Worcester Magazine is a free weekly alternative media publication based in Worcester, Massachusetts and distributed in over 400 locations throughout Central Massachusetts. It got its start in the mid-1970s with publisher Allen Fletcher, who is also known as a philanthropist in the area. Fletcher was featured in the Power 50 Class of 2020 for his commitment to the city, which prompted us to take a closer look at the businessman’s recent charitable giving.
The Worcester connection
Allen W. Fletcher was born in Worcester and attended Harvard, served in the Peace Corps and earned a master’s degree from U.C. Berkeley. After some time working as a contractor and builder in Northern California, he returned to his hometown and founded Worcester Publishing Ltd.
Today, Fletcher is the president of the Worcester Public Market and Harding Green LLC. He’s known locally for taking big risks, including on Worcester Public Market, a $21 million development in Worcester’s Canal District that incorporates market vendors and residential lofts. In the philanthropic realm, the Fletcher Foundation focuses its attention on Central Massachusetts and especially on the town of Worcester.
What Fletcher funds
Fletcher created his foundation back in 1981, but it lacks a website and isn’t a particularly transparent funder. However, past tax records indicate that it commonly supports community development, education, the arts and human services at the local level.
Community development grants go to the local United Way chapter and community development corporations, while education grants fund local schools and youth-focused groups. The foundation also funds museums, performing arts centers and music organizations as part of its commitment to arts and culture.
Types of support
Each year, a few Fletcher grants go toward specific projects, such as a concert series and or core youth program. However, this funder is much more likely to provide capital campaign support, seed funding and general operating grants.
The Fletcher Foundation regularly offers ongoing support to organizations that it has worked with in the past. It also often provides seed funding for new plans, money for facility improvements and other capital equipment upgrades. This is a good foundation to know for the types of nonprofit needs that too often get overlooked by other funders.
The application process
Although the Fletcher Foundation is a low-key funder, it is also an accessible one that accepts unsolicited requests for grant money. Interested nonprofits should submit their application materials to the foundation in letter form via mail (in quintuplicate) and include information about their IRS tax exemption, background information on the organization and how they provide social services to the city of Worcester.
There are no specific deadlines, but requests should be received at least two weeks before foundation meetings occurring in June and December in order to be considered for those grant cycles.
Read more in IP’s profile of the Fletcher Foundation in our Boston & New England funding guide and our profile on Allen W. Fletcher in our Real Estate Givers guide.