Founded in 1979 by David Parmely Weatherhead, The Clipper Ship Foundation makes grants to federally tax-qualified nonprofit organizations offering critical services to people living in Greater Boston – cities and towns lying on or within Route 128 – and the cities of Lawrence and Brockton.
The Foundation focuses on supporting the following populations thru its grant making activities:
- Opportunity Youth – ages 16-24 who are
- Out of school and unemployed or underemployed
- Enrolled in school, but not progressing academically and at risk of dropping out
- Enrolled in post-secondary education part-time and either unemployed or underemployed
- Not enrolled in school and only working part-time without benefits
- Foster youth and young adults that have aged out of the foster care system
- Youth and young adults experiencing homelessness or in unstable housing
- Youth impacted by sex trafficking/exploitation
- Families impacted by domestic violence
- Youth impacted by the criminal justice system
- Youth with disabilities
The Foundation employs a single, annual grant making cycle. Applicants must first submit a Concept Paper, with a select group of applicants then invited to submit full proposals and, potentially, to host meetings/site visits to review their requests in more depth.
Our 2023-24 grant program will open on November 2, 2023. Applicants may submit a Concept Paper in December 4, 2023, at which point the Foundation will close its process to new applicants until November of the following year.
For more information, please review our Guidelines page.
Clipper Ship Foundation 