The Avison Fund Committee
The Kathryn and Charles Avison – Miriam Avison Chartable Fund at the Boston Foundation was established through the estate of a long-time attender at Friends Meeting Cambridge (FMC). The mission of the fund is “to help improve the lives of children: helping them to grow into productive, caring yet savvy human beings.” The Fund is managed by the Boston Foundation with advice from FMC.
Each year, the FMC Avison Fund Committee requests proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services in keeping the fund’s mission. The committee subsequently reviews all applications and discerns which organizations will receive grants.
The Avison Fund Committee is now accepting proposals for the 2026 grant cycle
Please tell your favorite child-centered organizations!
Proposals are due by 5pm Tuesday, January 6, 2026
The Avison Fund was established to help improve the lives of children. Grants will be awarded to organizations that directly impact the lives and well-being of children under the age of 18. This year, the Avison Fund Committee anticipates awarding grants of up to $15,000 each. In consideration of current trust-based giving, grants will not be limited to one-time projects. Quaker organizations may receive up to 20% of each year’s disbursements.
To learn more about this grant, please download the Request for Proposals (RFP) using the links below. Paper copies are also available by request or from the Meeting secretary
Thank you,
Chris Maddocks (Co-Clerk), Liz Moore (Co-Clerk), Lance Drane, Betsy Hewitt, Cynthia Knowles, David Smith. The committee can be contacted at avison@fmcquaker.org.
2024 Avison Funding Cycle
2023 Avison Funding Cycle
2022 Avison Funding Cycle
2021 Avison Funding Cycle
2020 Avison Funding Cycle
The following groups are 2020 recipients of this funding:
Cambridge Friends School
Cambridge School Volunteers
Friends Peace Libraries
Food for Free
Boston Project Ministries
Cambridge Community Center
Edinburgh Center
2019 Avison Funding Cycle
The following groups are 2019 recipients of this funding:
Cambridge Friends School
Breakthrough Greater Boston
Cambridge School Volunteers
Families First
Boston Project Ministries
Young Man with a Plan
2018 Avison Funding Cycle
The following groups are 2018 recipients of this funding:
First Teacher
Cambridge School Volunteers
Sibling Connection
Food For Free Backpacks Project
UTEC Gross Motor
Families First
Breakthrough Greater Boston
2017 Avison Funding Cycle
The following groups are 2017 recipients of this funding:
AFSC- Wabanaki Youth Project
ALDEA (Advancing Local Development through Empowerment and Action in Guatemala)
Artists for Humanity
Boston Mobilization for Survival
Boston Youth Sanctuary
The Convergence Ensemble
AFSC- Wabanaki Youth Project
ALDEA (Advancing Local Development through Empowerment and Action in Guatemala)
Artists for Humanity
Boston Mobilization for Survival
Boston Youth Sanctuary
The Convergence Ensemble
The following groups are past recipients of Avison Fund Grants.
AFSC- Youth Justice-Newark Project (Quaker)
Association for India’s Development
Bikes Not Bombs
Cambridge Friends School (Quaker)
Cambridge School Volunteers
Camp Onas
The Children’s Room
The City School
First Teacher
Friends Children’s Center (New Haven)
Friends of Rafael Hernandez School
Germaine Lawrence School
Home Start
Project Right
REEP-ACE
Silverlining Mentoring