Applying for Grants and Scholarships
Berkshire Taconic awards hundreds of competitive grants and scholarships each year; in fact, in 2009, we distributed almost $7 million to hundreds of nonprofit groups and students. Whether you are seeking funding as an individual or on behalf of a nonprofit organization, we welcome your interest in these opportunities.
Below is a schedule of deadlines for applications to Berkshire Taconic's competitive grants and scholarships. All applications are due by 5 p.m. on the date noted (unless that date falls on a weekend, in which case the deadline is extended to 5 p.m. on the following Monday). If you need assistance or have questions about our competitive grants, please contact Maeve O'Dea, program director, at maeve@berkshiretaconic.org or 413.229.0370.
Organizations that receive a grant from these funds must submit a report within 12 months of their award. More about grant reports.
Applications in pdf format can be edited and saved with Adobe's free Acrobat Reader 9.
Rolling Deadlines
January-March
April-June
July-September
October-December
Rolling Deadlines
Ferris Burtis Fund
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors in the Berkshire Taconic Region who plan to enter the field of music and are attending conservatories and universities as music majors; worthy young musicians who demonstrate the possibility of having a professional career in music.
To apply for a Ferris Burtis grant or scholarship, send a written statement of intent and supportive material, such as a CD or DVD. Make sure your statement and accompanying materials reference the Ferris Burtis Fund.
Green Pastures Fund
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations, public entities or community groups that encourage or preserve small, community-based agricultural ventures.
Application form & guidelines
Jane Lloyd Fund
Who can apply: social service agencies (or clergy, town supervisor, etc.) on behalf of cancer patients and their families with financial need in the Connecticut towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon. For more information, please contact Maeve O'Dea, program director at maeve@berkshiretaconic.org or 413.229.0370.
Neighbor–to–Neighbor (N2N)
Who can apply: social service agencies (or clergy, town supervisor, etc.) on behalf individuals & families in crisis in the Berkshire Taconic area.
For more information, please contact Maeve O'Dea, program director at maeve@berkshiretaconic.org or 413.229.0370.
New World Fund of the Berkshires
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations providing services to recent immigrants to the Berkshires.
Application form & guidelines
Quailwood Emergency Relief Fund
Who can apply: social service agents (or clergy, town supervisor, etc.) on behalf of individuals and families in crisis in Red Rock, NY. For more information, please contact Maeve O'Dea, program director at
maeve@berkshiretaconic.org or 413.229.0370.
January
Sweet Brook Scholarship
Deadline: January 31
Who can apply: employees of the Sweet Brook Transitional Care and Living Centers in Williamstown, who are planning to attend an accredited school to further their education in a field of health care that will have a direct impact on their work at Sweet Brook.
Application form & guidelines
Kinderhof Scholarship Fund
Deadline: February 1
Who can apply: residents of Berkshire, Columbia or Northwest Litchfield Counties who have been accepted into the Kinderhof School in North Egremont, MA.
Application form & guidelines
February
Violet H. Simmons Scholarship Fund
Summer Enrichment Scholarship Program
Deadline: February 15
Who can apply: students who have graduated from Webutuck Central School and who will be enrolled in their second or third year at an accredited college or who will be enrolled in the second year of a two-year accredited college course.
Application form & guidelines
March
Alice and Richard Henriquez Memorial Fund & Youth World Awareness Program
Deadline: March 1
Who can apply: Students ages 14-22, teachers and school staff residing in Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess or Litchfield counties who travel internationally to study or work to help promote international peace and justice.
Application form & guidelines (Individuals)
Application form & guidelines (Organizations)
Region One Athletic Fund
Deadline: March 15, July 15 and November 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community
members for projects that enhance the physical and athletic experience of
students in the Region One District of Connecticut.
Application
form & guidelines (Individuals)
Application
form & guidelines (Group)
Williamstown Elementary School Endowment Fund (WESE)
Deadline: March 18
Who can apply: Teachers, students, administrators, parents and members of the community for initiatives that add to the existing programs at the school.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Rhoda Rubin Scholarship
Deadline: March 23
Who can apply: residents of Berkshire County who are pursuing a degree of any kind in nursing at Berkshire Community College (BCC).
Application form & guidelines
Germantown Student Education Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund
Deadline: March 30
Who can apply: teachers, administrators, parents and community members for projects that enhance and enrich the experience of the arts and humanities for students and teachers in the Germantown Central School District.
Application form & guidelines
April
Fund for Columbia County
Deadline: April 1
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations, public entities or community groups that improve the quality of life for Columbia County residents.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Kapteyn Prize
Deadline: April 1
Who can apply: Principals and Heads of School may nominate an outstanding educator who meets the vision of the fund.
Application form & guidelines
Quailwood Fund
Deadline: April 1
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) or public entities for programs and projects that serve/benefit the residents of and that take place in the Red Rock area.
Application form & guidelines
SEE Fund
Deadline: April 1
Who can apply: students, school personnel and community members for projects that support educational improvements and innovations that strengthen the students’ learning experience at Mount
Greylock High School.
Application form & guidelines
SEE Fund website
Wassermann-Streit Y'DIYAH Memorial Fund (Y'DIYAH)
Deadline: April 1 and November 1
Who can apply: individuals, schools, libraries and other nonprofit organizations in Berkshire, Columbia, Litchfield and Dutchess counties for projects and programs that encourage learning about Judaism with an aim to dispel prejudice, bias and intolerance while encouraging the love of learning.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Berkshire Hills Fund for Excellence
Deadline: April 12 to Superintendent of Schools Office
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that sustain excellence in education in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District.
Application
form & guidelines
Fund for Williamstown
Deadline: April 9
Who can apply: individuals or nonprofit organizations, public entities or community groups with ideas for projects that improve the quality of life for Williamstown residents.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Eagle Fund & Janet's Fund
Deadline: April 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that sustain excellence in education in the Southern Berkshire Regional School District.
Application form & guidelines
Eagle Fund website
Armond M. Oppenheimer Environmental Fund
Deadline: April 15
Who can apply: people who have gone above and beyond their job requirements in their involvement in environmental issues, specifically in involving young people in Region One in the environment.
Application form & guidelines
Simple Gifts Fund
Deadline: April 16
Who can apply: young people (ages 8 to 21) who are residents of the Berkshire Taconic region, interested in participating in summer enrichment programs for cultural and creative endeavors.
Application form & guidelines
Richmond Educational Enrichment Fund (REEF)
Deadline: April 17
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance and enrich the educational experience in the Richmond Consolidated School.
Application form & guidelines
Chatham Education Foundation
Deadline: April 20
Who can apply: teachers, administrators, parents and community members for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Chatham Central School District.
Application form & guidelines
May
Charles and Elinore Agar Scholarship Guidelines
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Monument Mountain Regional High School who are entering their first year of a two year or four year nationally accredited college or university with a particular interest in science, engineering, history or creative writing.
Application
form & guidelines
William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy
Public Service Award
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: nominations for individuals who have a strong community commitment, a generous spirit and make a significant contribution to the towns of Adams, Cheshire or Savoy, MA through paid or volunteer work.
Application
form & guidelines
Previous awards
George and Lucille Buterbaugh Scholarship Award
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors who are residents of the Town of Salisbury, CT.
Application form & guidelines
Caligari Family Scholarship
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Monument Mountain Regional High School who are entering their first year of a two year or four year college or university with a goal of pursuing a career in an art or design related field.
Application form & guidelines
Cha-Nel Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors of Chatham and New Lebanon, NY High Schools.
Application form & guidelines
James and Robert Hardman Fund for North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, MA
and Stamford, VT
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations serving North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida or Stamford.
Application form & guidelines
Dr. Luis A. Jacome Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Ichabod Crane High School who will be entering their first year of a two-year or four-year nationally accredited college or university with a particular interest in the field of health or science.
Application form & guidelines
Myrtle and Raymond Mercier Scholarship Award
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors who are residents of the Town of Stockbridge.
Application form & guidelines
Monument Mountain Regional High School Scholarship Guidelines
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Monument Mountain Regional High School. This is a listing of all scholarships serving MMRHS students with one common application form.
Application form & guidelines
Samuels and Cornman Educational Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Lenox Memorial High School who are entering their first year of a two year or four year nationally accredited college or university. This may include vocational schools, trade schools or apprenticeships.
Application form & guidelines
The Susan Fillman Memorial Scholarship for the Arts
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: Students in the Region One School District, CT, for arts-related programs or workshops.
Application form & guidelines
Honorable James P. Dohoney Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors of Mountain Regional High School, Mount Everett Regional High School, Lenox Memorial High School or Lee High School.
Application form & guidelines
The Teddy Lee Drumm Memorial Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: residents of Sharon, CT who have been accepted into an accredited college, university, vocational-technical or professional institute.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Farmington River Initiative for Regional Excellence (FIRE)
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enrich the educational experience of the students and teachers in the Farmington River School District.
Application form & guidelines
Gateway Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that sustain excellence in education in the North Adams Public Schools.
Application form & guidelines
Pauline Young Music Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators, parents, nonprofits and members of the community for projects that provide opportunities for students in the North Adams Public School District to study and appreciate music.
Application form & guidelines
Housatonic School Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduates of the Housatonic School, their descendants and residents of Housatonic pursuing a post-secondary education
Application form & guidelines
Rhoda Lubalin Art Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: Graduating seniors of Webutuck Central School who intends to pursue the study of visual arts in college or other educational institution.
Application form & guidelines
Guido Masiero Scholarship Fund (Monument Mountain Regional High School)
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors at Monument Mountain Regional High School who are entering their first year of a 2- or 4-year college or university to pursue studies in physical education, health and wellness, or business studies.
Application form & guidelines
Guido Masiero Scholarship Fund (Manchester Essex Regional High School)
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating seniors at Manchester Essex Regional High School, Manchester, MA, who are entering their first year of a 2- or 4-year college or university to pursue studies in physical education, health and wellness, or business studies.
Application form & guidelines
McLaughlin-Wilson Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: Preference is given to students entering their first year of higher education after high school. Applicants must have physically lived within Monterey during most of the last two years of high school. An exception may be made for boarding school students whose family residence is in Monterey and for those who are attending higher educational institutions.
Application
form & guidelines
Renewal application form & guidelines
Millerton Grange Scholarship Award
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors who are residents of the Town of North East, NY (Millerton) and plan to study agriculture or agribusiness.
Application form & guidelines
William J. Newton Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: residents of Berkshire County who are enrolled or planning to enroll in a two year program at a community college or a technology curriculum in a community college, technical, vocational, or trade school.
Application form & guidelines
Quailwood Scholarship Fund
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: graduating high school seniors who are full time residents within the area of Red Rock during the two consecutive years prior to this application and have been accepted at a college or professional program.
Application form & guidelines
Quailwood Scholarship Fund for Adult Students
Deadline: May 1
Who can apply: adults (18 years or older) who are full time residents within the area of Red Rock during the two consecutive years prior to this application and havebeen accepted at a college or professional program either for the first time or to return to school to complete a degree.
Application form & guidelines
Northeast Dutchess Fund (NED)
Deadline: May 7
Who can apply: nonprofits, municipalities, community organizations or civic entities in northeast Dutchess County.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Winthrop Crane Fund for Graduate Student Aid
Deadline: May 15
Who can apply: graduates of Wahconah Regional High School or a vocational-technical program of a public high school who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in post graduate studies at an accredited college or university for post-graduate studies.
Application form & guidelines
Zenas Crane Fund for Student Aid
Deadline: May 15
Who can apply: graduates of Wahconah Regional High School or a vocational-technical program of a public high school who are enrolled in or planning to enroll in an accredited college or university.
Application form & guidelines for High School Seniors
Application form & guidelines for Undergraduate Students
Lenox Education Enrichment Foundation (LEEF)
Deadline: May 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Lenox Public Schools.
Application form & guidelines
Anne Sanford Legacy Fund
Deadline: May 15
Who can apply: women in the Berkshire Taconic area and the Pioneer Valley who will attend political or professional leadership training.
Application form & guidelines
June
Tabor Foundation Fund
Deadline: June 30
Who can apply: residents of Northeast Dutchess or Northwest Litchfield Counties who plan to undertake training in a field of healthcare and to seek employment in Northeast Dutchess or Northwest Connecticut.
Application form & guidelines
July
Region One Athletic Fund
Deadline: July 15, November 15 and March 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community
members for projects that enhance the physical and athletic experience of
students in the Region One District of Connecticut.
Application
form & guidelines (Individuals)
Application
form & guidelines (Group)
August
The Amy Clampitt Residency Program
Deadline: August 1
Who can apply: poets or literary scholars with professional standing in their fields as well as emerging poets/scholars
Application form & guidelines
Amy Clampitt website
Artist’s Resource Trust (A.R.T.) Fund
Deadline: August 1
Who can apply: individual visual artists living in New England and nonprofit organizations to purchase, exhibit or commission work by mature (aged 35 and older), mid-career New England visual artists living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont.
Application form & guidelines — Individuals
Application form & guidelines — Organizations
View artwork by 2009 individual grant recipients
September
Central Berkshire Fund
Deadline: September 1
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations, public agencies or community organizations that provide services to the residents of the communities of Becket, Cummington, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington and Windsor.
Application form & guidelines
Berkshire Environmental Endowment
Deadline: September 29
Who can apply: Berkshire County non-profit organizations, public agencies, schools or civic community entities for projects focused on water quality and related land issues.
Application form & guidelines
Lanesborough Initiative for Excellence (LIFE)
Deadline: September 30
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Lanesborough School District.
Application form & guidelines
October
Pittsfield Education Enrichment Fund
Deadline: October 6
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Pittsfield School District.
Application
form & guidelines
New Lebanon Arts and Humanities Endowment
Deadline: October 9
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance the arts and humanities experience of students and teachers in the New Lebanon School District.
Application form & guidelines
William J. & Margery S. Barrett Fund for Adams, Cheshire & Savoy
Deadline: October 15
Who can apply: nonprofit organizations, public agencies or community organizations that provide services to the residents of Adams, Cheshire or Savoy, MA.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Kinderhook Central School District Education Foundation Arts and Humanities Endowment Fund
Deadline: Oct 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and parents for projects that enhance and enrich the experience of the arts and humanities for students and teachers in the Ichabod Crane Central School District.
Application form & guidelines
Seven Towns Educational Enrichment Partnership (STEEP)
Deadline: Oct 15
Who can apply: students, school personnel and community members for projects that enhance and enrich the educational experience of the students and teachers in the Central Berkshire Regional School District.
Application form & guidelines
Taconic Hills Educational Enrichment Fund (The E Fund)
Deadline: October 15
Who can apply: students, school personnel and community members for initiatives that enrich the experience of all students in the Taconic Hills Central School District.
Application form & guidelines
Adams Cheshire Educational Partnership (ACE)
Deadline: October 31
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that sustain excellence in education in the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District.
Application form & guidelines
November
Wassermann-Streit Y'DIYAH Memorial Fund (Y'DIYAH)
Deadline: November 1 and April 1
Who can apply: individuals, schools, libraries and other nonprofit organizations in Berkshire, Columbia, Litchfield and Dutchess counties for projects and programs that encourage learning about Judaism with an aim to dispel prejudice, bias and intolerance while encouraging the love of learning.
Application form & guidelines
Previous awards
Armond M. Oppenheimer Environmental Fund
Deadline: November 15
Who can apply: Projects may be submitted by students, teachers, parents or nonprofit organizations for students in grades 7 through 12 in the towns encompassing Region 1 of Northwest Connecticut: Canaan, Falls Village, Cornwall, Sharon, Kent, Lakeville and Salisbury. Projects may take place on the school premises, within the curriculum or after school. Off-campus projects such as participating in bird counts, blazing nature trails, monitoring protected areas or other projects may also qualify for awards. Nonprofit organizations may also sponsor youth to carry out projects.
Application form & guidelines
Region One Athletic Fund
Deadline: November 15, March 15 and July 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community
members for projects that enhance the physical and athletic experience of
students in the Region One District of Connecticut.
Application
form & guidelines (Individuals)
Application
form & guidelines (Group)
Lee Education Enrichment Fund (LEE)
Deadline: November 15
Who can apply: students, teachers, administrators and community members for projects that enhance the educational experience of students and teachers in the Lee-Tyringham School District.
Application form & guidelines
December
Madeleine Beattie Wildes Fund
Deadline: December 31
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations for projects that help residents of Salisbury/Lakeville with limited resources to remain in their homes safely and comfortably.
Application form & guidelines
