Mini Grant Funding Opportunity

The UMass Memorial Medical Center Community Benefits Department is committed to the continued efforts of our partners and UMass Memorial Medical Center caregivers to improve the health outcomes of our community members, especially those most adversely affected due to historical and systemic oppression. To help meet this commitment, we offered a funding opportunity for local non-profit organizations to fund small projects and events for Fiscal Year 2026.

These funds aim to assist partner organizations in small capital projects, events, training offerings for internal capacity building, and other activities to support their mission. The funding opportunity was intended to assist local partners that serve community members within the UMass Memorial Medical Center Community Health Assessment (CHA) service area: Grafton, Shrewsbury, West Boylston and Worcester.

For questions regarding this program, please email the Community Benefits team.

As of March 18, 2026, all mini grant funds have been distributed and the application period is now closed.

Mini Grant Awards FY26

The Medical Center awarded a total of $30,000 in mini grant funds in FY26. Together, these mini grant recipients represent a diverse group of organizations committed to addressing social determinants of health and improving the well-being of individuals and families across Worcester County.
 
Through partnerships with community leaders and service providers, these initiatives will help strengthen access to resources, promote equity, and build healthier communities. Funds were awarded to the following organizations and projects:

Refugee Driving Education Program

Worcester Refugee Assistance Project: $5,000

The Refugee Driving Education Program helps refugee women and girls from Afghan, Syrian, and Palestinian backgrounds overcome transportation barriers that limit access to employment, education, and healthcare. Through partnerships with a local driving school, the program provides driver’s education and road test preparation for participants currently on a waiting list of 25 adults and 10 teens.

By June 2026, the initiative aims to sponsor driving lessons and testing for 5–6 refugee women, helping them gain independence and increase their engagement within the Worcester community. Early successes include supporting two sisters in developing driving skills that reduced their family’s transportation challenges and improved access to essential services.

Temporary Winter Shelter for Homeless Individuals: Life-Sustaining Supplies

Eliot Community Human Services: $5,000

Eliot Community Human Services is addressing urgent winter needs among approximately 100 unsheltered individuals in Worcester County. Through its PATH outreach team, comprised of clinicians, a recovery coach, and a peer specialist, the organization distributes life-sustaining supplies to people who are unable to access traditional shelter services.

Grant funding will support the purchase and distribution of 100 sleeping bags and 50 tents to help individuals stay protected during the coldest months. These supplies provide essential warmth, safety, and dignity for vulnerable residents facing harsh winter conditions through March 2026.

Youth Growing Organic in Worcester (YouthGROW)

Regional Environmental Council: $5,000

The YouthGROW program engages teens ages 14–18 from under-resourced neighborhoods, such as Main South and Bell Hill, in hands-on urban agriculture and community leadership development.

Participants receive paid work experience while learning sustainable farming, food justice, and professional skills such as communication and teamwork. The program prioritizes youth who are disconnected from traditional opportunities, including first-generation Americans and recent immigrants. Running year-round through June 2026, YouthGROW also provides mentorship and social-emotional support while helping increase access to fresh food in Worcester communities.

Guns 2 Gardens

UMass Memorial Medical Center’s Injury Prevention Center: $5,000

The Guns 2 Gardens initiative is a collaborative effort involving local police departments, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, and community partners to reduce firearm circulation and improve community safety.

Through a voluntary gun surrender program, residents can safely dispose of unwanted firearms in exchange for grocery gift cards. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of accidental injuries and gun violence while raising public awareness about firearm safety. The program will continue operating through September 2026 and provides a safe and accessible method for residents to remove weapons from their homes.

Refugee and Immigrant Youth Mental Health Program

Refugee and Immigrant Community Advocate: $5,000

The Refugee and Immigrant Community Advocate will launch a mental health initiative supporting 75 youth ages 13–22 from Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Middle East. The program addresses mental health challenges related to trauma, displacement, and cultural adjustment.

Through culturally responsive workshops, youth activities, and peer support, the initiative aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and provide accessible resources for young immigrants and refugees. Grant funding will support facilitators, educational materials, youth programming, and program coordination through August 2026.

VOICE OF CHANGE Studio: Engaging Immigrants in Health Literacy & Equity

Community Health Awareness Network Grows Equity: $2,500

VOICE OF CHANGE (VOC) Studio expands efforts to improve health literacy among low-income African immigrant communities in the Greater Worcester area. Through online “Community Conversations,” the program delivers culturally sensitive education on chronic disease prevention, health care navigation, and access to local health resources.

By building trust and engaging communities through grassroots outreach, the initiative seeks to reduce health disparities and empower immigrants with the knowledge needed to make informed health decisions. The project will run through July 2026.

Barbershop on Wheels – Sharp, Steady, and Connected

Senior Connection: $2,500

Senior Connection is launching “Barbershop on Wheels,” an innovative mobile outreach initiative designed to support men aged 55 and older in Worcester, Grafton, Shrewsbury, and West Boylston. The program uses a “stealth health” approach, bringing services into familiar community settings, to encourage men who might not seek traditional clinical care to participate in mental health screenings.

The project will train 10 community advocates and aims to increase mental health screenings among older men by 25 percent while establishing referral pathways to local health providers, including the UMass Memorial Health network. This initiative addresses a significant unmet need for mental health support among older men in the region.