Winthrop Foundation Preparing Process for Grant Applications

A new foundation – aptly named The Winthrop Foundation – has been formed to help distribute the $2.5 million in funds that were appropriated to the town through the Massport Authority.

Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo was instrumental in getting the funding for the town, according to

Russell Sanford, chairman of the Winthrop Foundation Board of Trustees. He said the funding “is not done by taxes, it’s done by Massport through fees, the airlines, and concessions and things like that. No taxpayer money is being spent here.”

 In addition to Chairman Sanford, the other trustees of the Foundation are Police Chief Terence Delehanty, secretary Vincent Crossman, treasurer Jeffrey Turco, Brian Leslie, School Committee member Gus Martucci, and Vasili Mallios.

The Foundation will distribute grants to local organizations and Winthrop residents in various amounts not to exceed $500,000 per year.

Sanford said the Foundation is completing the paperwork in order to officially begin its work. He said the Foundation intends to hire a part-time executive director or a part-time administrator. It will also hire a website developer.

“That website will allow residents to apply for grants for each round of distribution,” said Sanford. “The grants areas are broad and could be used for non-profit groups, sports, businesses, parks, senior center, after-school programs, performing arts  – it’s a broad spectrum of opportunity.”

Once the website is established, the Foundation will begin accepting applications for the grants. The maximum amount of the individual grants is also still to be determined. There could be “major” and “minor” categories for the grant applicants.

The seven trustees will review the applications and either a majority or a two-thirds vote of the trustees will be required for the application is approved.

Sanford said the next meeting of the Winthrop Foundation will be Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.