A Note From Our New CEO
Dear Friends and Partners,
It is with great pleasure that I write my first message to you, as your new President and CEO at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. While only in my fourth week here, it is crystal clear to me that we, as a Foundation, are poised for continued growth and increasing impact. We are blessed with a committed staff, diverse and engaged volunteer leaders, and valuable community stakeholders, made up of donors, community members and community leaders, who are committed to helping, and insisting, that we be our very best.
In many aspects, I arrive to this work as a veteran, having several decades of experience and perspective in helping nonprofit, philanthropic organizations to reach their full potential. At the same time, I’m also a novice, in that I am an enthusiastic newcomer to this community. As such, a priority for me is investing the time to actively learn, listen, and connect to people across the region, taking into account the richly varied backgrounds and perspectives that help define us. Community foundations are at our best when we are listening, reflective and dynamic organizations, so I can think of no better place to begin than to meet people exactly where they are and have real conversations.
Through these conversations, I'm looking to learn: What are our greatest needs? What are the unique strengths we can build upon? And what do we aspire to be and to achieve? I look forward to discussions like this with you in the weeks and months to come.
It is no secret that as a city and region, we are on the move. We are growing, evolving and reinventing ourselves in ways that are the envy of much of the commonwealth. Our challenge, though, is ensuring that this reinvention serves the aspirations of us all, and that our progress does not leave others behind, or come at their expense. This is particularly true for our neighbors who have been historically left behind, or even pushed out, due to race, language, income, education or the security they do not yet have in their lives.
Community foundations, and ours in particular, are uniquely positioned to build opportunity, instill vibrancy, and create long-term positive change for us all. I applaud each of you who have joined hands with us to meet this challenge and look forward to learning more from you about how we can do even more together.
Thank you,
Jim
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College Scholarships Available for the 2022-2023 Academic Year
The Foundation is now taking applications for college scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. Over 9,000 students have received scholarships since the program's inception in 1978, awarding over $13 million. Just last year, GWCF gave more than $680,000 to 375 local students.
High school seniors who live in Worcester County are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Students can apply online and with a single application, they can be considered for any of the Foundation's 139 scholarships. Scholarship awards can vary up to $5,000 per year and are made based on a variety of criteria including financial need, field of study, community involvement, high school, and hometown.
Thousands of local students have been provided access to higher education and a brighter future because of the altruism of our donors.
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Join Us!
Together with the Board of Directors, GWCF invites you to attend our Investment Presentation: Managing our Endowment for Generations to Come. The event features Thomas Bartholomew, Treasurer and Chair of the GWCF Investment Committee, and Jeff Croteau, Principal at Prime Buchholz & Associates. Together, we will learn about the Foundation's plan and philosophy to expand the community's endowment.
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The Foundation is Hiring
The Foundation is looking to have two new people join our team! We are hiring a Philanthropy Associate and a Program Associate. If you're interested in joining our mission to enhance our community, you're encouraged to apply!
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Donor Central Update
GWCF is in the process of transitioning to a new software platform that will better serve the Foundation and our community. There will be no grants processed during the month of February due to the software migration. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please reach out to donorservices@greaterworcester.org with any questions or needs you may have, including fund statements or requests. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to sharing information on the new donor portal in late February.
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Individual artists are critical to a thriving arts and culture ecosystem, but building a successful creative career comes with its own set of hurdles. This is why the Foundation and Assets for Artists have partnered to offer a series of
FREE workshops tailored to individual artists.
"Fostering Relationships with Galleries and Museums" with Kristen Becker
Tuesdays, February 1 & 8, 2022 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
"Making a Plan in a Time of Uncertainty" with Laura Baring-Gould
Thursdays, February 3 & 10, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM
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Creative Intersections Grantees Announced
GWCF's grant program, Creative Intersections, recently announced the recipients of its second cycle of funding. The funding supports collaborations that pair non-arts sector programming with arts organizations and/or individual creatives to address community needs in areas such as social justice, public health, mental health, housing, education, history, culture, identity, environment, or civic engagement.
The following organizations and projects were awarded:
Push Worcester, DIY Paint n Skate Youth Program
WriteBoston, "Arts and Change Workshop" (part of ALTAS Summer 2022 Program)
Worcester Chamber Music Society, Music and Healing Concert Series
Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester, Elm Park School Makes Music with Pakachoag
Department of Health & Human Services (City of Worcester), Create 508
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Music is the Key Partnership: a music and mentoring pilot project
Living In Freedom Together (LIFT), Inc., Clothing & Accessories Not For Sale: An Exhibit Exposing the Realities of the Sex Trade
Worcester Hip Hop Congress, All in Together Now
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Looking Ahead
The following grant cycles will be opening in the coming weeks with more information soon available:
Action for Racial Equity Grants
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Stay tuned for what's to come at the Foundation, from upcoming grant opportunities to workshops, and more. Together, we are building a stronger, more equitable Central Massachusetts. |
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Connect with the Foundation on social media! |
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Greater Worcester Community Foundation
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