How We Work
Grants
Historically, much of the Eos Foundation's portfolio has been dedicated to organizations providing direct service to individuals in need. As of September 2011 will increase our focus on achieving systems change, particularly in Massachusetts, to make a material and sustainable difference in food security.
Traditional Grants
Select organizations Eos helps support include:
Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children (BTWIC)
www.btwic.org
The Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children aims to strengthen early education and care for children with the greatest need through research, policy development, communication, and advocacy. Focused on social change rather than social service programs, BTWIC has a record of policy change that affects children and families across Massachusetts.
Boston Food Council
The Boston Food Council, established in December 2008, seeks to help Bostonians access healthy, locally sourced food while expanding Boston’s local food production capacity and promoting food as an economic development strategy.
Food Bank of Western Mass
www.foodbankwma.org
The mission of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is to reduce hunger and increase food security. Since 1982, The Food Bank has worked with more than 400 agencies including meal sites, food pantries, homeless shelters, childcare centers, and elder programs, distributing more than 6 million pounds of food each year. Their SNAP Outreach and Enrollment Program increases resident participation in SNAP and helps reduce barriers to enrollment throughout Western Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
www.mlri.org
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute works to advance economic, racial, and social justice through legal action, education, and advocacy. As part of their work, MLRI convenes the Food SNAP Coalition to promote collaboration and efficiencies among government and nonprofit advocates, and publishes the Food Stamp/SNAP Advocacy Guide, offering practical information about how and where to apply, who is eligible, and how to appeal a denial or termination.
New Venture Fund
The New Venture Fund conducts public interest projects and consults with institutions and individuals driving change through strategic philanthropy. As part of their focus, NVF partnered with major health donors to combine resources and jointly support public education and advocacy efforts around the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, which funds the federal school lunch and school breakfast programs. These programs serve more than half of all households with school-age children.
Project Bread
www.projectbread.org
Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts, in part through Walk for Hunger, the oldest continual pledge walk in the country. Their Summer Food Service Program provides support to summer meal sites that provide free meals to children in targeted neighborhoods when school is out for the summer. More than half of all households with school-age children participate in federally funded school meals programs during the school year.
Root Cause
Root Cause is a nonprofit research and consulting firm that partners with nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, government institutions, and businesses to advance solutions to today’s toughest social issues. Their work targeting education and youth includes the School Readiness report, which studied the preparation of preschool-age children for kindergarten and continuous success in school.
Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE)
www.cweonline.org
CWE helps women start and grow their own businesses by offering education, training, technical assistance, certification and access to capital.
CWE clients represent a wide variety of racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Fifty percent of CWE clients are low-income.
Children’s Healthwatch
http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/
Children's Healthwatch is a research and public policy center led by a national network of pediatricians and public health researchers, dedicated to the health and nutrition of low-income children ages
The Food Project (TFP)
www.thefoodproject.org
The Food Project helps youth from diverse backgrounds build sustainable food systems and develop individual leadership skills. TFP teams grow nearly a quarter-million pounds of food without chemical pesticides each year, and donate half to local shelters.
Growing Places Garden Project (GPGP)
www.growingplaces.org
GPGP is dedicated to enhancing the food security of people with limited economic means by donating raised-bed vegetable gardens and helping recipients grow their own food.
Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (MLPC)
The Medical-Legal Partnership | Boston allies health care providers with lawyers to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Combining the strengths of law and medicine, MLP | Boston ensures that patients’ basic needs – for housing, food, education, health care and personal and family stability – are met.
Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
www.spotlightonpoverty.com
The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity initiative engages national policymakers in a national dialogue on poverty and opportunity in the United States. Serving as the most current source for commentary, debate, and policy options, Spotlight works to keep poverty issues in the forefront of public attention.
Thrive in Five
Thrive in Five is a comprehensive school readiness framework that aims to ensure that Boston’s children are ready to succeed in school by age five.