Selection Criteria

The grant-making process is conducted exclusively by the trustees in an impartial manner, and decisions are made in their sole judgment and discretion. Decisions are made based on the information provided in your proposal. If the trustees have questions or require more information, you will be contacted.

Please be aware that the Fund receives many more applications than it can approve in each funding cycle. 

Primary Considerations

Mission Specific: Miss Peabody's philanthropic legacy and interests are of paramount concern.

Geography: The Board focuses its giving in Massachusetts.

Capital: The Board favors capital projects and purchases when the need is relevant to the community served, and where a large area or number of people will benefit.

Lasting Impact: The Board favors initiatives with measurable, significant, and lasting impact.

Likelihood of Success: The Board looks for well-conceived and researched projects with specific and well defined outcomes.   A logical implementation plan, with a realistic and appropriately detailed supporting budget, timeframes, multiple sources of funding for the undertaking, and the credibility of the organization are important elements in evaluating the proposal.

Proportional and Appropriated: The Board expects the dollar amount requested to be in proportion to size of the project as well as the size of the organization.

Well Leveraged: The Board looks favorably on organizations that can secure funding from multiple sources. In a major capital project, the trustees expect the fundraising process to be well along before receiving a proposal. The funding for your project budget should be at least 50% committed from other sources before you apply. Challenge grants are sometimes considered by the Trustees to help grant seekers secure funding from other sources.

Community Support: The Board looks for evidence that the organization and its work are valued by the constituents it serves and surrounding community.

Soundness of Organization: The Board favors supporting well-managed organizations with good oversight and relatively low administration and other overhead expenses. An organization's financial statement and condition are important considerations.