SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is offering nearly 20 grant opportunities and 80 scholarship programs in its winter funding cycle, providing support for nonprofits, students, and community organizations across four counties.
Eligible applicants in Berkshire County, Mass.; Columbia and northeast Dutchess Counties, N.Y.; and northwest Litchfield County, Conn., are encouraged to explore funding opportunities that address a range of needs, from environmental initiatives and the arts, to education and food security.
Berkshire Taconic's streamlined scholarship application process connects students with nearly 80 scholarship funds, offering financial support for higher education. The deadline to apply is March 15, and early applications are encouraged, as some scholarships require additional materials. Awards will be announced in June. In 2024, scholarship awards totaled $898,000 through our programs.
This winter's grant cycle includes funding for projects that expand access to fresh food, strengthen the arts, advance environmental initiatives, and support nonprofit innovation.
Key opportunities include:
Planning and Technical Assistance Grants (Deadline: Feb. 15) Provides flexible funding to help nonprofits improve programs and strategy.
Fund for Columbia County: Grants for Community Impact (Deadline: Feb. 15) Supports youth development, elder services, civic engagement, education, and the arts.
Fund for Columbia County: School-to-Work Grants (Deadline: Feb. 15) Funds innovative programs that help high school and college-age students transition into the workforce.
Fresh and Healthy Food for All in Columbia County (Deadline: Feb. 15) Supports efforts to ensure equitable access to fresh, healthy food.
Northeast Dutchess Fund (Deadline: Feb. 15) Invests in programs serving underserved children and adults in northeast Dutchess County.
Crane Family Fund (Deadline: Feb. 15) Supports innovative projects that advance environmental sustainability and community health in Berkshire County.
Arts Build Community: Incubation Grants (Opens Feb. 1, Deadline: Mar. 15) Provides support for Berkshire County arts and cultural organizations to pilot new approaches to engaging residents.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Companion Corner: Moose at Berkshire Humane Society
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a chill Labrador retriever mix at the Berkshire Humane Society that's looking a home where he can take long walks and can cuddle afterward.
iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.
Moose is a 5-year-old Lab mix and has been at the shelter for about three weeks. Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox.
"He just wants to soak up all the attention, all the pets, all of the love that you have to give. He is just a big mush. Very social, buddy," she said.
He had to come to the shelter after his home situation had to change.
"The young woman who brought him in had him since he was a puppy, and unfortunately, her housing changed, so she was not able to keep him with her anymore," Olivieri said.
Moose is a happy boy who likes moderate exercise. While he does not play with toys aggressively, he loves to nibble on them, but prefers to just hang out with his person.
"He loves to go on walks. He likes to hang out with other dogs. He's pretty chill. He's social. He's not super playful, but he does like the company of other dogs, who are also calm like he is," she said. "But mainly, his favorite thing is just being with people. He wants someone to cuddle with at night, cuddle with on the couch. He's just going to be right by your side, glued to you all the time."
Moose can go home with children ages 10 and older and to one with another chill dog. It is preferred he is in a home and not an apartment as he can be a bit vocal when he is alone.
"He could live with another dog, but no small animals, no cats. And a home where someone is home with him a bit would be really good for him, so that he could spend a lot of time with people," Olivieri said.
Moose is on a special diet for his skin as he has some itchiness caused by allergies.
"He does have what appears to be some kind of skin allergy. He is on medication for that right now as well, and we've been giving him medicated baths. And his hair and coat are growing in nicely, but he did have some patches where there's some hair loss and some definitely some itchiness and irritation in his ears," she said. "But we've given him some ear treatments, and he is on medication right now to help clear that up, and it is looking pretty good."
While Moose can be shy at first but warms up pretty fast once he meets you.
"At first, it does take him not too long, but just a little bit to get used to new people. If he is a little bit uncomfortable with someone, he will bark a little bit, but really, it's just him being a little bit uncertain, and that's kind of how he lets his feelings out. But if you take your time with him and take your time getting to know him, it does not take him long at all to warm right up," she said.
The Parks Commission on Tuesday approved a variety of summer events in the city, from a shopping event at the skate park to resource sharing. click for more
The FY27 state budget includes $250,000 to establish a task force for an alternative mental health response in the hilltowns, such as Hinsdale, and beyond. click for more
iBerkshires has been busy writing about local businesses. Our new monthly section Berkshire Built highlights local businesses that are producing their own goods. click for more