The Kresge Foundation recently announced second-quarter grants that amount to $26 million going to a variety of nonprofit organizations.
The foundation has six areas of interest when it considers grants, including: Human services; health; arts and culture; education; community development; and the environment. Nonprofits in each of the fields of interest were rewarded grants.
In all, 73 Grants were given to organizations in 23 states, the District of Columbia and Ireland. The goal of the grant money was to address both short-term needs and long-term goals of nonprofits across the country.
"We want to help move the needle and alleviate some small measure of human suffering now by supporting organizations that are working on the frontlines to assist those most affected by the downturn in the economy," Elaine D. Rosen, chair of the board of trustees for the foundation, said.
With regard to human services grants, the bulk of money awarded went to food banks, homeless shelters, legal services and child-support efforts. Included in those was the MUST Ministries, which received $500,000 in grant funds. The organization works to satisfy a variety of housing needs, including temporary housing and more long-term options.
With regard to health, one organization that received grant funds was the Medical Legal Partnership for Children, which was given $500,000. The partnership uses an intervention model created at the Boston Medical Center. With the funds, the partnership will be able to grow its operations, which include 80 partnerships and 160 hospitals and health centers.
The Kresge Foundation, which is a $2.8 billion private foundation, was created in 1924 by Sebastian Spering Kresge. In 2008, the foundation awarded 342 grants, which represent a total of $181 million in giving. 