The Boston Foundation

Please join TBF, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, and Boston Indicators on March 28th at 9:30AM for the release of a new report examining the business side of family child-care. This event will bring together policymakers, advocates, funders, and providers to explore the essential role of home-based care in MA and the ways it can serve as a pathway to wealth building and economic stability for early educators. Register: https://bit.ly/4iG5oo0

There are just a few more days left to respond to the Massachusetts Nonprofits Federal Impacts Survey! Join over 500+ nonprofit leaders in the community who have already given their feedback and share your thoughts by 3/21: https://bit.ly/41BZ3CQ TBF alongside our survey partners Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and The MassINC Polling Group look forward to reporting out the results widely.

Could a revival of Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) housing help fix Boston’s housing crisis? This is the question posed by the latest research brief by Boston Indicators. Once common, Boston was for a time home to thousands of SRO units, historically providing critical affordable housing for low-income and transient residents, especially new immigrants. Boston had as many as 55,000 units in the late 1800’s. Today only about 3,500 remain. As housing costs continue to rise and homelessness rates increase, this brief explores whether SROs could once again play a role in addressing Boston’s housing shortage. Read the research brief here: https://bit.ly/4ifOLzu

The Free for All Endowment Fund 2025 grant cycle is open! The mission of the Fund is to ensure that everyone in the Boston region—children, adults, and families—will have regular and permanent access to classical, orchestral music and related cultural events. Nonprofit/501(c)3 or fiscally sponsored organizations representing the transformational change, growth, and accountability in classical music across Greater Boston are eligible. Interested applicants will have diverse programming and a connection to their communities. If you have questions, book a virtual appointment during office hours: March 17, 1:00 - 3:30pm March 19, 1:00 - 3:30pm March 24, 1:00 - 5:00pm March 26, 1:00 - 3:30pm Learn more, schedule your virtual appointment, and apply here: https://bit.ly/48ZxKoc Photo: performance from Castle of Our Skins

With soaring rents, funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), which offers rental assistance to low-income families, is more important than ever. Yesterday TBF joined Economic Mobility Pathways - EMPath, 2Life Communities, Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Haley House, and First Church of Cambridge alongside residents and elected officials at the State House for Cookie Day, a day of advocacy in support of the MRVP. Congrats to Senator Lydia Edwards, the recipient of MRVP's Big Cookie Award for being an MRVP and housing champion, and thanks to Senator Julian Cyr, State Rep Richard Haggerty, Senator Joan Lovely, State Rep Adrian Madaro, and State Rep Kevin Honan for joining us! More about the MA Rental Voucher Program: https://bit.ly/41QsfWM

Engaging students in relevant work-based learning experiences, like internships and co-ops, throughout their education is a key part of high-quality college and career pathways. Join TBF and the Boston PIC (Private Industry Council) on March 25th for our next event in a series on career-connected learning. Bringing together leaders from employers, Boston Public Schools, and higher education, this event featuring two panel discussions will address efforts to connect students with high-quality work-based learning, prepare and support them in these experiences, and policies and practices that can help do so at scale. Register: https://bit.ly/4hqZGoF

Preserving existing housing and preventing displacement is essential for supporting residents and providing an affordable place to live and thrive. TBF joined Mayor Wu, Related Beal, elected officials, supporting organizations, and residents yesterday in Mattapan to announce that the 347 homes at Fairlawn Estates will become permanently affordable housing, protecting the Fairlawn residents from displacement. Made possible by the first investment of the Boston Acquisition Fund and ARPA funds, TBF is pleased to be among the supporters of this acquisition and grateful to all the partners who made this possible. Read more in the Boston Globe:

MRVP's Cookie Day event is tomorrow! Join Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, the MRVP Coalition, and key stakeholders on March 12th from 10AM - 2PM at 140 Bowdoin St to advocate for expanding the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. Earning its name from the tradition started by Homes for Families of families and advocates handing out house-shaped cookies to elected officials as a reminder to support MRVP, Cookie Day is an annual advocacy event where low-income tenants, families, providers , elected officials, and community members unite. Register using the QR code or using this link: https://bit.ly/4huR0h4. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tomorrow is the final day to apply for TBF's Safety Net Grants Special Round! TBF is launching a $2 million special round of Safety Net Grants to be awarded this spring, providing general operating support for Greater Boston social service organizations that respond to the essential needs of marginalized communities and vulnerable residents. The application period closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11. More information on eligibility criteria, FAQs, and details on how to apply: https://bit.ly/3ECvhpR

Find timely resources for #nonprofits in the latest edition of TBF's Nonprofit Update! This edition lifts up resources and knowledge for sector leaders navigating the impacts of recent federal policies and actions. If you work for a nonprofit in MA, please take a few minutes to make your voice heard and complete the MA Nonprofit Federal Impacts Survey recently launched by Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, in partnership with TBF and The MassINC Polling Group, to survey nonprofits in MA about how the new federal administration may be impacting your organizations and the people you serve. All responses will be anonymous and the survey is available in English, Haitian-Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The survey closes on March 21. Tomorrow is also the final day to apply for our special round of safety net grants! Check out the newsletter for the survey information plus details on many more trainings, #grants, RFPs, and events: https://bit.ly/41BZ3CQ