Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Fund

OVERVIEW: The Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Fund supports arts and culture, education, and social and human services mostly in Massachusetts.

FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, education, social and human services

IP TAKE: Reach out to this funder for small grant needs of just a couple thousand dollars in Massachusetts.

PROFILE: Established in 1984, the Catherine McCarthy Memorial Trust Fund is based in Providence, Rhode Island. However, the bulk of the foundation’s giving occurs in Massachusetts. The foundation’s co-trustees are Bank of America (Boston office) and Thomas F. Caffrey, an attorney in Lawrence, Massachusetts. John J. McCarthy is a major donor for the foundation. Grantmaking areas of interest include arts and culture, education, and social and human services.

The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, it awards grants in broad categories and in the form of capital funding, endowments, program funding, building funds, equipment, scholarships, and seed funding. Many grants are for unrestricted general operating support. Funding typically goes toward higher education, religious organizations, children and youth, housing and shelters and, occasionally, health causes.

Foundation grants range between $1,000 and $25,000. Review the funder’s recent tax records to learn more about its local giving. The foundation’s giving prioritizes Lawrence, Massachusetts. Other grantees are located in Andover, Massachusetts, Topsfield, Massachusetts, Stamford, Connecticut, Staten Island, New York, and St. Paul, Minnesota.

It does not appear that this foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The phone number to reach the foundation staff is 888-866-3275.

PEOPLE:

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