Guidelines


Applicant organizations should be devoted to expanding educational opportunity and improving academic outcomes for underserved students in New England. The mission of the applicant organization should also be aligned with the principles of the initiative to which it is applying, and amenable to the Foundation’s Engaged Grantmaking approach, the details of which are located on our Grant Information page.

Click here to see our projected 2008 funding opportunities 

Eligibility
Pursuant to its Articles of Organization, the Foundation operates exclusively for the benefit of, and to promote the charitable and educational purposes of, educational organizations, including universities, colleges, secondary schools, elementary schools, and other educational organizations that are described in IRC Section 501(c) (3) and that are not private foundations as described in IRC Section 509(a).  The Foundation's activities include making grants to the public charities it supports and providing services to those organizations.  The Foundation supports only those programs/organizations that serve students in New England or research pertaining to education issues in New England.

The Foundation does not fund capital campaigns, endowments, scholarships or fellowships, debt reduction or cash reserves, building construction or renovation, and certain indirect costs.


Funding Determination
Funding determination may be made in one of three ways:

  1. A specific organization may be invited to apply for a grant within an agreed upon timeframe and the proposal is reviewed in a noncompetitive process.
  2. A limited number of organizations may be invited to apply via a Request For Proposals (RFP) before a set deadline.  Proposals submitted would then be reviewed in a competitive process.  All or a selection of the group would be funded.
  3. Funding guidelines that outline the Foundation’s requirements, goals, and funding strategy and an open RFP are distributed by the Foundation or by an intermediary hired to manage a cluster of grants and to post on appropriate websites.  Organizations determine their potential eligibility and whether they should submit a proposal before a set deadline.  Proposals submitted are reviewed in a competitive process.  All or a selection of the group are funded based on the criteria outlined in the guidelines.

Projected 2008 RFP Notifications

Currently, there are no Requests for Proposals available. If you would like to be notified when funding becomes available, please register here.

Below are our projected 2008 funding opportunities. This section is frequently updated; please check back regularly. 


Pathways to Higher Learning 2008 

  • Blended Models - RFP anticipated in Fall 2008
    Through an RFP process, we anticipate investing in innovative approaches that bridge middle/secondary systems with postsecondary opportunities and offer alternative models for how, where, and with whom learning takes place.  And/or in combination:
  • Standards and Accountability systems - RFP anticipated  in Fall 2008
    Through an RFP process, we plan to fund programs that are designing and developing new and revised student achievement standards and accountability systems that include the skills and knowledge required for demands of postsecondary opportunities, work readiness, and citizenship.

Adult Learning 2008 

  • New England Transitions to College and Careers Pilot – Request for Proposals

    The Pilot Program will be administered in partnership with the New England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC) and will focus on helping adult learners access and persist in postsecondary education in pursuit of select high-growth occupations in health care fields that have developed career pathways and pay family-sustaining wages. Classroom-based instruction and face-to-face counseling will be supplemented by an online course developed by NELRC. The cohort for the program may also include students who are not pursuing health careers.

    NELRC will assist the Foundation in selecting grantees and will provide them with technical assistance, training, and support for program implementation. Planning grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to four to six partnerships for the period from August – December 2008. Partnerships that complete their proposed planning activities will be eligible for up to $80,000 to implement the pilot program from January – December 2009.

    The Foundation seeks organizations and institutions in the six New England states that provide Adult Basic Education, ESOL, GED or Diploma classes as a primary educational service and that also currently offer program elements that support adult learners transitioning to college. The collaborating college should have a history of coordinating activities with key health care services employers.

    For more information, including full criteria, guidelines and how to submit your proposal by June 16, 2008, please download the following documents:

      Transition to College and Careers(TCC) Request For Proposals
      TCC Guidelines
      TCC Action Plan
      College Prep Curriculum Overview
      Proposal Cover Page



  • Institutionalization of College Transition Services - RFP anticipated in Fall 2008
    Through an RFP process, we plan to continue to support the institutionalization of funding for college transition services in the New England states and the articulation agreements between the adult education and the state’s college system.

  • Regional and state-based capacity building of adult literacy advocacy organizations - RFP anticipated in Fall 2008
    Through an RFP process, we anticipate supporting key adult learning advocacy organizations to promote increased support for the funding of adult learning programs.

Early Learning 2008

There are no RFPs anticipated in 2008 in our Early Learning initiative.

Time for Learning 2008

There are no RFPs at this time in our Time for Learning initiative.

Systems Building 2008

There are no RFPs anticipated in 2008 in our Systems Building initiative.