The Clipper Ship Foundation aims to improve the lives of society’s most vulnerable populations. Towards that end, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations serving people living in Greater Boston – defined as cities and towns on or within Route 128 – and the cities of Lawrence and Brockton.
The Foundation focuses on supporting the following populations:
- 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
Examples of target impacts:
- Acquisition of educational/skills credentials as a component of a futures pathway
- Stabilized housing
- Mental health treatment
- Reduced recidivism
- Successful transition to adult life for youth with disabilities
- Substance abuse treatment
- The best possible placement of youth in appropriate homes/settings
- Support for youth in foster care and their foster families
- Improved outcomes for youth in and exiting foster care, including:
- higher rates of adoption
- better health care
- higher rates of educational attainment
- increased connection to employment
- Increased availability of, and expanded access to, affordable housing
- Reduced displacement of cost-burdened and at-risk households
- Increased capacity and enhancement of emergency youth and domestic abuse shelters
- Operation of transitional shelters and housing for youth, immigrants & refugees, persons recovering from addictions, survivors of domestic violence, and other affected populations
Organizations may apply for funding targeting one or more of these populations.
Grant Award Potential: $50,000–$150,000 per year
Applicants may submit either a one or two-year funding request
Individual grant awards may reach a potential maximum of $300,000 over two years.
Milestone dates for the 2023/24 grant cycle
- November 2: Applicants may access the Concept Paper application online
- December 4: Concept Paper deadline
- January 26: Full Proposal Notification
- March 2: Full Proposal Deadline
- April-May: Meetings with Management and Site Visits
- June: Notification of Grant Decisions
Concept Paper Requirements
Applicants will be asked to complete an organizational profile, and upload a brief (two-page maximum) Concept Paper explaining the organization’s goals, objectives, and intended impacts for the proposed request:
- Goals – Goals should present a unified vision of how this request will better position your organization to fulfill its goals and enhance sustainable impact within the context of the organization’s overall strategic plan.
- Objectives – Specific activities planned within a particular time period, consistent with a goal and strategy, a clear “milestone” towards your stated goals.
- Impact – Specific outcomes that will be achieved for your clients, your organization, and/or the broader field and measures for your success in achieving the proposed impacts.
- Financing – Provide an overview of the budget requirements for the funding initiative and also provide a summary of the anticipated use of requested Clipper Ship funds.
Be sure to distinguish the initiative’s impacts clearly. Explain what is unique about your organization and why it is situated to achieve magnified impacts in addressing the needs of the people you serve.
All Concept Papers and applications must be submitted thru the online platform.
Clipper Ship Foundation 