Grants Committee

The application deadline for the 2026-27 award year is January 11, 2027

For many years, the Memorial Church has had the privilege of assisting a variety of worthy programs and projects with grants from the Sunday offering. A committee whose members are drawn from throughout the congregation awards grants. James W. Lawson, a member of the congregation, chairs the committee. If you are interested in learning more about the process or have proposals to suggest, please contact Theresa Lungu, Grants Committee Co-Chair, at mcgrantscommittee@harvard.edu. Please type “Grants Committee” in the e-mail subject box.

The Grants Committee evaluates requests for support with regard to the following criteria:

•    Grants are to be made for projects and programs providing creative solutions to specific social and community problems.
•    The Committee prefers to support organizations that do not receive substantial funds from established funding agencies but excludes no group from consideration.
•    In awarding grants, the Committee first considers organizations in the local community, then those in surrounding areas, then throughout the Commonwealth and the region.
•    The Committee is especially interested in programs that involve Harvard University students in community outreach but does not exclude others from consideration.
•    It is essential to keep in mind that the Committee makes grants for specific purposes rather than for general operating expenses. Grants for salary and staffing costs are rare.
•    Consideration may be given to those groups that did not receive an award in the past year.
•    All events and programming organized as part of grant implementation should be open and welcoming to all and may not be restricted on the basis of any protected characteristic under law.

Please complete the online cover page form and attach the following:
1.    Mission Statement of the organization.
2.    Description of the specific project or undertaking for which the grant is sought.
3.    Description of how this particular project contributes to the overall goals of the organization.
4.    Description of how the project, program, and organization fit into the above guidelines.
5.    The specific amount requested. Itemized requests are preferred, when appropriate.
6.    The Operating Budget for the current fiscal year.
7.    The most recent audited financials.
8.    Detailed description of how any previous grants from the Memorial Church were used.

Completed applications must be received by Monday, January 11, 2027.

Learn more about the work of the Grants Committee