Record $200,000 in Grants Awarded to Local Nonprofits Through Tufts Program

Forty local organizations have been awarded an unprecedented $200,000 in grants from the Tufts Community Grants (TCG) program. The grants, which are funded by donations from Tufts faculty and staff and from Cummings Foundation, are awarded each year to local nonprofits in Boston, Grafton, Medford, and Somerville.

This year, the size and total number of grants awarded mark a record for the Tufts Community Grants program, with 40 $5,000 grants being made to local nonprofits, up from 35 grants of $3,000 in 2025.

Making this possible was a $150,000 Cummings Foundation matching gift combined with funds donated by Tufts faculty and staff during the annual Tufts Community Grants fundraising campaign.

One hundred percent of the donations that university employees make to the TCG program support local community partners and their work to improve the lives of residents in Tufts' host communities.

"Every year, the Tufts Community Grants program gives us a window into the incredible work of nonprofits in our communities," said Leah Boudreau, community programs specialist in the university's office of Government and Community Relations. "This year's recipients are tackling a wide range of challenges, from food access and youth development to arts programming, housing support, and community health."

St. Francis House has received a grant for the purchase of MBTA passes to make it easier for individuals experiencing homelessness and income insecurity to access job interviews and employment services. Photo: courtesy of St. Francis House

"We are excited to see the ways in which these larger $5,000 grants will help organizations expand their reach and create new opportunities in our communities," said Boudreau.

This year, Cummings Foundation matched each dollar raised during the TCG fundraising campaign-$3 to $1-resulting in a $150,000 matching gift for the TCG program.

"With the expansion of the Tufts Community Grants program, Cummings Foundation is so delighted to support even more organizations doing innovative and essential work in their communities," said Bill Cummings, A58, H06, J97P, M97P, founder of Cummings Properties and co-founder of Cummings Foundation. "We congratulate the grantees and are looking forward to seeing how they will deliver much needed services and benefits to the community in the coming year."

Each year, a volunteer board of Tufts faculty and staff review applications and select local recipients. Board members represent all of Tufts' campuses and a variety of different disciplines and roles across the university. TCG board members look for nonprofits that offer important services or programming for residents of Tufts' host communities, and that are also engaged with Tufts students, faculty, and staff volunteers.

Over 100 nonprofits applied for TCG grants this year, the largest applicant pool in the program's history.

The 2026 grantees will address a variety of areas of need including food insecurity, educational and arts programming, immigration services, youth development and civic engagement along with other causes.

The initiatives supported by the 2026 Tufts Community Grants, listed by organization, are as follows:

Boston

Asian Taskforce Against Domestic Violence: Installation of a privacy fence at ATASK's emergency shelter, creating a secure outdoor space where survivors of domestic violence and their children can safely play, relax, and heal

Boston's Higher Ground: A five-week summer learning academy serving students in Dorchester and Mattapan with trauma-informed programming focused on literacy, math, STEM enrichment, and social-emotional learning

Friday Night Supper Program: Funding will provide winter clothing and improved pantry storage infrastructure to strengthen services for individuals experiencing food insecurity

Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center: Staff training in diabetes prevention and CPR instruction, the purchase of CPR equipment, and the expansion of culturally responsive wellness and community safety education for Chinese-speaking older adults

Guangzhou Association of Boston: Bilingual digital literacy workshops and cultural programming for Boston-area seniors, including venue and performance expenses

FoodLink received a grant for the purchase of food rescue supplies, fuel, and technology to help deliver food to families experiencing food insecurity in Medford. Photo: courtesy of FoodLink

Haley House: Purchase of urban agriculture supplies and funding for the installation of a portable restroom and water station at Thornton Street Farm to improve accessibility, safety, and onsite programming

NeighborHealth: Funding to provide access to affordable, culturally appropriate healthy foods at the East Boston Farmers Market for families participating in the Let's Get Movin' program

Pao Arts Center: Support for a six-week youth mural program in Boston's Chinatown that engages immigrant youth in community history, storytelling, and advocacy through public art

Partners for Youth with Disabilities: Funding to provide monthly mentoring activities and events through the purchase of program supplies, food, and rental space

St. Francis House: Purchase of MBTA passes for individuals experiencing homelessness and income insecurity to facilitate their access to job interviews and employment services

Victory Programs: Funding to support therapeutic art workshops across three program sites, providing individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and chronic illness with creative outlets that promote healing and community connection

Wang YMCA of Greater Boston: Funding to support a youth-led, multilingual recycling and waste reduction initiative in Boston's Chinatown focused on environmental education, neighborhood cleanups, and sustainability

Grafton

Apple Tree Arts: Tuition assistance and course materials to help children and families in Grafton and Worcester County access music and performing arts education regardless of financial circumstances

Community Harvest Project: Purchase of 2,800 pounds of fresh produce for food-insecure Grafton residents during the summer growing season

Grafton Public Schools: Purchase of programmable Blue-Bot robots to help elementary students build foundational skills in sequencing, spatial reasoning, and computational thinking

Meals That Matter: Purchase of refrigeration and kitchen equipment needed to expand meal delivery services for Grafton residents experiencing food insecurity

Medford

All Court Enrichment (ACE): Funding to support ACE Advanced, a sports-based youth development program serving adolescents in Medford

Arts Collaborative Medford: Purchase of materials and equipment for a community makerspace and classroom offering arts programming for local youth

Charlotte and William Bloomberg Medford Public Library: Purchase of read-along books with built-in audio features to improve accessibility for youth with visual impairments, learning disabilities, and English language learners

English at Large: Funding to support the development of a Beginner English Level 2 class serving low-income immigrants and refugees

Food Link: Purchase of food rescue supplies, fuel, and technology to help deliver food to Medford families experiencing food insecurity

Friends of the Fells: Purchase of trail tools, along with support for volunteer training and expanded access initiatives that engage students and underserved communities in outdoor stewardship

Housing Families: Purchase and distribution of clothing, food, and hygiene supplies for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Medford

Medford Band Parent Organization: Purchase of equipment for the Medford High color guard, helping ensure students can participate fully regardless of financial circumstances

Medford Family Network: Funding to support family programming, educational resources, and activities for families with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental differences

Medford Farmers Market: Funding to support SNAP/EBT access and produce delivery programs that connect Medford residents and older adults with fresh, local food

Mystic Valley YMCA: Funding to equip Medford school nurses' offices with snack and comfort supply bins to support students during the school day

Scouting America Troop 416 of Medford: Purchase of an equipment trailer to expand youth programming and community service efforts

Somerville

The Center for Arts at the Armory: Funding to support subsidized performance space rentals and production costs for public arts and cultural events led by local artists

The DREAM Program: Support of year-round mentorship and enrichment programming for Somerville youth, including academic support, leadership development, and summer activities

Gentle Giant Rowing Club: Funding to acquire necessary permits, insurance, and a policy presence for the Mystic River Pride Flotilla, helping ensure a safe and welcoming community event

Mass Farmers Markets: Funding will bring the Power of Produce Club program to the Davis Square Farmers' Market, engaging children and families through educational programming

Mystic River Watershed Association: Support of placemaking events along the Mystic River focused on Indigenous history, culture, and ecological knowledge in Medford and Somerville

Elizabeth Peabody House: Purchase of nutritious food for weekly distribution to Somerville residents experiencing food insecurity

Project Citizenship: Free citizenship services for immigrants in Boston, Medford, and Somerville, including screenings, legal assistance, and naturalization application support

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services: Funding to support caregiver programs that improve quality of life for caregivers and individuals living with dementia

Somerville Homeless Coalition: Purchase of a privacy pod for the organization's engagement center, providing clients with a more dignified meeting space

Somerville Youth Hockey Association: Funding for initiatives to recruit and retain girls in youth hockey through clinics, community-building events, and participation incentives

Somerville Youth Soccer: Funding to expand access and participation opportunities for families both on and off the soccer field

The Welcome Project: Purchase of workplace-contextualized ESOL textbooks for immigrant students participating in workforce development classes