Please Note: The Foundation’s application process has changed.
The application is now on-line at
Grantmaking Priorities
The A.C. Ratshesky Foundation is committed to fostering economic and social justice for low- and moderate-income families residing in Boston and its surrounding communities. The Foundation gives priority consideration to programs from the following fields of interest: education and training, and arts and culture. Based on the original declaration of trust, support for programs that serve disadvantaged Jewish populations is also of special interest. However, these programs must also be aligned with one or more of the foundation’s other fields of interest.
Preference is given to small and medium-sized organizations. From time to time, the trustees solicit requests that fall outside the usual geographical or program limitations.
The Foundation makes grants for operating support, start-up support/seed money, programs, and organizational capacity building or technical assistance. Examples of areas of interest within its priority areas follow, but are not meant to be exclusive.
Education and Training
Education and training grants are made to help young people and adults learn skills, gain experience, and develop the self-confidence required to become active leaders and engaged citizens of their community. Priority will be given to programs that lead to economic self-sufficiency for immigrants, refugees, and underserved populations. Areas of interest include:
- programs and services that prepare low-skilled adults to support their families
- early childhood education
- programs that provide supplemental or alternate educational experiences through high school, including but not limited to:
- after-school academic enrichment programs
- mentoring programs for youth
- GED preparation and vocational training
Arts and Culture
Arts and culture grants will support efforts involving low-income communities. The foundation will give preference for projects seeking to provide arts-based academic enrichment programs for youth.
Foundation Policies
Geographic Area: Grants are restricted to organizations serving Metro Boston communities within Rt. 128 in Massachusetts.
Organization Eligibility: Organizations must be designated as tax exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code and are classified as “not a private foundation” under Section 509 (a) of the Code.
Grant Range: Grants range from $5,000 to $10,000.
Frequency of Application: The Foundation will consider only one application from an organization in any calendar year.
Reporting Requirements: All organizations must include detailed, written progress reports with each subsequent application to the foundation. Organizations receiving final grants should submit reports within 90 days of completion of the grant period. Grantees should use the Associated Grant Makers Common Reporting Format provided with the on-line application form.
Reapplying: Organizations whose requests for funding have been denied are expected to wait one full year before being reconsidered for support.
Exclusions: The Foundation does not normally provide grants for:
- individuals
- national organizations
- capital campaigns, endowments or fundraising activities
- conferences
- websites
- research
- municipal, state, or federal agencies
- religious instruction or worship services
- health programs
- public schools, including pilot and charter schools
All applicants must submit applications on-line.
Please Refer to the Grant Application User Guide when submitting your proposal.
Applicants reapplying for continued support are required to submit an interim progress report with all requests for funding.
Proposal Deadlines: The Foundation has set application deadlines as follows:
- October 1 for a January board meeting
- February 1 for a May meeting
- July 1 for an October board meeting (This deadline has been extended to July 15 to accommodate the foundation’s transition to the new on-line application process)
Please note that if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, proposals are due in the office the following business day. All applications for summer programs are due on February 1 for a May meeting. All deadlines are received-by dates, not postmarked dates.
Governance
The A.C. Ratshesky Foundation Board currently includes nine trustees, and the Board has full authority and discretion to act on all matters brought before it. The Board customarily meets three times each year.
The trustees review grant applications that meet the Foundation’s criteria for consideration prior to each meeting. All decisions regarding Foundation grants are subject to a majority vote of the trustees.
The trustees receive no compensation, nor are they reimbursed for expenses incurred in the discharge of their responsibilities to the Foundation.
Foundation Officers and Trustees
Timothy Morse, President
Laurie Morse Sprague, Vice President
Linda G. Ortwein, Treasurer
Rebecca Morse Steinfield, Secretary
Alan R. Morse, Jr., Trustee
Eric R. Morse, Trustee
Jennifer Morse, Trustee
Craig Levy, Trustee
Roberta Morse Levy, Trustee
Asset Manager and Custodian
Capital Guardian Group
The Investment Fund for Foundations
Karpus Investment Management