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Woods Hole Foundation Grant Program​
Since 1979, grants made by the Woods Hole Foundation have evolved to match community needs. Grants have ranged from the preservation of buildings used by area nonprofits, to operating funds for local service organizations. All grants are intended to maintain and improve the quality of life and character of our community.
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Applications for the 2026 grant cycle will be accepted from February 1 - March 31, 2026. Please consult our application instructions page when preparing your proposal.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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Eligibility
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Who may apply for a grant from Woods Hole Foundation?
Woods Hole Foundation accepts funding proposals from local non-profit organizations, with preference given to organizations primarily serving the Woods Hole/Falmouth area. Applicants must be public entities or local non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under the provisions of the IRS code, Section 501(c)(3). If this is your first submission to the Woods Hole Foundation, please include a copy of your tax-exempt IRS 501(c)(3) letter with your application.
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What if my organization is not a recognized 501(c)(3) organization?
Smaller or newly established organizations may wish to partner with an established 501(c)(3) organization to receive grant funding. In this case, the applicant should include a letter of support from the sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization.
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What types of funding requests does Woods Hole Foundation consider?
Preference will be given to proposals with a specific project in mind (e.g. equipment, special event support, or a speaker). Requests for general program support and development are also considered.
Requests for capital improvements to buildings used by area non-profits will be considered. Special consideration will be given to buildings of historical significance that add to the character of the community.
Applications for projects involving the cooperation between community organizations are encouraged.
Consideration will be given to the number of people who benefit from the activities of the requesting organization.
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How much money can our organization ask for?
Typical grants range from $250 to $5000. We receive approximately 50 worthy requests each year, and often cannot fund or fully fund all of these requests. We appreciate organizations that have clearly defined, reasonable requests.
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If my organization received funding in the past, may we reapply?
Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply. Your application should include a description of how your previous award was utilized.
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What if our needs change after we receive a grant, and we’d like to spend the funds on something else or wait until next year to spend the funds?
You are expected to spend the funds as proposed in your application or return the funds to the Woods Hole Foundation. If you want to redirect funds or postpone the use of the funds, you must first consult the Foundation for approval.
Preparing your application
What financial information do you require?
We require two documents: a financial report and a project budget. We are looking for a concise summary of your organization’s overall finances AND a budget for your proposed project.
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What should be included in my financial report?
Please include your most recent annual financial report. If the budget is voluminous, an executive summary is preferable. We need enough information to assess monetary need and fiscal responsibility.
Your income report must include but not be limited to donations, fundraising income, gifts, grants, rental property, ticket sales, investments, etc. Your expense report must include but not be limited to office supplies, printing, advertising, salaries, maintenance, etc.
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Does my tax return or monthly bank statement suffice as a financial report?
No. We do not want these documents.
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What should be included in my project budget?
We are looking for the details of your proposed project costs and income, if any (for example, ticket sales). The project budget you provide us can be as simple as a paragraph, as long as you give us all the pertinent information, or it could be a standard income/expense report for the project.
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How can I fit a brief project summary into just 100 words?
In our application cover sheet we request a brief project summary. The project summary should be a miniature version of your full proposal but it doesn't need to state your organization's full name and mission, and it doesn't need to contain dates and amounts. Focus on your proposed activities and their impact.
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Example 1: The project will build four durable, energy-efficient, affordable homes on Gifford Street enabling four local families to achieve permanent home ownership and escape ongoing housing instability through thoughtful design and long-term community investment.
Example 2: Funding will support masterclasses with a sword dance expert and advanced folk dancing classes to enhance dancers’ technique, choreography, teamwork, and performance skills.
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Example 3: The funding requested supports the expansion of our Service Garden to donate even more fresh locally grown produce to households experiencing food insecurity. This funding will support seeds, compost, and other supply expenses, as we aim to grow our donation goal by producing 6,500 pounds of food.
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How do I know if my application is complete?
Review the instructions for applicants to make sure you’ve included all the required components.
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How do I combine multiple documents into one PDF file?
You can merge multiple documents (Word files, Excel, PDFs, etc.) into a single PDF using free tools available on the Internet, such as www.ilovepdf.com.
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Submission, review and notification
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​How do I submit my completed application?
All applications must be submitted using a Google Form. A link to the Google Form will be posted on our application instructions page on February 1st, 2026. Google requires a Google account to be used to access the form, but this account doesn't need to match the applicant's email address. After filling in all required fields, click the bold green “Submit” button at the bottom of the form. You should see an acknowledgement message immediately after submitting the form, and you should receive a confirmation message at the applicant's email address.
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Will you accept applications beyond the March 31st deadline?
We accept applications until 11:59 PM on March 31. We will not consider late applications.
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What happens if my application is not complete?
We do not consider incomplete applications.
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When will I know if my proposal was successful?
Funding decisions are made early May, and checks are sent to organizations in the 2nd or 3rd week in May.
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Other application questions for the WHF clerk? Contact: grants@woodsholefoundation.org
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