Community Giving

Charitable Foundation

First Citizens' Charitable Foundation aspires to strengthen the communities we serve by investing in organizations and initiatives that contribute to the economic and social well-being of the people in these communities.

The purpose of the First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation is to promote economic advancement in communities where First Citizens’ members and team members live and work. Our hope is to support and improve our communities by establishing a relationship with local organizations and providing financial support.

Areas of Giving:

First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation has identified the following areas of giving and will review requests from non-profit organizations in these areas:
  • Programs that support education, youth and elderly programs/community development.
  • Health and Human services including community based health care, family planning and substance abuse.
  • Culture including arts, community and civic issues, and education.
  • Programs and projects that provide for basic needs (food, shelter and clothing) and are focused on providing or improving the availability of services that meet the basic needs.
  • Causes important to our team members that fit within the above framework.
First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation does not support requests from the following:
  • Individuals or families
  • Religious organizations, unless the program supports and is open to the community
  • Political activities or candidates for political office
  • Government activities
  • Any organization that discriminates on the basis of gender, identity, religion, race, age, ethnicity, marital status, or sexual orientation
  • Paid solicitors
  • Fundraising dinners or events and tickets to fundraising events
  • Individual sports teams including youth sports teams and leagues
  • Beauty pageants, travel, including conferences, seminars, tours and student trips
 

Eligibility for Donations:

To apply for a donation from the First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation applicants must be:
  • A registered 501c3 organization who demonstrates significant local impact.
  • An organization whose mission or services align with First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation’s areas of giving.

  • Organizations must be within the Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket and Norfolk counties in the state of Massachusetts.

 
Frequency:
  • Organizations are eligible to receive funding from the First Citizens’ Charitable Foundation only once per calendar year.

  • Contribution Awards typically range from $1,000-$5,000 in effort to support as many organizations throughout our footprint as possible. A larger donation may be made for extraordinary circumstances. 

 

Deadlines and Review Process:

The Foundation Board of Directors will review donation requests during three application periods per calendar year.

  • Application Open Period #1 is from January 1, 2023 to February 28, 2023. Notification in April. (Closed)
  • Application Open Period #2 is from May 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023. Notification in August. (Open)
  • Application Open Period #3 is from September 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023. Notification in December. (Closed) 

If you have an immediate need that does not follow our application periods, please email marketing@firstcitizens.org to discuss opportunities for support.


How to submit a request:

To submit a request to the Charitable Foundation:
  • Include a copy of 501(c)3 Non-Profit Status.
  • Include cover letter on organizational letterhead, providing all relevant information and mission statement. All other necessary collateral or documentation relevant to request. Please include amount requested, if you need volunteers and as much detail as possible.
  • Email all documentation and request to community@firstcitizens.org.


Sponsorship Requests

To request First Citizens' to sponsor an event or program please email marketing@firstcitizens.org.