ABOUT US

 Our Mission

Our mission is to increase economic and social justice and power within low-income communities in Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. 

 Our Vision

Our vision is that Boston and Chelsea be cities where success is not determined by race, and where low-income communities of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds:

• Can afford to live;

• Have opportunities to advance; and

• Contribute to civic life and community well-being.

Our Grantmaking Goals

To further our mission, and to achieve our vision, over the next five years the Hyams Foundation will devote its expertise and resources to three major goals of critical importance to Boston and Chelsea.  These goals are:

• To increase civic engagement in communities of color and other low-income communities;
• To increase access to affordable housing for families of color, extremely low-income (ELI) families and other low-income families; and
• To increase teen development by supporting long-term success among teens of color and other low-income teens who are at high risk.

 The Special Opportunities Fund

The trustees also have created a Special Opportunities Fund setting aside 10% of the Foundation’s annual grantmaking budget to support significant public policy efforts focused on economic self-sufficiency, asset development and racial disparities and to provide timely responses to unanticipated and compelling community issues. 

 Program-Related Investments and Mission-Related Investments

Finally, the Foundation plans to expand the use of Program-Related Investments (PRIs) and will look for opportunities to make PRIs that will further the impact of its funding strategies under all three of its major program goals.  For the first time, the Foundation also will explore the use of market rate Mission-Related Investments (MRIs) in support of the Foundation’s funding strategies or goals.  Please refer to the “How to Apply” section of the grantmaking guidelines for additional information about how to apply for a PRI.

Our Commitment to Addressing Racial Disparities and to Promoting Diversity

In choosing its major areas of focus, one key criterion used by the trustees was whether the Foundation’s grantmaking would have the potential to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.  As you will see in the grantmaking guidelines, significant and troubling racial and ethnic disparities are present in Boston and Chelsea today in the civic engagement and housing areas and for low-income teens.  We will seek specific grantmaking opportunities that directly address these disparities, and we will be aware of and sensitive to them in all of our program areas.

The Foundation also will continue to consider organizational diversity in all of its funding decisions.  We believe that well-functioning organizations that also have racially and ethnically diverse boards and staff are more effective in serving and empowering Boston and Chelsea’s communities.  We will continue to use board and staff diversity as an important funding criterion while also exploring with applicants the connection between diversity and organizational effectiveness.