Applications Open for the Berklee Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant

Applications are being accepted for the Berklee Fenway Neighborhood Improvement grant program, which was launched in 2023, and is funded solely by the college and administered by the Community and Government Relations Department, as part of the institution’s ongoing commitment to the Fenway neighborhood. 

“Berklee is thrilled to support impactful community projects that not only enrich the Fenway neighborhood but also foster inclusivity, collaboration, and a stronger sense of connection for everyone who lives, works, and visits here,” said Kaitlin Passafaro, Berklee's vice president of community and government relations and the president's chief of staff.

Boston nonprofits are eligible to apply for funding to support community-based projects and initiatives that contribute to the vibrancy and quality of life in the Fenway neighborhood. Organizations or individuals sponsored by an organization, must be located in or serve the Fenway or Back Bay, and must be a nonprofit or fiscally sponsored by a Fenway nonprofit.

The projects and/or programs will need to meet the following three criteria:

• Occur within and enhance the Fenway neighborhood
• Should be publicly accessible and free
• Provide a public benefit or serve a public need

Earlier this year, five Boston-based nonprofits were awarded grants from the inaugural Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant program. A total of $25,000 was distributed amongst the following organizations: Kaji Aso Studio, Friends of Ramler Park, Fenway Civic Association, Fenway CDC/Community Center, and Charlesgate Alliance. The grants allowed for a range of activities such as Japanese cultural programming at Symphony Park, a Fenway Free Market, and tree plantings in the Fenway.

Applications will be accepted through December 6 here. Grants will be awarded in January 2025.