The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) recently provided a record-breaking $22,000 in grants to 34 local organizations.
According to Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel, this is the largest amount of money that the TNSF has received since it was established 12 years ago. "In 1996, we had about $8,000 to donate, so fewer grants were awarded," she said in an e-mail.
The grants were given to individual organizations in Medford, Somerville, Grafton and Chinatown, the four communities that host various schools within the university. Awards ranging from $200 to $2,000 were appropriated to a wide variety of institutions, including food pantries and programs that provide services for disabled adults.
According to Rubel, organizations that receive grants from TNSF must be tax-exempt and employ Tufts-affiliated volunteers, such as students or faculty.
Many organizations apply for the grants, Rubel said.
"It's often very difficult to decide who to fund. The committee has developed a set of informal criteria that give preference to grants for improvements [and] equipment ... that will last a while and for programs that serve people in need," she said.
She added that the TNSF prefers to stay away from supporting general operating funds and salaries.
Rubel said that the TNSF constitutes one of several ways that members of the Tufts community can contribute money during the annual Tufts Community Appeal, a philanthropic drive that allows faculty and staff to donate to local institutions.
The goal of the TNSF "is to create a convenient way for faculty and staff to offer support to organizations in our host communities, and to support the work of Tufts volunteers who are working there," Rubel said.
Each organization must appeal to a committee of Tufts administrators when applying for funding. The committee reviews each proposal, making sure that the organization meets TNSF requirements.
"We know that even very modest grants can mean a lot to community-based organizations," she said. "The discussion is important and every application is given consideration."
Rubel explained that while the TNSF was able to award funding to a large number of organizations, there is not enough money to fund everyone that applies.
The Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation (CASPAR), a non-profit organization based in Somerville, received $1,000 for Project Winterwear, a program that provides clothing to the homeless population.
"It comes at a time of the year where people who are homeless are at a high risk of death on the street due to exposure to the elements," said Gail Enman, executive director of CASPAR. "What we use the funds for is to buy thermal or insulated hats, gloves and socks for them."
In addition to TNSF's grant, Enman praised the other ways in which Tufts has continued to give back to the community.
"Tufts has been a very good neighbor," she said. "We've had student groups from the Fletcher School cook meals at our shelters and collect money from their classmates to buy and prepare food. They've even run a silent auction and given the proceeds to us."
According to Elizabeth Ammons, co-coordinator of Medford's Unitarian Universalist Community Cupboard Food Pantry and Tufts English professor, this year's TNSF grants were extremely helpful.
"Many people probably don't realize that there is hunger in this area," she said. "The grant has allowed us to continue providing food for all of our clients ... We've not had to cut back on the amount of food [we distribute]."
Ammons said that Tufts has been a support system for local organizations and communities.
"It is an outrage that we even need food pantries in this country," she said. "But since we do, it's really valuable to have this support from Tufts."
