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The Massachusetts Nonprofit Collaboration Fund

An innovative, unique collaborative funding initiative

supporting sustained nonprofit collaboration across Massachusetts

www.masscollab.org | Launched October 1, 2025

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Nonprofits matter.

Sustained collaboration is a path to long-term strength and greater impact.

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Why Collaboration — And Why Now

42K

Nonprofits

in Massachusetts

A fragmented sector with enormous untapped potential for sustained collaboration

550K

Employees in

the Sector

17% of the MA workforce — making this one of the state's largest employers

↓$

Declining

Revenue Streams

Federal cuts, COVID cliff, and rising demand are straining organizations statewide

Well-planned, sustained collaborations between nonprofits can increase impact, expand capacity, and help organizations better serve their communities.

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MassCollab was formed following initial conversations in late 2023 with Jeff Feingold, a long-time social entrepreneur and philanthropist, along with SeaChange Capital and The Lodestar Foundation. The Barr Foundation joined the collaborative in 2024. Since that time, more than 15 additional funders from across the state have joined MassCollab.

MassCollab was modeled after other successful collaborative funding initiatives across

the country that are part of the Sustained Collaboration Network.

MassCollab is a pooled fund, governed by a group of funders that make up the Governance Committee. This committee votes on grant proposals and works together to determine the direction of the fund.

Jennie Segel, the Initiative Manager, is the contact person and staff for the fund. This position maintains strict confidentiality and works with you throughout the process.

Introduction and History of MassCollab

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MassCollab Funders

Cyrus Daftary

The Cummings Foundation

Eastern Bank Foundation

Jeff Feingold

Landry Family Foundation

MassMutual Foundation

SeaChange Capital

The ALKU Foundation

The Barr Foundation

The Boston Foundation

The Devonshire Foundation

The Irene E. and George A. Davis

Foundation

The Jaffe Family Fund

The Klarman Family Foundation

The Lodestar Foundation

The Shapiro Foundation

The Trefler Foundation

The Manton Foundation

Others

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Strong Momentum and Demand

Since launching October 1, 2025

~20

Funders

Individuals, family foundations

& corporate foundations

$2M+

Total Funding

Total commitments secured from funders

through 2028

Number of Statewide Grants Approved in 2026 YTD

Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement, Volunteerism, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing

$275K

Total of Grants Approved in 2026 YTD

Awarded to support sustained collaboration

exploration & implementation

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Four Types of Formal Collaboration

Associations and Networks

(Includes coalitions, collaboratives)

Joint �Programs

Shared Support Functions

Mergers

(Includes affiliate and subsidiary structures)

Working together over an extended period of time to accomplish shared goals
May or may not have a formal agreement
Governance remains separate

Working with another organization to deliver an integrated program over an extended period of time
Formal agreement
Governance remains separate

Sharing support functions (like HR, IT, or accounting)
One organization contracts with another or orgs jointly hire a third party or organizations jointly form a new entity
Formal agreement
Governance remains separate

Legally linking the governance of two organizations by

Integrating into one entity, or
Establishing an affiliate or subsidiary, or
Creating a new entity

Governance linked

Less

Level of integration

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Goal is to create a catalytic and transformative collaborative funding initiative that funds strategic and sustained collaboration between two or more nonprofits.

Grants fund third-party costs specifically related to exploration and implementation activities (ie consulting, legal advice, integration of systems, processes and more).

Governance Committee is made up of funders who vote on each project.

MassCollab grants can fund anywhere on the spectrum of collaboration. These are meant to be permanent structural changes to at least one of the organizations.

We fund two types of grants: Exploration and Implementation

Overview:

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The Basics:

Sector-plural (any sector)
Any size organization (at least one must be 501c3)
Grants are made to 2 or more organizations
Statewide in Massachusetts

Range in grant size

Exploration up to $50,000
Implementation up to $75,000
Grant size is based on technical assistance estimates/proposals
Don’t typically fund the entire request

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How MassCollab Grants Work

Grants fund the specific, measurable costs of collaboration.

Exploration Grants

Support facilitation and technical expertise to help potential nonprofit partners explore sustained collaboration including:

Facilitation & consulting fees
Legal and financial assessment
Readiness & compatibility evaluation
Board and leadership engagement

Implementation Grants

Offset the real costs of executing a collaboration plan once partners have committed to moving forward including:

Legal structuring and documentation
HR and technology integration
Marketing and rebranding
Operational transition support

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The Initiative Manager is your contact, and maintains confidentiality throughout the process. The goal is a safe space.

Both Executive Directors and representatives of the board should be at a meeting with Initiative Manager before an application is sent.

Written application will be sent to nonprofit partners after a discussion with the Initiative Manager to make sure the project is aligned with MassCollab’s funding guidelines.

We have a rolling application cycle and monthly voting by Governance Committee (funders). Meant to be fast moving and not meant to be a foundation.

Process: