Perpetual Benevolent Fund
/OVERVIEW: The Perpetual Benevolent Fund supports health, housing, shelter, human services, food, agriculture, and nutrition in the Massachusetts communities of Newton, Waltham, and Watertown.
FUNDING AREAS: Health, housing, shelter, human services, food, agriculture, nutrition
IP TAKE: This local funder offers support for individual basic need hardships related to food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. The fund supports small and grassroots organizations and sometimes offers program support only in the Massachusetts communities of Newton, Waltham, and Watertown.
PROFILE: Established in 1932, the Perpetual Benevolent Fund is based in Massachusetts and seeks to assist “residents of Newton, Waltham, and Watertown who are experiencing financial hardship.” Major donors of the foundation are Nathan P. Cutler, William H. Cutler, and Howard A. Haney. Managed by Bank of America’s Massachusetts office, its grantmaking funds health, housing, shelter, human services, food, agriculture, and nutrition.
The Perpetual Benevolent Fund focuses on local and grassroots organizations that work to reduce the financial burdens of families and individuals experiencing crises. It also provides program support, but not general operating support, endowment support, capital project support, or multi-year funding.
Grants are very modest and often range between $300 to $1,000 . The funder also makes larger $10,000 grants for annual causes. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses exclusively on the Massachusetts communities of Newton, Waltham, and Watertown. Past grantees include the Newton Housing Authority, Centre Street Food Pantry, and numerous grants for individual utility, clothing, and medical needs.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The biannual application deadlines are March 1 and September 1. Grantseekers must use the Bank of America online system to apply for a grant. Applicants for the March deadline will receive news about grant decisions by May 31, and September deadline applicants will receive notification by November 30. Direct general questions to the staff at ma.grantmaking@ustrust.com or 866-778-6859.
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