In addition to hosting reps from various colleges, SERF has invited a number of interesting speakers who will address topics ranging from “Conquering the College Essay” to “Navigating the College Search Process for Students with Learning Differences.” Worth checking out.
We are pleased to support the good work of more than 40 local nonprofits who received our funding in 2017. They are not waiting a single moment to improve the world. Their efforts make life better for us all.
Sudbury Program Grants
Advocates, Inc., Framingham, MA, $20,300
To pilot a jail diversion program partnership in the towns of Sudbury and Hudson.
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA, $7,500
Faculty stipends to pilot the Hub for Innovation, an innovative learning model for students and staff.
MetroWest Free Medical Program, Sudbury, MA, $1,200
To purchase equipment to create an additional exam room at the agency’s Sudbury location.
Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury & Concord Rivers, Concord, MA, $5,000
To create a report card on the health status of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers.
Sudbury United Methodist Church, Sudbury, MA, $25,000
In support of a capital campaign.
SWEET, Inc., Sudbury, MA, $545
A series of projects to help eradicate invasive species in Sudbury.
Town of Sudbury/Goodnow Library, Sudbury, MA, $31,250
To purchase equipment and provide staff training as part of an extensive renovation to the Library’s second floor.
Town of Sudbury/Health Department, Sudbury, MA, $1,650
To pilot the Budget Buddies financial literacy training.
Town of Sudbury/Health Department, Sudbury, MA, $17,000
To support a Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
Town of Sudbury/Council on Aging, Sudbury, MA, $15,000
To conduct a needs assessment of Sudbury’s Senior population.
Children, Youth & Families Program Grants
ACCEPT Education Collaborative, Natick, MA, $19,200
For a marketing/communications consultation.
Bethany Hill Place, Framingham, MA, $5,000
For a strategic planning consultation.
Birthday Wishes, Newton, MA, $5,000
For a fund development consultation.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/MetroWest, Worcester, MA, $25,000
For a branding consultation.
Doc Wayne Youth Services, Boston, MA, $25,000
For a program evaluation consultation.
Family Promise Metrowest, Natick, MA, $10,000
For a strategic planning consultation.
Hoops and Homework, Framingham, MA, $16,500
For board development and strategic planning consultations.
Jeff’s Place, Framingham, MA, $20,500
For a board development consultation.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Framingham, MA, $8,500
For a board development consultation.
MetroWest College Planning Center, Framingham, MA, $22,000
For business planning consultation.
Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Wakefield, MA, $5,000
For a strategic planning consultation.
One Can Help, Newton, MA, $4,250
For a fund development consultation.
OUT MetroWest, Framingham, MA, $18,500
For a strategic planning consultation.
Partnerships for a Skilled Workforce, Marlborough, MA, $25,000
For a fund development consultation.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Waltham, MA, $7,470
For board and staff social justice training.
SPARK Kindness, Natick, MA, $24,000
For a fund development consultation.
Taly Foundation, Framingham, MA, $20,000
For a brand and marketing consultation.
The Discovery Museums, Acton, MA, $4,000
For staff training.
Thrive Support and Advocacy, Marlborough, MA, $10,950
For a strategic planning consultation.
Wildflower, Inc., Lexington, MA, $10,950
For fund development support.
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Framingham, MA, $9,665
For staff development.
CY&F Invitation & Discretionary Grants:
Boys and Girls Clubs of MetroWest, Marlborough, MA, $100,000
For general support.
John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, Worcester, MA, $25,000
For general support.
Framingham Police Department, Framingham, MA. $25,000
To support a community-wide opioid prevention initiative.
Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Lincoln, MA, $18,200
To strategize and pilot a new way of managing herd transition.
MetroWest Legal Services, Framingham, MA, $25,000
To provide legal representation to undocumented immigrant youth in Framingham.
Farm & Local Food Initiative Grants
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, S. Deerfield, MA, $25,000
For general support.
Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, MA, $100,000 over three years
General support for the work of the Legal Food Hub in Massachusetts.
Franklin County CDC/Fiscal Agent for MA Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA, $25,000
General support for the Collaborative to implement the MA Local Food Action Plan.
Gaining Ground, Concord, MA, $25,000
To complete the transition to a no-till farm.
Mass. Department of Transitional Assistance, Boston, MA, $25,000
To support a state level evaluation of the Healthy Incentives Project, which provides SNAP households with greater access to fresh, healthy food.
Mill City Grows, Lowell, MA, $25,000
For general support.
Third Sector N.E./Fiscal Agent for New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, Lowell, MA, $25,000
For general support.
Third Sector N.E./Fiscal Agent for The Carrot Project, Boston, MA, $100,000 over three years
For general support.
Posted on December 20, 2017
Now through November 13th. Sponsored by the Sudbury Health Department.
Posted on October 25, 2017
Our best wishes go to L-S senior Courtney Brown (right) who received this year’s John Taft Scholarship from the L-S Scholarship Fund.
The award is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in the school community through participation in student government or other activities focused on the betterment of the LS community.
The ideal candidate is a “catalyst for change” who has shown initiative by founding a club, program or activity or by serving in an elected or appointed leadership position that has enhanced the school community.
Previously known as the Sudbury Foundation scholarship, the award was changed in 2014 to recognize longtime Foundation trustee John Taft, who passed away in 2010.
Mr. Taft was a Sudbury resident and community leader who served as a Sudbury Selectman from 1964-1976. He was also a long-standing Trustee of the Sudbury Foundation from 1973 to 2007 where, among other things, he was instrumental in providing the seed funding to establish the L-S Scholarship Fund. He also made possible the construction of the Town’s Atkinson Pool, renovation of the historic wing of the Goodnow Library and many grants to community nonprofits.
Ms. Brown will attend Williams College in the fall. We wish her much success!
Posted June 27, 2017
Children, Youth and Families (CY&F) Program Grants
ACCEPT Education Collaborative, Natick, MA, $19,200
For a marketing/communications consultation.
Bethany Hill Place, Framingham, MA, $5,000
For a strategic planning consultation.
Doc Wayne Youth Services, Boston, MA, $25,000
For a program evaluation consultation.
Family Promise Metrowest, Natick, MA, $10,000
For a strategic planning consultation.
Hoops and Homework, Framingham, MA, $16,500
For board develop and strategic planning consultations.
Jeff’s Place, Framingham, MA, $20,500
For a board development consultation.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Framingham, MA, $8,500
For a board development consultation.
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Framingham, MA, $9,665
For staff development.
CY&F Invitation & Discretionary Grants:
Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Lincoln, MA, $18,200
To strategize and pilot a new way of managing herd transition.
MetroWest Legal Services, Framingham, MA, $25,000
To provide legal representation to 30-40 undocumented immigrant youth in Framingham schools to assist them in applying for and obtaining legal status and to conduct “Know Your Rights” presentations and trainings.
Sudbury Program
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA, $7,500
Faculty stipends to pilot the Hub for Innovation.
Town of Sudbury/Goodnow Library, Sudbury, MA, $31,250
To purchase equipment and provide staff training as part of an extensive renovation to the Library’s second floor.
MetroWest Free Medical Program, Sudbury, MA, $1,200
To purchase equipment to create an additional exam room at the Sudbury location.
Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury & Concord Rivers, Concord, MA, $5,000
To create a report card on the health status of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers.
Sudbury United Methodist Church, Sudbury, MA, $25,000
In support of a capital campaign.
SWEET, Inc., Sudbury, MA, $545
A series of small projects to help eradicate invasive species in Sudbury.
Sudbury Historical Society, Sudbury, MA, $200,000 matching grant
Toward a capital campaign to renovate the Loring Parsonage to create a Town History Center.
Farm & Local Food Initiative
Mass. Dept. of Transitional Assistance Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), $25,000
To support a state-level evaluation of the HIP project which enables SNAP participants to use their benefits at farmers markets, farms stands, mobile markets and CSAs.
Franklin County CDC/Fiscal Agent for the Mass. Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA, $25,000
General support for the Collaborative’s work supporting the recommendations of the Mass. Local Food Action Plan.
Conservation Law Foundation/Legal Food Hub, Boston, MA, $100,000 over three years
General support for the Massachusetts work of the Legal Food Hub which provides pro bono legal assistance to farmers and food purveyors.
Community Program
Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Boston, MA, $10,000
Honorariam recognizing former trustee Sharon Driscolls’s many years of service to the Foundation.
Posted on June 15, 2017
Most of our capacity building grants involve working with a consultant. There’s considerable value from such collaborations including gaining a fresh perspective or specific expertise. It can be especially helpful when previous efforts have stalled or stakeholders have wildly differing points of view.
But there are an equal number of headaches as well — from the resistance of staff or board members who shun interference from outsiders to the considerable added time it takes to bring the consultant up to speed about your organization.
Is it worth it?
Yes… IF you’ve thought it through, planned ahead, allotted enough time, gotten all your stakeholders on board and, most importantly, found the consultant who “gets” your organization and has the temperament to shepherd the project and your agency’s varied personalities through the process.
That’s a lot of “ifs” – it does make your head spin — but it’s also a realistic view of what you should be thinking about before you jump in and hire a consultant.
One thing is for sure, the consultant doesn’t do all the work. In fact, most times you and your colleagues are the ones doing the deep thinking and heavy lifting. The truth is you’re the ones with the answers. You just don’t know it yet. Consultants facilitate the process and keep you moving forward. They steer you in the right direction and make sure no one is left behind. They help you get to the heart of what you need to do and to recognize how you’re going to get there.
When the stars align, the results of working with a consultant can be quite remarkable.
There’s much more to think and read about here:
Posted on December 21, 2016
The following organizations received support during our September and December grant cycles. We are delighted to have them as grant partners.
Sudbury Grants
Gaining Ground, Concord, MA, $5,000
To support Gaining Ground’s work providing healthy produce to the Sudbury Community Food Pantry, and other local pantries.
Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA, $10,000
To develop a master landscape plan for Wolbach Farm, the agency’s headquarters.
Town of Sudbury – Council on Aging, Sudbury, MA, $18,000
To encourage residents to support their neighbors through continued funding of the Senior Volunteer Coordinator position at the Fairbank Senior Center.
Children Youth & Families (CY&F) Grants
Communities for Restorative Justice, Concord MA, $22,500
For a marketing consultation.
Employment Options, Marlborough, MA, $15,000
For a consultation to develop a computer training program for young adult clients.
Massachusetts Audubon Society/Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, MA, $19,975
A evaluation consultation to develop assessment instruments for three programs and to train staff in program evaluation best practices.
One Can Help, Newton, MA, $5,870
To work with a social media consultant for one year to develop and implement a social media communications plan.
Taly Foundation, Framingham, MA, $13,100
For a strategic planning consultation.
Wildflower Camp Foundation, Wellesley, MA, $25,000
For communications, rebranding and website consultations.
CY&F Invitation Grants
John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, Framingham, MA, $20,000
General support during a time of transition.
Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest, Marlborough, MA, $100,000
A combination grant to support professional development and other projects.
Farm & Local Food Initiative Grants
Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham, MA, $25,000
To work with a consultant to create a customized inventory management system to expand the agency’s ability to glean and distribute local produce to food banks and food pantries.
The Carrot Project, Boston, MA, $25,000
To work with a senior fellow for one year on client coordination, tracking and evaluation.
See our 2016 spring recipients here.
Posted on December 20, 2016
MetroWest Funders and others: Please join us for a follow up conversation with Steve Pratt from Impact Catalysts (formerly with Root Cause) on poverty in the suburbs.
While still invisible to many, poverty in suburban communities is on the rise, including our communities in MetroWest.
Steve will share findings from his most recent work based in the Greater Washington DC area. He will compare this geography with MetroWest’s, highlight some key catalysts for change and discuss potential action steps we as funders and donors can take to reduce poverty in our local communities.
Presenter: Steve Pratt, Impact Catalysts
Date: January 11, 2017
Time: Noon to 2:00 pm
Location: The Sudbury Foundation/Grange Hall, 326 Concord Road, Sudbury, MA
Sponsor: Associated Grant Makers
To register, click here.
Posted November 30, 2016
Please join your Sudbury nonprofit colleagues for coffee & conversation on Thursday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m. at our meeting space on the second floor of the Grange Hall.
We’ve been hosting this gathering twice a year since 2013. It’s a chance to update us on what your nonprofit or community group has been up to, to hear what others are doing, to learn and to share. We look forward to seeing you. New organizations always welcome! Thanks to Northern Bank for providing refreshments. Please RSVP by Oct. 23 to brunner@sudburyfoundation.org.
Posted on October 10, 2017
We had quite a treat yesterday when the Sudbury paramedics stopped by our Board of Trustees meeting to demo their new equipment.
We saw first-hand the remarkable transformation emergency services in Sudbury have undergone since the implementation of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) program a few years ago. The program employs trained paramedics (rather than EMTs) who have the skills to stabilize patients on-site while therapy continues to be provided.
These medics go through rigorous training to be able to provide a level of service above that of a typical EMT. In addition to the advanced skills they learn, these providers develop critical thinking skills to help them better assess the problem and make the life and death decisions of what to do, what not to do… and when.
The Foundation has been pleased to support the Fire Department’s highly professional program, the best in the area, with two grants that funded state-of-the-art equipment.
In 2013, the department used our grant to purchase a Lucas Chest Compression Machine which provides automatic Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to patients. The unit is an electrically-powered piston device that performs accurately timed chest compressions at a precise depth. Humans cannot match the efficiency of the machine, especially when a patient is being carried through doorways, down stairs or over difficult terrain. While the machine is in operation, paramedics and EMTs can be doing other crucial activities. Fire Chief Bill Miles reports that the machine is used a couple of times a month and has literally saved lives since its purchase.
Last summer, grant funds helped purchase another valuable piece of equipment, the Advanced Life Support Training Manikin (pictured above). This is a 160-pound, life-sized model that enables Sudbury’s 12 paramedics to hone their skills by practicing techniques — like oral and nasal intubation and chest tube insertion — on a regular basis. Trainers use the model to simulate different combinations of potential medical events and can even re-enact previous cases so the medics can experiment with different approaches.
Most impressive to us were the enthusiastic paramedics themselves who are anxious to provide the best service possible to Sudbury citizens involved in a medical crisis. We are fortunate to have them.
Pictured left to right are Paramedics Michael Matros, Nick Horwath and Matt Macdonald.
Posted December 17, 2015
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