The Clipper Ship Foundation, established by David Parmely Weatherhead in 1979, dedicates its efforts to making grants to federally tax-qualified nonprofit organizations. Its mission is to offer critical services to individuals living in Greater Boston and the cities of Lawrence and Brockton, focusing on housing and shelter, foster care, and opportunity youth.
The Clipper Ship Foundation Grant program seeks to enhance the lives of society’s most vulnerable by supporting nonprofits in Greater Boston, Lawrence, and Brockton. The program prioritizes housing and shelter, aiming to increase affordable housing access, prevent displacement, and improve shelter capacities for various at-risk populations including the elderly poor and terminally ill. In the foster care domain, it strives for the best placement of youth, support for foster families, and improved outcomes for youth in or exiting the system. For opportunity youth, the Foundation targets those who are out of school or marginally employed, aiming to aid their transition to adult life through education, stabilization of housing, mental health treatment, substance abuse remediation, and reducing recidivism. Organizations applying for funding must focus on one of these three areas.