Tree Boston has been selected as 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, Tree Boston will receive $40,000 over the next three years to support Boston residents through urban forestry.
Tree Boston recognizes the inequities of Boston’s tree canopy coverage and believes that trees are a vital component of developing, building, and maintaining healthy and vibrant communities. They work at the intersection of environmental justice, racial and social equity, public health, and climate change to advocate for a healthy and equitable urban forest in Boston.
“We greatly appreciate this support from the Cummings Foundation. This grant supports our mission to increase tree cover in low-canopy Boston neighborhoods, grow tree equity, and build awareness about the importance of urban trees,” said David Meshoulam, Executive Director. Grant funding will support tree planting and community engagement through the organization’s NeighborWoods program.
This year, 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,” said Vyriotes. “By providing increased, flexible funding, we hope to strengthen organizations’ long-term stability and help them respond to evolving community needs.”
This year’s 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.
