Jane's Trust  
 

I. Overview

Jane’s Trust made 73 new grants in 2008.  When combined with payment for previously approved grants, the Trust awarded a total of $9,025,061.62 in grants in 2008.  The majority of grants were for one or two years and the average size of new grants awarded was $127,000.  In addition to making grants across the Trust’s four program areas, the Trustees made several discretionary grants for memberships.  More information on the grants in each program is listed below, along with a full grants list.

As in the past, the Trustees considered several factors when awarding grants. They are particularly interested in promoting access to programs, services and opportunities for underserved populations.  The Trustees apply a very broad definition of underserved, taking into account geography, economics, demographics and other factors which prohibit individuals in urban and rural areas from accessing appropriate opportunities.   The Trustees pay close attention to the timing of requests, preferring to make grants which provide core support and address long-term sustainability. As a regional funder, the Trustees also assess the potential impact of a grant from Jane’s Trust relative to other, state-based funders and donors.  The Trustees like to preserve flexibility and the ability to respond to emergency situations or pressing issues, when appropriate.

This year marked the fifth anniversary of Jane’s Trust’s grantmaking, and the Trustees have reflected back on their grantmaking to date.  The timing of this reexamination was appropriate given the current world economic situation and its impact on funders and nonprofit organizations.   The Trustees have identified several criteria of importance to them which will be used to review and make grants in 2009.

• The Trustees of Jane’s Trust have reaffirmed the Trust’s core focus on access for underserved populations across the program areas of interest to the Trustees.  Projects which address basic human needs will continue to be important.
• The Trust will continue to make operating, endowment, program and capital grants.  However, in the current economic climate, the Trustees have expressed a preference for operating or program support. 
• The Trustees reaffirmed their commitment to the geographical areas served by the Trust, although they have amended their guidelines slightly to indicate a preference for Boston and eastern Massachusetts when considering grants from Massachusetts and a preference for organizations and projects in southwest and central Florida when considering requests from Florida.
•  The Trustees continue to be interested in applications that are multidisciplinary across the Trust’s program areas of interest (arts & culture, education, health & welfare, and environment), and those that involve collaboration.
• While the Trust’s waiting period for applicants who have been denied has not changed, the Trustees may from time to time invite an organization to reapply outside of those restrictions, in order to preserve the Trust’s flexibility to address needs in a particular area or community. 
• Challenge grants and/or grants which provide additional leverage from other donors will continue to be an important grant making tool.

A. Emergency Assistance Grants

Recognizing the significant basic needs facing communities in Jane’s Trust’s geographic areas of interests, in 2008 the Trustees made grants to several organizations and special projects designed to alleviate pressing needs for emergency food, fuel and housing assistance in Massachusetts, northern New England and Florida. Those grants are listed under Special Projects in the grants list.

B. Arts & Culture

Jane’s Trust awarded $1,105,000 in single and multi-year grants to eight cultural organizations in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont for capital, endowment, operating and program support. Four of the grants were for multi-year support. All of these organizations include service to underserved audiences as a core part of their mission. Grantees include organizations in urban and rural areas focused on the performing arts, historic preservation and community arts education.

The Trustees remain committed to supporting the arts. In order to ensure the continued impact of its gifts, the Trustees have expressed a strong preference for:

• Organizations and programs which include a significant focus on underserved audiences. All requests will be reviewed based on their provision of programs and services for diverse audiences and collaborations serving communities or populations which would not otherwise have access to the arts.
• Programs or organizations which collaborate with educational, health and human service providers.

C. Education

In 2008, the Trustees made nine new education grants totaling $1,800,000. All but one of the grants was for multiple year support, and in addition to program support, included one capital and two operating grants. These grants all address the issue of educational access for underserved populations, a significant area of interest for the Trustees, focusing on early learning, school achievement, college access and retention, quality out-of-school time programs, and the needs of women and girls.

D. Environment

In 2008, Jane’s Trust made eleven environment grants totaling $1,890,000 in single and multi-year support.  Most of those grants were two year grants and included operating, program, capital and endowment grants. These grants included support for land protection, water conservation, trail access, habitat protection, environmental education, marine resources, renewable energy and reuse. All of the projects focus on underserved communities and persistent threats to the natural and built environment. Many of the projects integrate economic, ecological and environmental equality concerns. While land conservation remains an important issue, especially in northern New England, the Trustees have provided considerable support for these efforts over the last five years and may have a less focused interest in land conservation in 2009.

E. Health & Welfare

In 2008, the Trustees approved eight new health and welfare grants, totaling $2,080,000.  The grants are primarily two year grants. The grants include a mix of support for core operations, program, endowment and capital in Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine. The grants address homelessness prevention and services, food security and nutrition, domestic violence, emergency shelter, medical education, and reproductive health and rights. Recognizing the major economic developments affecting low and moderate-income people, the Trustees continue to have significant interest in providing support for organization’s providing direct services to individuals, vulnerable families, and communities in need, including food, housing and other basic needs.

F. Trustee Discretionary Grants

Each year the Trustees of Jane’s Trust are able to invite a small number of organizations to apply and receive funding. General applications for this program are not accepted. Grants are made within each of the Trust’s program and geographic areas of focus. Trustee discretionary grants are noted with an asterisk in each program area.