NEWBURYPORT — Community Service of Newburyport was one of 150 nonprofits to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which awarded $35 million this year.
Chosen through a competitive review process that drew a record 959 applicants, the Newburyport-based organization will receive $75,000 over three years.
Community Service of Newburyport is a nonprofit human service organization serving Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury. its mission is to “provide resources to our neighbors in Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, who are facing financial struggles with the goal of helping them achieve economic stability, as well as fostering a sense of community and dignity.
Executive Director Ray Pillidge said his group is grateful for the support, calling it an endorsement of its approach.
“The Cummings Foundation’s support will help us continue to provide high-quality services to people in our service area, and the development of programming to increase our impact,” Pillidge said.
Pillidge added that with the cost of living continuing to spiral, demand for Community Service of Newburyport services is growing.
“Financial instability can happen to anyone. When someone loses their job, becomes injured, loses their transportation to work or is impacted with a major expense, the household budget can suddenly become unmanageable,” he said.
The Woburn-based Cummings Foundation increased its annual grant program from $30 million to $35 million and shifted to fully unrestricted funding, allowing recipients to direct grant dollars where they are needed most.
Foundation executive director and trustee Joyce Vyriotes noted that the changes reflect growing concerns among Greater Boston nonprofits about rising costs, increased demand for services, and sustained uncertainty around public funding.
“Nonprofit professionals are closest to the challenges facing their communities, making them best positioned to determine where and how new funds will drive the greatest impact,” Vyriotes said. “By providing increased, flexible funding, we hope to strengthen organizations’ long-term stability and help them respond to evolving community needs.”
The grant recipients represent a wide range of causes, including housing and food insecurity, education, workforce development, healthcare, mental health services, social justice, immigrant support and youth programming.
The annual grant program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties, as well as Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy and Wellesley.