Southborough Community Fund

What We Support

in grants for Education
$ 0
in grants for Health & Human Services
$ 0
in grants for Arts & Culture
$ 0
in grants for the Environment
$ 0

SCF accepts grant applications from registered nonprofits and town organizations operating in Southborough. The fund supports programs that increase volunteerism and community involvement, strengthen civic engagement, and emphasize collaborations that enhance community initiatives.

SCF accepts grant applications from registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, organizations with an eligible fiscal sponsor, and town agencies serving Southborough. At this time, SCF will not accept applications from youth sports programs, as they are currently well-funded and stewarded.

To support families, youth, seniors, and underserved populations in creating pathways that improve the overall quality of life.

To support the cultural vitality of the Southborough community, including the visual arts, the performing arts, and historic preservation.

To support programs that preserve the natural resources of Southborough and to increase environmental awareness, education, and engagement.

To support and continue SEF’s mission of fostering educational excellence by providing funding for innovative programs and enhance the educational experience of students in Southborough Public Schools.

To support increased volunteerism and community involvement, to strengthen civic engagement, and to emphasize collaboration that enhances community initiatives.

We are so appreciative of SCF fully funding our Senior Center’s Caregiver Meals program. We’re frequently told that our volunteers are the only people caregivers get to see unless it’s a medical emergency, and the meals make them feel like they haven’t been forgotten. Thank you!

The Southborough Community Fund has played a critical role in sparking educational innovation through its generous grant program. As a result, educators have piloted new programs, techniques, and technologies to better support students’ learning. The SCF has been a tremendous partner and has made a positive impact on helping educate, inspire, and challenge all students.

Grant Opportunities

As a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, the Southborough Community Fund (SCF) is a source of funding to support community needs and opportunities in the areas of Human Services, Arts & Culture, Environment, Community Building, and Education, and provides ways for residents to make an immediate impact in their community. The SCF, with the leadership, expertise and support of the Foundation, will provide a source of funding exclusively for the town of Southborough. It is the Community Board’s goal to fund projects that bring innovative thinking to big issues and small ones – for the benefit of Southborough.

2024 Grant Guidelines

Grant Partners

SCF Community Grant Program

Through its annual Community Grant program, SCF supports organizations that create solutions for current needs and implement new ideas that will improve Southborough for the future.

Focus areas: Human Services, Arts & Culture, Environment, and Community building.

To learn more, email [email protected] 

SCF Education Grant Program

One-time grants to enhance the core and supplemental parts of the Southborough Public Schools’ curricula, integrate new educational paradigms, and create richer learning experiences for Southborough students. The goal of the grant program is to fund educational projects that are innovative, relevant, creative, effective, and inspiring.

Applications open in 2025

SCF Education Mini-Grant Program

Southborough Community Fund will accept education mini-grant requests on a rolling basis for initiatives or programs that total $1000 or less. Mini-grant requests must enhance the educational experience of students in Southborough Public Schools.

SCF will give grant proposal priority to:

  • Innovative and creative ideas
  • Ideas that will significantly enhance the educational experience or process
  • Ideas that will benefit present and future students
  • Ideas that will make a direct and immediate impact on a wide range of students
  • Programs that are not typically funded by school budget (i.e. books and electronic devices)

To apply for a mini-grant ($1000 or less), please fill out this web form. Before applying, applicants should consider researching related pricing for the request and seeking administration / leadership approval for the request. Applicants should be able to indicate the school(s) or student groups impacted by the project / initiative, a description and intended goals of the request, and the approximate number of students that would be impacted.

Community Board

Chair

Beth is currently retired after being in Finance and Operations at several companies. Her last position was COO/CFO of Stone Temple Consulting, a digital marketing agency, which was sold to Perficient Digital in July 2018.  She is currently the treasurer of The Lenny Zakim Fund and works closely with Bethany Hill Place.  In addition to her volunteer work, she does some financial consulting in the nonprofit sector and teaches weaving.  Beth and her husband Eric have lived in Southborough for the past 27 years and have raised three children.

Founder

Tom recently moved into a Senior Advisor role at Battery Ventures after serving twelve years as Managing Partner responsible for overseeing all investment and operational aspects of the venture capital partnership. He has served as a board member for dozens of companies in the communications, software and ecommerce sectors.

A former executive in sales, Andrew attended Boston College and graduated from Bentley College with a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Accounting. He joined the real estate industry in 1990, where he has developed a reputation for providing outstanding customer service almost exclusively working by personal referrals from past clients. In September 2004, Andrew parlayed his entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for the business by forming his own real estate company, Andrew Abu REALTORS. Andrew maintains top five status consistently in our county, but he measures his success by the trust and confidence that his clients place in his company. Andrew is involved with his community as follows:

Sujal Bhalakia is an operations executive in the life-science field with extensive leadership experience in the medical device, pharma and biotech companies. Sujal has served on the board of Town of Southborough Economic Development Committee and is currently an Advisory Board member for the biomedical engineering program at UMass Lowell. Sujal and his family have lived in Southborough since 2004.

Jason Esten has held the position of Vice-President Connection at Global-Serve since 2019. Jason has over 18 years of inside high-tech sales management expertise.  A resident of Southborough, he has volunteered his time as a Coach, for Northborough/Southborough Lacrosse as well as served on the Board of Directors, Membership Chair, at the Framingham Country Club.

Karen and her husband met at Boston College on the rowing team and settled down in Southborough soon after they got married. They have lived in Southborough since 2001 where they have raised their two children, Jack and Hadley. Karen works as a Realtor with Andrew Abu Realtors and finds it very rewarding helping people navigate the complex transactions of buying and selling real estate. Karen is also very active in the community leading her daughter’s girl scout troop and volunteering on various town committees.  She is a member of the Economic Development Committee, Southborough Youth Commission and The Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission.  

Emily Gifford moved to Southborough in 2010 when she began her teaching career at Fay School. During her time at Fay, she taught Latin, Ancient History, Chinese, English as a Second Language, and Algebra. She served as Class Dean, Faculty Advisor of Community Connections (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum), and Director of FaySummer’s English Immersion Program. In addition, Emily organized student service events and international learning experiences aimed at encouraging global citizenship. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and master’s degree from Boston College.

With over 25 years of financial leadership and management experience, Kevin leads Third Rock Venture’s non-investment activities, which include running internal operations and overseeing the firm’s finance, legal, communications and administrative functions. He also leads fundraising activities and manages the firm’s limited partner relationships. Kevin earned a BA in history from Brandeis University and an MBA at Bentley University. He is incredibly proud of his wife and two children, and feels grateful to be part of a wonderful extended family.

Cathy currently heads the Southborough Organization of Schools and volunteers with the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. She managed the second floor of the Boston Lord and Taylor store before moving to Southborough. Additionally, she has worked with Kindergroup, Smiling Kids, Saint Matthews Church and Southborough Youth Soccer.

Andrea grew up in Southborough and returned with her husband Tim to raise their children, Elizabeth and Teddy.  A graduate of the University of Vermont, she is the owner and founder of Andrea Thomas Interiors, a residential interior design company.  Andrea plays an active role in the Southborough schools and Southborough Kindergroup.

Amy Yazdani has been a member of the board of the Southborough Education Foundation for seven years, and president for the past five. Amy has also recently been elected to the Southborough Library Board of Trustees after serving as an appointed trustee for a partial term. As an avid lover of books and education, she enjoys learning the details of running a library, a municipal facility and working to keep the library productive, inclusive, evolving and supportive of the community. Amy has been a resident of Southborough for almost a decade. She has been a member of the Friends of Southborough Library for five years, four of those as Vice President.

Donate to Southborough

You may make a gift to the Southborough Community Fund by check, stock, mutual fund or real estate, or through a donor advised fund or private foundation. The staff at Community Foundation for MetroWest can work with you and your financial adviser to review various planned giving options. All gifts qualify for the maximum tax benefit offered.

Transfer Securities

Please contact us via email or call (508) 647 – 2260 if you are interested in transferring assets.

If you have any questions or would like more information about making your gift, please call us at (508) 647 – 2260 or email us and we’ll be happy to help you.

Thank you! We appreciate your support.