Merck Family Fund launches a new Gateway Cities program in Holyoke and New Bedford.
Beginning in 2025, MFF will center place-based work in the areas of environment, health equity, transportation, and housing, layering on a systems based approach that emphasizes power building and deep collaboration with partners and colleagues. Our goals are to begin to dismantle long-standing structural inequities while addressing the urgent crises of climate and democracy.
Priority Communities
MFF’s strategy prioritizes communities most affected by racism, climate change and underrepresentation in the democratic process. In Massachusetts, MFF will focus on Gateway Cities and state-level systems change that tackles critical issues of civic engagement and climate resilience. In New York, MFF will support effective coalitions that address environmental justice and climate change.
Prioritizing Communities
MFF’s new strategy prioritizes communities most affected by racism, climate change and underrepresentation in the democratic process. We adopt a systems-based approach that emphasizes power-building and deeper collaboration with partners and colleagues. The programs will continue to evolve through 2025.
MFF will support:
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Place based, multi-issue, power building to achieve system change.
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Robust civic engagement infrastructure in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
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Effective coalitions for climate and environmental justice.
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Land justice and sovereignty through urban agriculture.
Grant proposals by invitation only at this time
At the urging of our partners, we have streamlined the application and reporting processes to reduce the administrative burden for everyone.
Grant proposals will be considered by invitation only at this time. Please do not expect a response to unsolicited inquiries.