The City of Cambridge announced today that over $1 Million in grants will be awarded through the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund. 106 nonprofit organizations (501c3) will receive $10,000 grants to provide services to vulnerable Cambridge residents during the COVID-19 emergency and recovery.
"Throughout this pandemic, the City has been identifying programs to support our community. I am proud that we are providing over $1 million to our nonprofit community," said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. "This funding will allow the 106 nonprofits to provide basic needs and other critical support for vulnerable families and individuals at risk."
The Community Benefits Advisory Committee acts on the Guiding Principles for Community Benefits Funding, adopted by the Cambridge City Council, and makes recommendations to the City Manager for the approval of grant awards for nonprofit organizations to deliver services.
One of the key eligibility requirements was that organizations provide services that address one or more of the needs from the Cambridge Community Needs Assessment that are a direct result of, or have been intensified by, the COVID-19 pandemic. These needs include: Affordable Housing and Homelessness; Financial Security; Mental Health: Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse; Food; Civic Engagement and Social Capital; Education; Employment; Safety; Transportation; Arts, Culture, and Recreation; Health; and Built and Natural Environment. 128 complete applications were submitted and 106 were determined to meet the eligibility criteria to receive grant funding.
The original funding for this grant program was $1 million for 100 nonprofit organizations. The City Manager authorized an additional $60,000 to fund all 106 eligible nonprofit organizations that applied.
For a list of organizations that will be receiving this grant, please see the July update on the Community Benefits Funding webpage at www.cambridgeMA.gov/communitybenefits