Call for the FY26 Grants application!!!
The Latino Equity Fund (LEF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only community fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Latinx community in Greater Boston and across the Commonwealth. Established in 2013, LEF serves as a permanent resource to uplift Latinx voices, foster cross-sector partnerships, and advance systemic change. The Fund works to mobilize Latinx residents, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders toward Nuestro Futuro—Our Future, promoting inclusive community growth, civic engagement, and equitable access to opportunities.
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Formerly known as the Latino Legacy Fund, LEF is a unique partnership between local Latino leaders and the Boston Foundation. It leverages its influence and platform to amplify diverse voices and perspectives within the Latinx community and beyond. The Fund focuses on creating greater and more equitable access to economic prosperity, education, and overall well-being throughout Greater Boston and the state, supporting initiatives that address inequities and strengthen community resources.
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Through its grantmaking, LEF aims to catalyze new partnerships, strengthen the capacity of Latinx-serving nonprofits, and respond to emerging community needs. The Fund prioritizes organizations that directly serve the Latinx community and those that have not previously received funding from TBF or LEF. By doing so, it seeks to broaden the reach of support, encourage innovation, and promote sustainable impact within local communities.
Priority consideration is given to nonprofits located in the 13 cities and towns identified as Latinx hubs: Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Salem, Lynn, Saugus, Lowell, Framingham, Waltham, Revere, Chelsea, Boston, and Brockton. Organizations outside these areas may also be considered if they propose programming or services in one or more of these communities, especially Lawrence and Boston, to ensure that resources reach high-priority areas.
Applicants currently receiving funding from other Boston Foundation programs are eligible to apply for the LEF FY26 grant. The Fund continues to focus on supporting Latinx-serving organizations and those new to LEF funding. Through these efforts, LEF ensures that resources are directed to communities where they can create meaningful, lasting change, foster leadership, and empower Latinx voices to shape solutions that advance equity, opportunity, and well-being.
Location:
United StatesBenefits
- For the FY26 grant cycle, LEF will award one-time $25,000 grants to 20 Latinx-serving nonprofit organizations within the Boston Foundation’s catchment area. LEF seeks proposals from community-based nonprofits advancing the well-being and economic mobility of Latinx residents in the following priority areas:
Basic needs:
- Housing stability
- Food security
- Health care access (including, but not limited to: disabilities assistance, HIV prevention, elder care, mental health and well-being, and substance use)
- Legal aid
Economic Mobility:
- Job readiness and career coaching
- ESOL and Language access
- Immigrant/refugee workforce integration
- Professional credentialing and certification
Eligibilities
The Latino Equity Fund will not typically consider requests for funding from the following:
- Endowments
- Medical research initiatives
- Private foundations
- Religious activities or organizations whose primary purpose is sectarian
- Political, legislative, or lobbying efforts
- Major capital campaigns
- Primary or secondary schools that charge significant tuition
- Large institutions already supported by substantial endowments
- Organizations that infringe on civil liberties or personal freedoms
- Entities not classified as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
- National or regional organizations—or their local affiliates—that do not have an independent EIN
- Organizations that discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, or other protected characteristics
- Municipalities (excluding public schools), except for the 13 Massachusetts communities where the LEF has been defined as a Latinx Hub.
Note: Prior grant recipients are welcome to submit a proposal for additional funding, unless they are current multi-year FY25 Community Partners.
Eligible Regions: State: Massachusetts, United States County: Essex County (MA), Middlesex County (MA), Norfolk County (MA), Plymouth County (MA), Suffolk County (MA)Application Process
- Go to the SmartSimple login page: https://bostonfoundation.smartsimple.com
- Use the “Forgot Password?” link and input your email when prompted. If you already have an
account in our system, you will receive an email at the address you provided with a link to reset
your password. Please try the password reset link even if you have never used our
SmartSimple system before. If you are already in our database, then you likely already have
an account. - Once you receive the password reset email, click on the link to create a new password and log
into the SmartSimple system. You can access open funding opportunities under the icon
“Funding Opportunities”. - If you do not receive an email after 10 minutes, then you may need to create a new account.
Please follow the below steps. If you are blocked from creating a new account, please reach out
to [email protected].
Application Deadline: November 3, 2025 (15 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
