Sandwich, Massachusetts is known for a few things, such as being the oldest town on Cape Cod, glassware and rare bookstores. It also plays host to homegrown philanthropy through an organization called the Fund for Sandwich, a town fund administered by the Cape Cod Foundation. The fund has grassroots origins: it was started by local residents who wanted to support the work of nonprofits in their community. That makes it an interesting funder to know for organizations working in the area.
Here are some details about the Fund for Sandwich to help you get to know this modest town fund better.
Three main interest areas
Many people on Cape Cod struggle with affordable housing, low-income jobs and limited opportunities. To address these issues, the Fund for Sandwich focuses its attention on three main types of grants. These are human/elder services, educational and cultural enrichment, and conservation issues. Grants from the fund go toward short-term needs as well as long-term investments to improve the community.
Recent grants have been around $2,500
As a very small local fund, the Fund for Sandwich typically only awards a couple grants per cycle. In a recent cycle, the funder awarded two grants of $2,500 each. This is a pretty typical amount for the funder. One grant went to Calmer Choice to support children’s mental health, while the other one went to the Sandwich Recreation Department to expand summer programming.
A local advisory committee
Like other town funds, the Fund for Sandwich has an advisory committee to let it stay in touch with local needs and maintain a presence near the nonprofits it supports. There are currently four people on the advisory committee. The committee works alongside Cape Cod Foundation staff, who draw on ample resources and more than 30 years of grantmaking experience. The Fund for Sandwich encourages local donors to make donations, arrange planned gifts and include the fund in a will.
A unique application process
Each town fund managed by the Cape Cod Foundation has its own unique application process and guidelines to follow. At this time, the Fund for Sandwich does not appear to be accepting unsolicited requests; however, the Falmouth Fund and Chatham Fund are open to nonprofit applications. Grantseekers should visit the larger foundation’s website to confirm which opportunities are currently available.
In addition to grants from this particular fund, Sandwich-area nonprofits may also be eligible for the Cape Cod Foundation’s more general program grants, capacity-building grants or Strategic Emergency Response Fund grants. In IP’s Boston and New England Funding Guide, you can read more about the Fund for Sandwich and other town funds managed by the Cape Cod Foundation.