Watertown Community Foundation Awards More Than $52,000 in Community Engagement Grants

Support will Strengthen Community Connections and Build Belonging

WATERTOWN, MA, November 6, 2026 — The Watertown Community Foundation has awarded $52,611 in Community Engagement Grants to 24 programs and organizations in Watertown that bring people together, expand access to opportunities, and strengthen connections across the community.

This year's grant cycle attracted significant interest, with the Foundation receiving more than $100,000 in funding requests, reflecting the vibrancy and creativity of local organizations and grassroots initiatives working to make Watertown a more welcoming, connected, and inclusive place.

Funding was awarded across three priority areas: Fostering Intercultural Communication and Understanding, Increasing Access to Programs and Services, and Strengthening Community Connections. Some programs received funding for both 2026 and 2027 activities due to the timing of this year’s grant awards.

"These grants support programs that help bring neighbors together, celebrate diverse cultures and experiences, increase access to important resources, and create opportunities for people to engage in community life," said Emily Barclay, Watertown Community Foundation Board Secretary and Community Engagement Grant Committee Chair. "We're proud to invest in organizations and initiatives that help make Watertown a place where everyone feels they belong."

Fostering Intercultural Communication and Understanding

Grants in this category support programs that promote cultural awareness, dialogue, and understanding among people of different backgrounds. Recipients include:

• Watertown Public Schools: ACCESS Celebration (2026 and 2027)

• Kingian Non-violence Training

• Project Literacy’s 40th Anniversary Multicultural Celebration

• Pigsgusset Initiative: Indigenous Peoples Day (2026 and 2027)

• World in Watertown: Unity Breakfast

Increasing Access to Programs and Services

These grants help ensure community members can access educational, cultural, recreational, andsupport services. Recipients include:

• Watertown Cable Access TV: Closed Captioning

• Mount Auburn Cemetery: Karaoke to Explore Grief, Remembrance and Connection

• Actors' Shakespeare Project: Community Access Tickets for Watertown Community

• You Got Flowers: Flowers for Older Adults

Strengthening Community Connections

Funding in this category supports programs that bring residents together, encourage civic participation, and build stronger neighborhood relationships. Recipients include:

• STEM Night organized by the Watertown Business Coalition

• Watertown Arts Market (2026 and 2027)

• Historical Society of Watertown: Music, History and Watertown

• Association for Autism and Neurodiversity: Community Building for Autistic Individuals

• Mosesian Center for the Arts: Fiesta Saturdays

• Watertown Community Gardens: Capacity Building and LexGarden Community Garden

• City of Watertown: Memorial Day Remembrance

• Hosmer Elementary Diversity & Belonging Council

• Watertown Rapid Response Network

• Charles River Watershed Association: Herring Festival

• Watertown Pride Celebration (2026 and 2027)

The Community Engagement Grant Program is designed to support projects that enrich community life, foster inclusion, and create meaningful opportunities for residents to connect with one another. By supporting a wide range of programs, the Foundation seeks to strengthen the social fabric of Watertown and help ensure that all residents can participate fully in community life.

For more information about the Watertown Community Foundation and its grantmaking programs, visit www.watertownfoundation.org/grants-overview

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About The Watertown Community Foundation

The Watertown Community Foundation advances and supports positive change for the people who live and work in Watertown through the transformative power of community giving. We envision a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds can thrive, connect, and contribute to the strength and resilience of our city. Started with funds from the sale of the Watertown Arsenal property in 2003 and powered by generous donations from Watertown residents and businesses, the Foundation has awarded more than $3,000,000 in grants. We are committed to convening local stakeholders, creating cross-sector collaborations, and breaking down barriers to bring people together to turn philanthropy into action. For more info about our mission, board of trustees and impact, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.