Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

What Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts does

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) is a nonprofit community foundation established in 1991 and headquartered at 333 Bridge Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. It stewards over $180 million in charitable assets across more than 500 funds, including approximately 200 donor-advised funds, 150 scholarship funds, and various endowment and designated funds, serving the residents, donors, students, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties. Its core products and services encompass donor-advised fund administration, competitive grantmaking programs (Community Resilience Grants, Flexible Funding, Racial Equity and Social Justice, ValleyCreates), college scholarships and interest-free educational loans serving more than 1,000 students annually, and four pooled investment portfolios (Global Growth, Socially Responsible, Intermediate Term, and Short Term) managed by Vanguard and Schwab at 7-12 basis points. The foundation generates revenue through administrative and investment management fees on the funds it administers, and its go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven — relying on partnerships (NEPM, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Boston's Barr Foundation), volunteer committees for grant and scholarship review, and signature programs including ValleyGives Day, ValleyCreates, Equity in the 413, and the recently launched 413 Gives. CFWM is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Karin George and led by President and CEO Megan Burke, the fifth chief executive in the foundation's 35-year history.

Name

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Legal name

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Website

https://communityfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is a nonprofit community foundation established in 1991 that manages over $180 million in assets across 500+ funds. It serves donors, students, professional advisors, and regional nonprofits across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties through donor-advised fund administration, scholarships, and competitive grantmaking.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Fund Administration

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor advised funds
• Charitable grantmaking
• Scholarship administration
• Endowment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Giving and Endowments: The foundation receives charitable contributions from donors who establish funds. Donors give to the foundation which invests, stewards, and distributes funds to support regional charitable activities. Assets grew from $20 million in 1991 to over $180 million by 2019.
2. Grants and Distributions: Distributes grants to nonprofits through competitive grantmaking programs, donor designated funds, and donor advised funds. In 2025-2026, distributed $3.3 million to nonprofits, $1 million in Community Resilience grants, and $2.3 million in Flexible Funding grants.
3. Donor Services and Fund Administration: Provides fund administration services for over 500 funds including donor advised funds (approximately 200 DAFs), scholarship funds, and endowment funds. Charges fees for fund management services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is a community foundation that stewards charitable assets for individuals, families, and professional advisors by administering donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, and endowment funds. It distributes competitive grants to nonprofit organizations in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, and provides scholarships and interest-free educational loans to regional students. It also offers investment portfolio options for fund assets managed through Vanguard and Schwab.

Product overview

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts operates as a philanthropic services organization offering donor funds management, scholarships, educational loans, and competitive grantmaking to nonprofits. The core product portfolio includes Donor-Advised Funds (approximately 200 of 500+ total funds), scholarship programs serving 1,000+ students annually from 150 funds, and competitive grant initiatives including Community Resilience Grants, Flexible Funding, and Racial Equity grants. Investment services encompass four distinct portfolios: Global Growth Portfolio (long-term growth with Vanguard/Schwab management), Socially Responsible Portfolio (ESG-focused), Intermediate Term Portfolio (conservative), and Short Term Portfolio (capital preservation). Specialized initiatives include ValleyCreates (arts and creativity support via Barr Foundation partnership) and Equity in the 413 (workplace equity programming). The organization also provides community conference facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ValleyCreates: A collaboration with Boston's Barr Foundation launched in 2018 to support the region's diverse creative sector. The program includes capacity-building grants, project evolution grants, and artist support programs.
• ValleyGives Day
• Equity in the 413
• COVID-19 Response Fund
• 413 Gives

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) Flexible charitable giving vehicles allowing donors to contribute assets to a permanent endowment, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time; administered by CFWM for individuals, families, and through professional advisors.
• Scholarships and Educational Loans College scholarships and interest-free loans awarded to students in the region through a single online application matched against 150 scholarship funds serving more than 1,000 students annually.
• Competitive Grantmaking Programs Competitive grant programs including Community Resilience Grants, Flexible Funding, Racial Equity and Social Justice Grants, ValleyCreates capacity-building and project evolution grants, and the Loaves & Fishes Fund, awarded to regional nonprofits through committee-reviewed application processes.
• Global Growth Portfolio Primary long-term investment vehicle for fund assets, designed for maximum long-term total returns within prudent risk levels, managed by Vanguard and Schwab with approximately 12 basis points fee. Benchmark: 45% CRSP, 20% FTSE AW ex-U.S. TR, 30% Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond.
• Socially Responsible Portfolio Long-term ESG-focused investment portfolio for donors who want investments to make a positive difference on environmental, social, and governance issues, using Vanguard ESG funds.
• Intermediate Term Portfolio Most conservative intermediate-term portfolio providing relatively stable value with potential for principal growth through broad diversification and low management cost; fee approximately 10 basis points.
• Short Term Portfolio Capital preservation portfolio available for donor-advised and other funds where principal will be expended in relatively short time, using Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund and bank CDs; fee approximately 7 basis points.
• ValleyCreates Arts and Creativity Fund Endowed arts and creativity fund established in 2024 to sustain and strengthen the regional creative sector, complementing the broader ValleyCreates program of capacity-building grants, project evolution grants, and artist support.
• Conference Room Rental Three conference rooms available for community use at the Springfield headquarters (rooms for 6-8, 6-12, and a boardroom for 20-50+ people), offered free of charge Monday through Friday.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed $3.3 million to nonprofits in January 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• New England Public Media (NEPM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Three-way partnership launching 413 Gives, a regional giving initiative on June 11. NEPM serves as the platform for the 24-hour fundraising day, with all funds collected shared between Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to help nonprofits respond to federal funding cuts.
• Berkshire Taconic Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Co-partner in 413 Gives initiative. Both foundations will direct funds raised to help nonprofits respond to reductions in public funding and federal policy changes affecting their ability to serve the community.
• Behavioral Health NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023One of 9 organizing partners for Equity in the 413 Summit to advance racial equity in workplaces across Western Massachusetts.
• Health New EnglandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Hilltown Community Health CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Human Service ForummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Public Health Institute of Western MassachusettsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Springfield DHHS Office of Health and Racial EquitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Western Massachusetts Economic Development CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.
• Women of Color Health Equity CollectivemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Organizing partner for Equity in the 413 Summit.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boston Foundation: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S., serving Greater Boston. Comparable as a Massachusetts-based community foundation offering donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants, and is the home base of CFWM's ValleyCreates partner, the Barr Foundation.
• Greater Worcester Community Foundation: Massachusetts-based community foundation serving the Worcester region with donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants. Operates the same core model of donor services, scholarship administration, and regional nonprofit grantmaking.
• Maine Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation serving Maine with donor advised funds, scholarship administration, and regional grantmaking. Comparable in mission, structure, and service model to CFWM, though serving a larger and more rural geographic area.
• New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: Statewide community foundation in New Hampshire operating donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants for nonprofits. Closely mirrors CFWM's structure and program mix at a larger scale and broader geography.
• Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation: Community foundation serving a neighboring region of Western Massachusetts and nearby Connecticut/New York. Directly comparable as a community foundation with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor advised fund services, and is an active co-partner with CFWM on the 413 Gives initiative.
• Essex County Community Foundation: Massachusetts community foundation serving Essex County with similar donor advised funds, scholarship, and grantmaking programs. Operates the same regional community foundation model with comparable size and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: Largest national donor advised fund sponsor in the U.S., operated by Fidelity Investments. Represents the most significant competitive threat to community foundation DAF programs given its scale, brand recognition, and low-cost structure.
• Rhode Island Foundation: Largest community foundation in Rhode Island and one of the oldest in the U.S. Comparable as a community foundation with donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program: National donor advised fund sponsor that uses Vanguard as the underlying investment manager. CFWM uses Vanguard for its Global Growth Portfolio and competes against Vanguard Charitable for donor advised fund business at the national level.

Regional players

• Community Foundation of Western New York: Community foundation serving the Western New York region with a similar portfolio of donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants. Comparable model and structure but operates in a different geographic territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFWM413
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityFoundationWMass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts