East Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation was formed in May of 1997 to support community organizations that  work to address and support affordable housing, education, family and youth services and senior citizens. Since the Foundation’s incorporation, the Bank has contributed over $2.4 million to support these causes. Most grants funded are in the $1,000 to $5,000 range. While many donations are monetary, the Bank is also committed to partnering with our neighbors through volunteer efforts, collaborating on meeting community needs, providing educational resources and serving as a responsible corporate citizen. Giving is targeted to the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Assessment Area: Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Saugus, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Winchester, and Woburn.

In addition to charitable giving, East Cambridge Savings Bank employees volunteer hundreds of hours each year, serve on numerous nonprofit boards, and organize clothing, food, and toy drives. For the past five consecutive years, East Cambridge Savings Bank has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Charitable Contributors in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal.

Guidelines for Grant Applications

Requirements:

• Must be a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Organization or have Tax-Exempt status.
• Eligible organizations are those that support the Bank’s charitable giving missions (children and families, housing, education, and senior citizens).
• Must serve one or more of the following communities: Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Newton, Revere, Saugus, Somerville, Waltham, Watertown, Winchester, Woburn.
• The request must be program or project specific.
• Requests can be submitted by postal mail, email, or by use of the on-line request form found on the Bank’s website.
• All requests must include the organizations tax identification number.
• All requests must speak to how the grant from the Bank will make a direct and positive impact in one or more of the following areas: housing, education, children and families, and/or senior citizens.
• Charitable Foundation grant applications may be submitted one time per calendar year and applications will be reviewed twice per calendar year. The application deadlines are March 31 and September 30. Organizations that apply for a foundation grant by the March 31 deadline, but do not receive funding may not apply again for consideration for the September 30 deadline.

Requests submitted through an officer of the bank must include the officer’s recommendation.  Information needed to support the recommendation may include:

• Organization’s business relationship with the bank;
• Projected opportunities that may result from our support and participation;
• How the projected opportunities will be monitored;
• Demonstrate the level of commitment to take the lead in managing the relationship;
• Prepare a year-end report; provide additional options for support (expanding relationship to “partnership”);
• Ability to obtain other information from the organization as deemed necessary to sufficiently review the need and the community benefit.  Other information may include a summary of use of funds, description and history of program(s) and its benefits, budgets, other funding sources, etc.

The Bank’s Charitable Foundation grant review period has concluded for 2022. If you are interested in submitting a grant proposal, please check back in early 2023.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to us directly regarding your request, please contact Patricia McGovern at pmcgovern@ecsb.com or 617.551.2350.