Reliant Foundation is accepting proposals for its 2026 Community Grants supporting health and well-being in Central and MetroWest Massachusetts. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000. The deadline is Friday, October 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM noon. The Foundation’s current materials do not separately state a time zone, so applicants should not rely on an inferred zone and should submit early.
Funding priorities
Proposals must align with at least one of four current focus areas: strengthening mental or behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults ages 0 through 22; helping people of all ages reach recovery from substance use disorder; addressing workforce shortages and career pathways in mental health, behavioral health, and recovery coaching; or reducing stigma around mental health and substance use disorder. The Foundation also considers how programs address inequities in access to care, outcomes, or care delivery.
Eligibility and geography
Applicants must be nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations based in Reliant Foundation’s Central and MetroWest Massachusetts service area. Organizations without their own tax-exempt status may apply through an established nonprofit tax-exempt fiscal sponsor that agrees to provide fiscal oversight. Public entities, for-profit businesses, individuals, PTA/PTO requests, sponsorships, field trips, pageants, sports teams, and requests supporting a single individual are not eligible.
Eligible project structure and restrictions
The Foundation supports charitable projects, programs, initiatives, and focused capital projects that directly affect health and well-being in its service area. The current guidelines state that salaries and licensing fees are not typically funded. No mandatory applicant match or cost-share requirement is stated in the 2026 guidelines reviewed by Atlas.
Required proposal materials
A complete request includes a one-page cover letter signed by the organization’s Executive Director or President, including the organization name, request summary, and exact amount requested; applicant contact information; a written proposal of one to four typed pages addressing the public-health need, alignment with at least one Foundation focus area, use of funds, population and geography served, collaborative partners, volunteer hours if applicable, at least two measurable goals or outcomes, evaluation approach, and sustainability; a one-page project or program budget; current Board of Directors list; official 501(c)(3) determination letter; most recent audited financial statement; most recent annual report or a web link; and a list of Reliant Foundation grants received during the prior five years, including amount and year.
Submission
Applicants must email electronic PDF copies of the completed cover letter and proposal to foundation@reliantfoundation.org, addressed to Kelsa Zereski, President. The email subject should state “Grant Proposal” followed by the applicant organization’s name. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. The Foundation encourages meetings with new applicants at least 30 days before a request and states that last-minute meeting requests will not be accommodated in the weeks before the deadline.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. This is a current, clearly documented Massachusetts community-health funding opportunity with a defined award range, health priorities, eligibility rules, and application package.
N9+ Fit: 15/100. The verified focus is mental health, behavioral health, substance-use recovery, related workforce needs, and stigma reduction. The current guidelines do not establish a strong or routine role for the Nonagon N9+ device and platform, and licensing fees are not typically funded. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100. Any clinical-service or vendor role would need to arise from an eligible nonprofit’s independently justified program and be confirmed allowable before being positioned. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100 because for-profit businesses are expressly ineligible for direct grant awards.
Next action
Eligible Central or MetroWest Massachusetts nonprofits with a strong match to the Foundation’s behavioral-health, substance-use, workforce, or stigma-reduction priorities should review the service-area map and 2026 proposal guidelines, confirm all required organizational documents are available, and submit a complete PDF package before the October 9 noon deadline. Atlas is not initiating new cold applicant outreach unless the Foundation’s exact deadline time zone is authoritatively verified, because the current official materials state noon but do not separately identify a time zone.
Official sources: Reliant Foundation Community Grants and 2026 How to Apply.