Through generous state and federal funding, including the support of AmeriCorps' Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), the Massachusetts Service Alliance has successfully leveraged tens of thousands of volunteers by supporting the volunteer sector through trainings, funding opportunities, and resources. In 2022 fiscal year alone, MSA directly empowered 6,495 volunteers who contributed 96,130 hours — an estimated value of $2,782,355.
With over 30 years of experience supporting Massachusetts nonprofits, MSA has a wealth of state-specific knowledge. As a result, MSA is uniquely suited as an organization to spread out funding geographically and across issue areas, striving to ensure all communities are uplifted.
The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) is pleased to announce the Growth & Investment in Volunteers (GIV) Initiative, a funding and capacity-building opportunity designed to help Massachusetts organizations strengthen volunteer engagement. Selected organizations will receive a matching grant of up to $20,000, along with cohort-based training and technical assistance focused on practical skill-building, peer learning, and program development.
Key Dates
Informational Session: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Application Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Applicants Notified: Early November 2026
Grant Period: December 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Application Materials:
GIV Request for Proposals
Budget Workbook #1 – Organizations with NICRA or De Minimis Rate
Budget Workbook #2 – All Other Organizations
Application
MSA is looking for Community Reviewers to help evaluate applications from organizations seeking to partner with the Massachusetts Service Alliance.
As a reviewer, you’ll:
Read and evaluate grant applications
Provide thoughtful feedback
Join a virtual discussion with fellow reviewers
Help identify and prioritize critical community needs across Massachusetts
You’ll also gain hands-on experience reviewing grant applications, insight into community-based organizations and programs, and the opportunity to connect with others who care about service and volunteerism.
No single background is required, we’re looking for a diverse range of experiences and perspectives.
Apply by September 1, 2026
Learn more and apply here!
GIV is expected to be a highly competitive process. A careful review of the Grant Overview section of the RFP will help organizations assess whether GIV can meaningfully advance their volunteer engagement work. We also encourage applicants to read the RFP closely to ensure they can fully participate and meet all requirements.
Organizations should request the amount needed to successfully implement their proposed work, up to $20,000. Applying for the full amount or for a smaller amount does not provide an advantage or disadvantage in the review process.
GIV is not a planning grant. It is designed to support nonprofits and Volunteer Connector Organizations in leveraging evidence-based volunteer engagement practices to more effectively recruit, manage, and retain volunteers, or to strengthen or expand existing programs.
Different organizations and communities rely on different volunteer models. GIV is open to all types of volunteer engagement, including long-term, episodic, skill-based, and other models. Applicants should clearly describe the volunteer model in their application.
MSA will work with each selected organization to design a site visit plan that aligns with the structure and needs of remote or hybrid programs.
Yes. Organizations using fiscal agents are eligible. The fiscal agent must appear on all official documentation and contracts, including the application and award agreement.
Programs may only use other federal funds to match this grant with prior written permission from the other awarding agency.
Yes. Donated professional services may be counted with proper in-kind documentation.
Yes. This is an allowable expense.
MSA will order, pay for, and adjudicate National Service Criminal History Checks (NSCHC) for all staff members listed on the grant budget (MSA funds or match). MSA will not run NSCHC for volunteers or other organizational staff.
During the COVID-19 crisis, MSA stepped in with a series of four COVID Resiliency grants, awarding organizations with up to $5,000 to rebuild and rethink their volunteer programs. We ended up elevating the volunteer capacity of 92 organizations between 2020-2023. Read the impact we had on three of our 2023 grantees here.
