Grants and Sponsorship

To be considered for grant funding organizations must: 

• Be recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Organizations that are not 501©3 are not eligible.  
• Apply for a program or project that meets one of the foundation’s small business, financial inclusion and housing focus areas. 
• Submit a completed Foundation Grant Application through our online system and provide such other documentation as may be requested. Please note that the Berkshire Bank Foundation will not respond to written inquiries seeking financial support. 

Any organization that has received either a charitable grant or bank sponsorship within the current calendar year is not eligible for another contribution until the following calendar year. 

All grant applicants must be located in or primarily serve one of the following communities (and/or its affiliates):

Massachusetts

• Berkshire County, MA 
• Hampden County, MA 
• Hampshire County, MA 
• Franklin County, MA 
• Worcester County, MA 
• Middlesex County, MA 
• Essex County, MA 
• Suffolk County, MA 
• Norfolk County, MA

New York

• Albany County, NY 
• Schenectady County, NY 
• Saratoga County, NY 
• Washington County, NY 
• Columbia County, NY 
• Warren County, NY 
• Rensselaer County, NY 
• Fulton County, NY 
• Montgomery County, NY 
• Onondaga County, NY 
• Oneida County, NY 
• Herkimer County, NY

Connecticut 

• Hartford County, CT 
• Tolland County, CT 
• New London County, CT 
• Windham County, CT 
• New Haven County, CT

Rhode Island

• Washington County, RI 
• Newport County, RI 
• Providence County, RI 
• Kent County, RI

Vermont

• Bennington County, VT 
• Rutland County, VT 
• Windsor County, VT

Within our three focus areas — small business, financial inclusion and housing — our foundation gives priority to the following types of requests: 

• Programs and projects whose beneficiaries include more than 51% low- and moderate-income individuals. 
• Programs and projects that offer Berkshire Bank employees opportunities to be involved through volunteer efforts and board service. 
• Programs and projects with a demonstrated, tangible record of success. 

Berkshire Bank Foundation does not support the following types of organizations and requests, even if the applicant meets all other Grant Eligibility Criteria: 

• Fraternal, labor and political organizations, including fraternal orders of police and firefighters. 
• Lobbying groups. 
• Athletic teams or social groups. 
• Private foundations. 
• Intermediary organizations that raise and distribute funds in their own name. 
• Annual memberships and annual appeals. 
• Underwriting support for conferences or seminars. 
• General operating support. 
• Individuals. 
• Capital Campaigns.

The foundation reviews applications on rolling basis with decisions are generally communicated within two months. Applications are reviewed by foundation staff and regional foundation grant committees. Large grants, although rare, may also require approval of the foundation's Board of Trustees. 

Funding decisions are based on a variety of factors including available resources and the degree to which proposals meet Berkshire Bank Foundation's charitable giving focus areas. We also look closely at employee involvement when considering requests. 

Berkshire Bank Foundation, in partnership with Blackbaud GrantsConnect and YourCause, offers an online application process that helps determine if applications meet basic eligibility requirements and to collect all the information needed to make a timely decision.  

Applicants must retrieve organizational information and create an account with NPO Connect, a free portal that offers nonprofits the opportunity to develop a profile, clearly communicating the organization’s presence, mission and goals.  A step-by-step registration guide may be found here.

The NPO Connect account also allows organizations to access YourCause’s Global Good Network of over 8 million prospective donors and volunteers. Once applicants create their profile, they will not have to do so for subsequent applications unless they want to update their information. 

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and notify applicants in the most efficient manner, Berkshire Bank uses electronic communications to notify applicants that their application was received, processed, and if it was ultimately approved or declined. 

Questions about the application process can be sent to [email protected]

To be considered for sponsorship funds organizations must:

• Be located in or primarily provide service in Berkshire Bank's service areas.
• Submit a completed online application and provide documentation as may be requested.
• Response date deadline must be 60 or more days from your sponsorship deadline, in order to ensure that we can maximize all marketing benefits.

Berkshire Bank will consider no more than one application per year from any single organization. Any organization that has received either a charitable grant or a bank sponsorship within the current calendar year is not eligible for another contribution until the following calendar year. This guideline is intended to help encourage and ensure that agencies and organizations remain entrepreneurial in their efforts to obtain funds from a variety of funding sources. 

Berkshire Bank gives greater consideration to organizations that:

• Offer assistance and/or collaborate with existing community resources that offer programs supporting diversity, inclusion and belonging.
• Evaluate on measures that ensure mutually beneficial and equitable results.
• Services/events that occur within and benefit communities located in the Berkshire Bank footprint. This includes: Berkshire County, Pioneer Valley, Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York’s Capital District and Central New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Examples of recently sponsored programs and/or organizations include:

• Events supporting diversity, inclusion & belonging
• Regional events with proceeds being donated to charitable research nonprofits
• Financial literacy programs
• Mentoring programs for at-risk students and youth
• Cultural enrichment programs in schools and museums
• Early childhood development educational programs, library programs, professional skills programs

Berkshire Bank does not generally support the following:

• Organizations outside of our defined market area
• Fraternal, labor and political organizations, including fraternal orders of police and firefighters
• Lobbying groups
• Religious organizations
• Private foundations
• Intermediary organizations that raise and distribute funds in their own name
• Annual memberships and appeals
• Pass-through donations
• Endowments/Capital campaigns
• Underwriting support for conferences or seminars or travel expenses
• Camperships
• Scholarship Programs
• National health related organizations
• Advertising, fundraising or incentive programs
• Individuals
• Third-party solicitations
• Organizations with limited availability to general public
• Adult clubs, teams and/or associations

Completed online applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Applicants will be notified via email of request approval or denial.

Funding decisions are based on available resources and the degree to which proposals meet Berkshire Bank’s sponsorship priorities and funding criteria.

Berkshire Bank Sponsorships, in partnership with Blackbaud GrantsConnect and YourCause, offers an online application process, which will help determine basic eligibility requirements and collect all the information needed to make a timely decision.

All applicants, including those that are not 501c3 nonprofits, must retrieve organizational information and create an account with NPO Connect, a free portal that offers the opportunity to develop a profile, clearly communicating the organization’s presence, mission and goals. A step-by-step registration guide may be found here.

The NPO Connect account also allows organizations to access YourCause’s Global Good Network of over 8 million prospective donors and volunteers. Once applicants create their profile, they will not have to do so for subsequent applications unless they want to update their information.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly and notify applicants in the most efficient manner, Berkshire Bank uses electronic communications to notify applicants that their application was received, processed, and if it was ultimately approved or declined.

Questions about the application process can be sent to [email protected].