Grants
The percentage of English learners in Massachusetts school districts is rising.
In the 2019-2020 school year in Boston Public Schools, 31% of the student body identified as English learners (EL).
But, in comparison to their academic counterparts, K-12 English learners in Massachusetts continue to struggle to graduate from high school and access higher education and career opportunities; EL high school dropout rates are higher than any other demographic group and standardized test scores continue to fall far below state averages, with 50-84% scoring “warning/failing” on the 2016 MCAS.
How we help.
Developing district partnerships and effective K-12 programming will require strong design, implementation, and staffing. We’ll launch our partnerships and program support by partnering with targeted school districts in Massachusetts.
Defining the model, determining the level of staffing required, and achieving operational excellence will take time, but program support in targeted school districts will quickly reveal gaps that need filling and strength areas that can be replicated as we bring program partnerships to more districts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Grant application criteria.
The MEL Community Foundation partners with nonprofits in the U.S. that support learning outcomes for English Learners in public schools. Although we are Massachusetts based, the MEL Community Foundation welcomes any 501(c)(3) charitable applicant provided the organization meets the following criteria:
Organizational Capacity and Leadership
Successful applicants will show evidence that they have a solid balance sheet and program plans that give us confidence their organization has the capacity to manage the grant. Also, successful applicants will have a board of directors and staff leadership that are collaborative and knowledgeable about the school community and English learners.
Measurable and Sustainable Outcomes
Results matter. We place a high priority on organizations and partners that clearly articulate goals, present a clear plan for achieving results, and track outcomes and impacts with specific metrics on the people and communities served.
Funding Limits
The MEL Community Foundation is currently considering grant requests that range between $10, 000 to $12,000, for June 2026.
The grant process.
Months 1-2
Participate in calls and emails with grant partner to discuss application criteria and potential partnership.
Months 3-4
If invited, submit an application and participate in the grantee presentation/interview.
Months 5-6
The MEL Community Foundation board of directors reviews grant applications and votes on approval. A follow-up site visit is scheduled for Foundation staff to observe grantee programming.