Justice, equity, Diversity & Inclusion
investing in people, place and possibility— calls upon us to support justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all forms.
In 2024, the Sudbury Foundation took a closer look at racial equity grantmaking. From 2020 through 2023, we have awarded 107 grants exclusively focused on racial equity work to 60 organizations, totaling $440,000. The Foundation offered this grant program again in 2024 in its commitment to support justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all forms.
Our recent review process, which included internal data analysis and conversations with various stakeholders and grantees, confirmed that this is a program that should continue, and led us to make some important changes.
In order to better reflect the scope of the program, which spans all areas of equity and diversity, we changed the name from Racial Equity & Inclusion (RE&I) to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI). This name change provides consistency across all our equity work. (Click the button to the right to read our JEDI Statement.)
The biggest change to the program is that it now funds work focused on systemic change. Systemic change refers to the overhaul of a system to create a lasting difference. Systemic change can be internal or external to an organization.
Examples of internal systemic change could include equity strategic plans, training, or audits of policies, along with steps to implement changes identified.
Examples of external systemic change could include coalition building, identifying and addressing the root cause of inequities, or reducing systemic barriers to equity.
Systemic change work includes projects that focus on altering systems rather than individuals:
Assessment of systems, processes, interactions and norms within an organization
Work with marginalized populations to create change/opportunities
Creation of tangible action steps to effect change
Work that will not be funded:
Community events
General operating support
Eligibility:
501(c)3 nonprofits based in or working primarily in our catchment area: Acton, Concord, Framingham, Hudson, Lincoln, Marlboro, Maynard, Natick, Stow, Sudbury, and Wayland.
Any current grantee of the Sudbury Foundation.
Town of Sudbury (through the Town, its boards, commissions and departments), the Sudbury Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Both new (including those started within the past three years) and expansion of existing projects are eligible for funding.
The grant award maximum will remain at $5,000 and it will continue to be an exception to the Foundation’s rule of one grant per organization per year.
This grant is now closed for 2024. Information about the next grant cycle will be posted in May 2025.
Grant guidelines
The JEDI Grant Program will fund work focused on systemic change. Systemic change refers to the overhaul of a system to create a lasting difference. Systemic change can be internal or external to an organization.
Examples of internal systemic change could include equity strategic plans, training, or audits of policies, along with steps to implement changes identified.
Examples of external systemic change could include coalition building, identifying and addressing the root cause of inequities, or reducing systemic barriers to equity.
Systemic change work includes projects that focus on altering systems rather than individuals:
Assessment of systems, processes, interactions and norms within an organization
Work with marginalized populations to create change/opportunities
Creation of tangible action steps to effect change
Work that will not be funded:
Community events
General operating support
Eligibility:
501(c)3 nonprofits based in or working primarily in our catchment area: Framingham, Hudson, Marlboro, Maynard, Acton, Lincoln, Natick, Stow, Concord, Wayland and Sudbury.
Any current grantee of the Sudbury Foundation.
Town of Sudbury (through the Town, its boards, commissions and departments), the Sudbury Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
Both new (including those started within the past three years) and expansion of existing projects are eligible for funding.
The grant award maximum is $5,000 and it will continue to be an exception to the Foundation’s rule of one grant per organization per year.
Other Criteria
In most cases, nonprofit organizations can only receive one grant per calendar year. The JEDI grant is the one exception.
For example, a nonprofit organization can receive a Children, Youth & Family grant and a JEDI grant in the same calendar year.
Funding Restrictions
The Foundation does not make loans or grants to individuals. While we do not rule out requests for any particular type of assistance, we generally do not provide ongoing operating support, offset deficits, contribute to general appeals, purchase benefit tickets, sponsorships, fund efforts understood to be the responsibility of government or support religious activities.
Applying for a Grant
Applicants are encouraged to discuss their needs with Foundation staff prior to submitting a full proposal. Telephone inquiries are welcome.
Proposal Review Schedule
Applications are reviewed in September.
frequently asked questions
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Eligibility:
501(c)3 nonprofits based in or working primarily in our catchment area: Framingham, Hudson, Marlboro, Maynard, Acton, Lincoln, Natick, Stow, Concord, Wayland and Sudbury.
Any current grantee of the Sudbury Foundation.
Town of Sudbury (through the Town, its boards, commissions and departments), the Sudbury Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
If your nonprofit is based outside of the Foundation’s catchment area, you are encouraged to speak to staff before applying. Please contact Executive Director Sonia Shah, shah@sudburyfoundation.org.
The Foundation does not make loans or grants to individuals. While we do not rule out requests for any particular type of assistance, we generally do not provide ongoing operating support, offset deficits, contribute to general appeals, purchase benefit tickets, sponsorships, fund efforts understood to be the responsibility of government or support religious activities.
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This grant opens in July of each year and applications are due August. Decisions are announced in September. Please see exact due dates on the JEDI Grants webpage.
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Applicants may request up to $5,000 in funding.
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Multi-year grant requests are not supported through this program.
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In most cases, nonprofit organizations can only receive one grant per calendar year. The JEDI grant is the one exception.
For example, a nonprofit organization can receive a Children, Youth & Family grant and a JEDI grant in the same calendar year.
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There are no formal reporting requirements for this grant.
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The JEDI grant funds work focused on systemic change. Systemic change refers to the overhaul of a system to create a lasting difference. Systemic change can be internal or external to an organization.
Examples of internal systemic change could include equity strategic plans, training, or audits of policies, along with steps to implement changes identified.
Examples of external systemic change could include coalition building, identifying and addressing the root cause of inequities, or reducing systemic barriers to equity.
Both new (including those started within the past three years) and expansion of existing projects are eligible for funding.
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Absolutely, contact Executive Director Sonia Shah at shah@sudburyfoundation.org or 978-443-0849 with any questions.
Past Grants
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A Place To Turn: $5,000 - Client Needs Assessment to Improve Equity in Service Delivery
Advocates, Inc.: $5,000 - Strengthening Skills for Conversations about Racism, Discrimination
Bethany Hill Place: $5,000 - Creating a more resident-centered culture at Bethany Hill Place
CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture): $5,000 - Institutionalizing language justice to serve farmers and consumers in western MA
Danny's Place Youth Services: $5,000 - Enhancing Inclusive Communication for Systemic Change at Danny’s Place
Framingham State University Foundation: $5,000 - Understanding Equity through Youth Participatory Research of Early College
Hudson Community Food Pantry: $5,000 - Backpack Buddies Translation
MetroWest Legal Services: $5,000 - DEI Training Series
Metrowest Nonprofit Network: $5,000 - MWNN Team Equity Training: Strengthening Our Capacity to Advance Change
Mill City Grows: $5,000 - Consulting for Cultural Humility
Natick Service Council, Inc.: $5,000 - JEDI Outreach Development & Implementation
Regional Environmental Council: $5,000 - Neighbor Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Rise Above Foundation: $5,000 - DEI Roadmap Implementation
SOAR Management Consulting Group: $5,000 - Professional Development Training: “Demystifying DEI
South Middlesex Opportunity Council: $5,000 - Equity-Centered Training Curriculum
Sudbury Public Schools: $5,000 - Facilitation/Consultation Support for Grading for Equity for Curtis Middle School
The Carrot Project: $5,000 - Fertile Ground: Laying Relationships for Impact in Underserved Communities
The Food Project: $5,000 - The Food Project Ableism Awareness Training
The Natick Community Organic Farm: $5,000 - Increasing Language Access and Equity at Natick Community Organic Farm
Think Outside the Vox Inc: $5,000 - Best Practices in Deafblind Accommodations video training series
ThinkGive, Inc.: $5,000 - Building Capacity and Nurturing a DEIB Culture at ThinkGive
Town of Wayland (Police Department): $5,000 - Restorative Justice Training
Town of Wayland (Town Manager Office): $5,000 - Town of Wayland Equity Assessment & Implementation Plan
Wildflower, Inc.: $5,000 - Reducing Barriers for BIPOC familiesItem description
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Acton-Boxborough United Way: $5,000 - Training for new Acton-Boxborough Resource Center
Advocates, Inc.: $5,000 - Creating Equity Change Agents through Courageous Conversations
Amazing Things Arts Center, Inc. (atac): $5,000 - Explora: Free and Lowkey Drop-in Creative Space
Assabet Valley Collaborative: $5,000 - Advancing Commitments to Equity through Restorative Justice
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA): $5,000 - Language Justice for Farmers and Consumers in Western Massachusetts
Discovery Museum: $5,000 - Black Women in Science Program Series
Framingham History Center: $5,000 - Staff Training – “Collective Journeys” Initiative
Framingham State University Foundation: $5,000 - Visual Native American Land Acknowledgements
Town of Sudbury / Goodnow Library: $5,000 - Goodnow Library Collections Diversity Audit
Gratis Healthcare: $5,000 - Expansion of Interpreter services
Greater Framingham Community Church: $2,500 - Celebrations for Juneteenth and Indigenous Days
Greater Framingham Community Church: $2,500 - To further the work of Framingham Together.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest: $5,000 - Hate Prevention Through Awareness and Action Initiative
Leadership Metrowest: $5,000 - Leadership Academy Equity Scholarship Fund
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School: $5,000 - LSRHS Family Engagement Initiative
Massachusetts Audubon Society: $5,000 - Metro West Culturally Responsive Sanctuaries Program
Metrowest Nonprofit Network: $5,000 - Nonprofits as Agents of Change: A Workshop on Social Justice Strategies and Our Role in Community
Mill City Grows: $5,000 - Consulting for Cultural Humility
Natick is United: $5,000 - Racial Justice Series
Natick Service Council: $5,000 - DEI Training Modules
Open Table: $5,000 - DEI Strategic Planning Work
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: $5,000 - Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (BJEDI) Training
South Middlesex Opportunity Council: $5,000 - Active Bystander Training for Human Services Staff
Sudbury Valley Trustees: $5,000 - Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity through Multilingual Engagement
The Carrot Project: $5,000 - Professional Development and Mentorship for BIPOC Farm and Food Business Advisors
The Food Project: $5,000 - Racial Equity & Diversity Training for Youth, Staff, and Board
The Natick Community Organic Farm: $5,000 - DEI Training
ThinkGive, Inc.: $5,000 - Development of a DEIB Strategic Plan and Action Plan
Town of Wayland / Human Rights, DEI Committee: $5,000 - Trainings for the Committee and Community
Voices of Reentry: $5,000 Community Conversations with Formerly Incarcerated People
Wildflower, Inc.: $5,000 - DEI Consultant and Facilitator Services
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Acton-Boxborough United Way: $5,000 - DEI Workshop for Community Organizations
Advocates, Inc.: $5,000 - Expanding Courageous Conversation Training Series
Amazing Things Arts Center, Inc. (atac): $5,000 - Practice: Free and Lowkey Drop-in Creative Space
Boston Area Gleaners: $5,000 - Staff Training
Charles River Center: $5,000 - DEI Discovery and Kick-off Training Project
Chica Project: $5,000 - Growth of SEL Programming in Framingham
Daniel James McCarthy Memorial Fund, Inc. (Danny’s Place): $5,000 - DEI Diagnostic Consultation
Discovering Hidden Gems, Inc.: $3,500 - Community Education & Inclusion
Framingham State University Foundation, Inc.: $5,000 - Environmental Justice Education via Public Art
Gaining Ground: $3,720 - Goals Into Action: Building Plans to Increase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Gratis Healthcare: $5,000 - Brazilian/Central American Communities-Training for Medical Interpretation
Greater Framingham Community Church: $5,000 - Anti-Racism Educational Forum & Celebrations
Greater Framingham Community Church: $5,000 - DEI Strategic Planning/Anti-racism Training
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest: $5,000 - JFS Board/Leadership DEI Training & Consultation
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School: $5,000 - Civil Rights Tour 2024
MetroWest Free Medical Program: $5,000 - Patient & Community Engagement in Program Planning
OUT MetroWest: $5,000 - Racial Equity Plan
SOAR Managing Consulting Group: $5,000 - Professional Development for Consultants and Clients
SPARK Kindness, Inc.: $5,000 - Multilingual Programming
Sudbury Valley Trustees: $5,000 - Staff and Board Training
ThinkGive, Inc.: $5,000 - Creating a Culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc.: $5,000 - Examining Pay Equity for LGBTQ+ Staff
Wildflower, Inc.: $5,000 - Enhancing Wildflower’s REI Infrastructure
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2021 Grants
A Place to Turn: $5,000 - To fund a series of activities to advance the agency’s cultural competency.
Advocates, Inc.: $5,000 - Send staff to local workshops, to develop a “Train the Trainer” program.
Bethany Hill Place: $4,300 - To work with the Wayside Equity Training Center
Boston Area Gleaners: $4,500 - To fund racial equity training for board members.
Camp Casco: $1,500 - To fund three racial equity trainings for staff and volunteers.
Charles River Center: $5,000 - To fund the development of a new website that is inclusive.
Discovery Museum: $4,800 - To work with the Wayside Equity Training Center.
Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.: $5,000 - For translation services.
Family Promise Metrowest: $5,000 - To work with a consultant o design and develop trainings on DEI/Unconscious Bias.
Framingham History Center: $5,000 - For continued work to develop a Community Engagement Plan.
Framingham Police Department: $5,000 - For equity training for the Framingham Police Department.
Framingham State University Foundation: $3,000 - To engage students in the creation of artwork that will decorate FSU’s Center for Inclusive Excellence.
Greater Framingham Community Church: $5,000 - To fund a series of eight events to bring residents and leadership together around the challenges of anti-racism. (In partnership with Community VIBES Framingham.)
Greater Framingham Community Church: $5,000 - To help fund a day-long anti-racist training program for the 35 leaders of Framingham organizations and non-profits.
Hoops and Homework: $2,500 - To fund a consultation with Raymond Porch, M.Ed., for a series of equity workshops, trainings.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest: $4,500 - To contract with the Wayside Equity Training Center.
Massachusetts Audubon Society: $5,000 - To fund the continuation of the speaker series, “On Belonging in Outdoor Space”.
Metro Community Development Corporation: $4,000 - To partner with Montachusett MLK Coalition to produce the 21st Annual MLK Day Celebration.
Natick Service Council: $5,000 - To hire a DEI consultant.
Neighbor Brigade: $5,000 - Continued DEI training for board, staff and chapter leaders.
South Middlesex Opportunity Council: $5,000 - To contract with the Wayside Equity Training Center.
SPARK Kindness: $5,000 - To fund a Racial Equity training series and community event with consultant Roxy Manning, PhD.
The Learning Center for the Deaf: $5,000 - To create four outdoor Social Justice Little Free Libraries.
Thrive Support and Advocacy, Inc.: $4,500 - To fund a Diversity Leadership Development Program and a Diversity Advisory Group.
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network: $5,000 - To develop a policy around the use of language within the workplace.
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2020 Grants
A Place to Turn: $2,500 - To work with Jane’s Way, LLC.
Acton-Boxborough United Way: $2,500 - To work with Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham of Promoting Good LLC.
Advocates, Inc.: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected) to complete their Racial Equity Plan.
atac (formerly Amazing Things Arts Center): $2,500 - To work with Consultants Kara Wright and Heidi Massey.
Bethany Hill Place: $2,500 - To work with YW Boston .
Discovering Hidden Gems: $2,500 - For a “community education through art” initiative.
Discovery Museum: $2,500 - To support an Antiracist Study Group .
Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.: $2,500 - For facilitated racial equity conversations led by The Melanated Social Workers.
Edwards Church/Open Spirit: $2,500 - To support “Mindful Anti-racism: A Radical Exploration of Race and Resilience.”
Foundation for MetroWest: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected).
Framingham History Center: $2,500 - To work with Ph.D. Candidate Mary McNeil for a proposed “People of Color” series of workshops and exhibitions.
Framingham State University: $2,500 - To hire outside expert(s) to conduct trainings on racism and racial trauma.
Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected).
Greater Framingham Community Church: $2,500 - To support a virtual Youth Town Hall conversation on racism.
Jewish Family Service of Metrowest: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected).
Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee: $2,500 - To fund a Racial Equity and Inclusion project.
Metro Community Development Corporation: $2,500 - To provide technical and other assistance to help Montachusett MLK Coalition run their Wrestling with Racism series.
MetroWest Mediation Services: $2,500 - To host a four-session virtual workshop series on “Compassionate Communication.”
Metrowest Nonprofit Network: $2,500 - To host a four-session, virtual workshop series on “Conversations about Race and Identity.”
Metrowest YMCA: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected).
Neighbor Brigade: $2,500 - To work with Consultant Shadida Solutions.
OUT MetroWest: $1,500 - To work with Visions Inc.
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: $2,500 - To work with a consultant (to be selected).
South Middlesex Opportunity Council: $2,500 - To support DEI trainings for managers.
SPARK Kindness: $2,500 - To work with Consultant Regina Marshall.
Sudbury Public Schools: $2,500 - To hire an appropriate speaker (to be selected) to educate the Sudbury Public Schools community.
The Learning Center for the Deaf: $2,500 - For continued work with Consultant Amber Clark.