The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation

2025 Guidance for Applicants

The AV Roy Foundation has historically supported a broad range of organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, churches, education, environmental education, food access, health, land trusts, museums, and social services. In 2025, in an effort to ensure that applications to the Foundation closely match current giving priorities, the Trustees will give priority to applications focused on the following:

Population: Priority will be given to applicants supporting immigrants and refugees, Indigenous communities, youth from low income backgrounds, and the elderly.

Geography: Greater Boston, with priority to regions within Route 128, and underserved rural and urban communities in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The Foundation does not fund organizations or programs in Central or Western Massachusetts or on Cape Cod.

The Foundation will consider applicants that meet the criteria above and are working in the following issue and program areas:

1. Environment: Requests focused on land conservation, in particular projects close to completion and projects resulting in easements held by accredited land trusts; environmental education; and climate change. If you are not an accredited land trust your application should indicate how you adhere to LTA standards and practices.
2. Elderly: Initiatives related to dignity and independence, health, arts, and recreation.
3. Health: Hospice and Home Health Care
4. Health and Welfare: Food security, housing, and basic human needs
5. Arts and Culture: Arts access and education for the populations noted above, and for historic preservation.
6. Education: Priority within Education is for schools serving youth from low income backgrounds, especially independent and religious schools. General youth development programs must work primarily with immigrant or Indigenous students, be affiliated with churches, or have an environmental or arts focus to be considered.
7. Churches providing basic needs support and other social services, as well as capital needs for facilities or historic preservation.

Grants typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. In 2024, the average grant was just under $5,000.

Deadlines

Applications to The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation are due annually on September 30 at 5pm EST.

Please note if the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the application is due by 5pm EST on the following business day. The application portal will be open 4 to 6 weeks prior to the posted deadline.

Application Procedures

Carefully read the guidelines on this page to determine eligibility and fit with the Fund’s current priorities.

The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation accepts the Philanthropy Massachusetts Common Grant Application Language. Applications must be submitted via the GoApply online portal linked below. Please review this guide on how to register. Click here for a password assistance guide. You will receive confirmation of your submission. Please direct questions related to the portal to Senior Grants Manager Rita Goldberg at rgoldberg@hembar.com.

The Foundation’s advisors will contact the applicant if they have questions or require further information.

Organizations that receive funding will be notified if a report is required. In most cases, the Trustees accept the Common Report Form from Philanthropy Massachusetts.