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Why give to the Community Foundation?

As a community foundation, we are uniquely positioned to work with the community to identify and address the region’s most pressing issues — like access to education — and to activate resources to create positive change that will last for generations. Your support enables us to address the issues that matter most to you and the region by managing the Foundation’s successful scholarship program (2023 scholars pictured), making grants to nonprofit organizations to help shape the future of young people, and convening community members to showcase how artists working with youth are using art and culture to beautify local neighborhoods and promote community engagement.

Please join us in this critical work by making a gift to the SouthCoast Community Foundation today.

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We heart art!

Arts and Culture are essential to our region’s quality of life. While a key part of our economy, it is as important as any other basic human need. We are proud to invest in art and culturally focused nonprofits that are community-driven and use the arts to challenge, inspire, and change lives. DATMA-supported art, “Shelter,” is pictured at left.

Learn about the Creative SouthCoast Initiative

Economic opportunity

Economic opportunity is a key area of focus for the Community Foundation. We are offer grants through the SouthCoast Wind Fund, the Polaroid Fund and others that help to create new jobs, entrepreneurship opportunities, and new skills development for the betterment of our South Coast communities. New spaces, like the Ignition Space (pictured at left) for the arts, build our local economies.

Our mission is to mobilize philanthropy

by matching donors and resources with community needs

for the benefit of our region.

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Q&A with Community Foundation President, Dr. Melanie Edwards-Tavares

Community Foundation Accounting Clerk, Nhamaa Cortes interviews Community Foundation President, Dr. Melanie Edwards-Tavares. In this excerpt, she discusses what drew her to this role and the impact of place-based philanthropy. [video width="352" height="288"...

Meet the Change Maker: Michael Benevides, Fabric Arts Festival Founder

Can you share a little about your background? My family was immigrants from the Acores. I came here when I was two years old. My father started his own business in Fall River, which was Portugalia Imports. I always worked in the family business. I also had a genuine...

Announcing New Community Foundation President and CEO: Melanie Edwards-Tavares

NEW BEDFORD, MA — Today, the SouthCoast Community Foundation Board of Directors announced the appointment of Dr. Melanie Edwards-Tavares as the organization’s next President and CEO. She comes to the organization from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, which...