any decision they deem necessary to accomplish the purpose of the Fund – including, without limitation, to reject any and all proposals for any reason; to seek additional information or a revised proposal, and/or to suspend, withdraw, or amend this RFP at any time and for any reason. 

The Committee further reserves the right to examine all proposed activities, programs and projects for a) adherence to the terms and intent of the Cooperation Agreement, b) impact on residents of the North Allston/Brighton community, and c) sustainability.

NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING DECISIONS 

The Committee will make recommendations to the Boston Planning & Development Agency for disbursements from the fund. Clarification of a funding decision can be requested in an email to edportal@harvard.edu.

GRANT PERFORMANCE 

Execution of a Grant Agreement binds the grantee to a contract to perform all the services and purchase all the goods set forth in the proposal upon which the grant award is based. The Committee reserves the right to periodically monitor contract performance and compliance with the terms of the Grant Agreement. 

BACKGROUND

The 17th year of the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) is funded as a benefit with Harvard's proposed 10-year IMP that is currently under review. The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) grant opportunity is administered by Harvard University in partnership with the Boston Planning & Development Agency and City of Boston. 

The Fund is governed by the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee (“the Committee”). It is composed of seven voting community members and four non-voting ex officio members. The voting members are residents of North Allston/Brighton who are appointed by the Mayor and include: 

• representatives nominated by state representatives from North Allston/Brighton and by the Allston/Brighton City Councilor 
• at least one representative from the Harvard Allston Task Force 

The non-voting members include: 

• two representatives from the City of Boston 
• two representatives of Harvard University 

PURPOSE OF THE FUND 

The Fund was established to provide grants, pursuant to an annual public process, to non-profit organizations and community groups that will result in a measurable impact on the North Allston/Brighton community. The impact area of North Allston/Brighton is bounded by the Massachusetts Turnpike, Soldiers Field Road, Western Avenue and Market Street. Grants are intended to address community needs that may include: 

• Neighborhood improvement projects in a visible location within the impact area 
• Sustainable cultural enrichment programs in the impact area 
• Sustainable educational programs, including, but not limited to public health education programs, initiated by the North Allston/Brighton community 

Grants will support specific programs, projects, or activities that fulfill the purpose of the Fund as defined by the Cooperation Agreement. Funding priorities include: 

• New programs or services, 
• Expansion of current programs, 
• Expanded access to existing programs for residents, and 
• Sustaining high-impact programs and services delivered in the impact area. Grants can also include the cost of program supplies, furnishings, and equipment. 

The Fund will not pay for indirect costs. Grants will not be awarded to individuals. Food access programs are no longer eligible for the Partnership Fund.
 

FUNDS AVAILABLE

A total of $200,000 is available. The maximum grant amount is $25,000. Small grants up through $10,000 are also available. An organization can only submit one application in response to this RFP. If, in any year, the Committee decides that the total number of qualifying applications will expend less than $200,000, any unused funds will remain in the Fund for distribution in a later year. Any fund balances will be appropriately invested by the Boston Planning & Development Agency in an FDIC-insured institution.  

This application is for requests of $10,001 - $25,000.

Requests for up through $10,000 require the short form application and supporting attachments.    

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Funding is available to non-profit, 501(c)3 organizations and community groups in good standing that: 

• Serve the North Allston/Brighton community defined in the section Purpose of the Fund
• Have been an established non-profit organization or community group for, at least, the previous three years or submit a proposal under the written fiscal sponsorship of an existing 501(c)3 non-profit organization that meets the eligibility requirements. The sponsor’s letter must describe how it would manage a grant from the Fund. 
• Demonstrate sound financial condition, reporting, and controls 
• Demonstrate the ability to execute the proposed project or program 
• Demonstrate successful completion of, or satisfactory progress on, work described in all previous grant awards as described in this Grant Performance link.
• Priority consideration will be given to organizations and community groups located in the impact area.  

The Committee reserves the right to add, remove, or change any of these criteria at any time.   

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applicants must submit their application to the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee via Submittable by or before the 5:00 pm deadline on Friday, January 10, 2025. A Zoom information session will be held on December 12th from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Please send an email with your name, email address, phone number, and organization to edportal@harvard.edu if you would like to attend the information session. Questions may be submitted throughout the application period via email: edportal@harvard.edu.

All essential fields must be filled out in the Submittable application. The following documents must be attached to be considered for a grant:

1. Written Proposal for Grant Applications up to $25,000 (download this document for guidelines)
2. Forms 990 and Financial Statements. 
3. Grant Budget and Cost Documentation (download this document for budget form)
4. If your organization has received a Partnership Fund grant last year, a Grant Report is required (download the document for the Grant Report form.)
5. Include all other required attachments listed below. 

Applications that do not provide the information as requested will be considered incomplete and non-responsive, and thus not eligible for funding. You may submit questions throughout the application process via email to edportal@harvard.edu.

REQUIRED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The provisions of M.G.L. c. 12, s. 8F requires organizations that have gross support and revenue of more than $200,000 in a fiscal year to submit financial statements that are either audited, or reviewed, by an independent certified public accountant (CPA). 

• An account review is sufficient for organizations with annual gross support and revenue of between $200,000 and $500,000. 
• An audited financial statement is required if an organization’s gross annual support and revenue exceeds $500,000. 

These are general guidelines. Specific guidance can be found on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s website, under “Information for Existing Charities”. Organizations whose annual gross support and revenue are less than $200,000 can submit a Treasurer’s Report or a Balance Sheet to meet the requirement for annual financial statements.  

DEADLINE 

Applications will only be accepted through the Submittable Platform. Complete applications must be received by or before 5:00 pm on Friday, January 10, 2025. Late submissions are not eligible for funding. The Committee is not responsible for submissions that are lost, mis-delivered, or otherwise not received in accordance with this RFP. The Ed Portal staff may not be able to help with the completion of an application on the day of the deadline. Please submit any questions regarding the application requirements to edportal@harvard.edu well ahead of the deadline.

REVIEW PROCESS

Applications and proposals will be evaluated on the basis of eligibility, ability to carry out the proposed work, community benefit and impact, financial soundness, compliance with the purpose of the Fund, and adherence to the terms and intent of the Cooperation Agreement. 

All submissions will be considered confidential, and their contents will not be disclosed to, or discussed with, persons outside the Committee, except to the extent that the Committee deems necessary to adequately evaluate the submissions. The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee reserves all rights to make any decision they deem necessary to accomplish the purpose of the Fund – including, without limitation, to reject any and all proposals for any reason; to seek additional information or a revised proposal, and/or to suspend, withdraw, or amend this RFP at any time and for any reason. 

The Committee further reserves the right to examine all proposed activities, programs, and projects for a) adherence to the terms and intent of the Cooperation Agreement, b) impact on residents of the North Allston/Brighton community, and c) sustainability. 

NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING DECISIONS 

The Committee will make recommendations to the Boston Planning and Development Agency for disbursements from the fund. Clarification of a funding decision can be requested in an email to edportal@harvard.edu.

GRANT PERFORMANCE

Execution of a Grant Agreement binds the grantee to a contract to perform all the services and purchase all the goods set forth in the proposal upon which the grant award is based. The Committee reserves the right to periodically monitor contract performance and compliance with the terms of the Grant Agreement.