Two Lincoln organizations receive grants

Two Lincoln nonprofits received grants totaling $11,000 from the Foundation for MetroWest, which doled out a total of $269,000 at a ceremony on December 11.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum ($5,000) and the Massachusetts Audubon Society ($6,000) were among the 40 nonprofits in33 cities and towns to receive funding, bringing the foundation’s total 2017 grant distribution to $1.5 million. The funds distributed through the Regional Competitive Grant Program focus on family support, arts and culture initiatives, and the environment. More than 95 grant applications were considered.

Grants to organizations in towns bordering Lincoln included $5,000 to 51 Walden, Inc., and $6,000 to OARS (both in Concord), $5,000 to Hope and Comfort and $6,000 to the Charles River Watershed Association (both in Weston), and $9,000 to Minuteman Senior Services in Bedford.

Nonprofit recipients will use the funding to strengthen local communities by supporting a wide range of programs and projects, including immigrant services, historic preservation projects, mental health counseling, workforce development, resources for the elderly and victims of domestic abuse, language and literacy programs, visual and performing arts, and clean waterway initiatives.

Earlier this year, Lincoln School students involved in the foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy program studied charitable organizations and chose two (Save a Dog and Lucy’s Love Bus) to receive grants from the Lincoln’s Ogden Codman Trust, which funded a three-year program for students who live and/or learn in Lincoln.

“Our grant-making is a significant source of funding for the MetroWest community, thanks to the generosity of our donors,” said Judith G. Salerno, the foundation’s executive director. “This year, we are honored to support a range of programs from immigrant services to music performances. As your community foundation, we continually strive to make the biggest impact as possible here at home.”

Established in 1995, the Foundation for MetroWest promotes philanthropy in the region, helps donors maximize the impact of their local giving, and serves as a resource for local nonprofits. Since inception, the foundation has granted more than $14 million to charitable organizations and currently stewards more than $18 million in charitable assets for current needs and future impact.