Harvard Allston Partnership Fund 2025 (Up to $10,000)
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BACKGROUND
The 18th year of the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) is funded as a benefit associated with Harvard's approved 2025 10-year Institutional Master Plan. The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund (“the Fund”) grant opportunity is administered by Harvard University in partnership with the City of Boston Planning Department. The Fund is governed by the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund Advisory Committee (“the Committee”). It is composed of seven voting community members and three non-voting ex officio members.
The voting members include Allston-Brighton residents who are appointed by the Mayor, including:
- representatives nominated by Allston-Brighton elected officials
- at least one representative from the Harvard Allston Task Force
The non-voting members include:
- Representatives from the City of Boston
- Two representatives of Harvard University
PURPOSE OF THE FUND
The Harvard Allston Partnership Fund provides grants for neighborhood improvement projects, cultural enrichment and education programs, particularly serving the North Allston-North Brighton community. The Fund was established to provide grants, pursuant to an annual review process, to non-profit organizations and community groups that will result in a measurable impact. The Allston-Brighton community is defined by zip codes 02134 and 02135. The more specific North Allston-North Brighton community is bounded by the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Charles River, and Leo Birmingham Parkway/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 Allston-Brighton community
Grants will support specific programs, projects, or activities that fulfill the purpose of the Fund as defined by the Cooperation Agreement, including:
- New programs or services,
- Expansion of current programs,
- Expanded access to existing programs for Allston-Brighton 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.
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.
This short form application is for requests up to $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 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 Thursday, December 4th, 2025. A Zoom information session will be held on November 13th 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.
- Grant Budget and Estimated Expenses
- If your organization has received a Partnership Fund grant last year, a Grant Report is required (download this form)
- Forms 990 and Financial Statements.
- 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 online platform. Complete applications must be received by or before 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 4th, 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. Harvard 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 t Allston-Brighton , and c) sustainability.
NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING DECISIONS
The Committee will make recommendations to the BPDA Board for approval, and Harvard University will notify awardees and organize fund distribution. 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.