Brookline Community Foundation

📣 Baseline survey data from the UpTogether Brookline guaranteed income pilot is here! 📣

Three months into our partnership with the Brookline Housing Authority, we’re already learning how direct cash support can ease financial pressure for Brookline’s lowest-income households.

📊 What participants shared:
• 76% experienced a financial emergency in the past month
• 86% had difficulty paying usual household expenses in the past month
• 86% spend at least 30% of their income on rent

Despite these challenges, participants are using $750/month in direct cash—paired with BHA’s financial coaching—to move forward on their own goals. At a recent cohort check-in, residents shared early wins like paying down debt, improving credit, and reaching educational milestones.

This is just the beginning. We’ll continue learning from participants through mid-year and end-of-program surveys later this year. Stay tuned. 💚

This year has brought rapid changes to federal immigration policy, funding cuts, and uncertainty for many immigrant families.

That’s why we’re proud to support Project Citizenship as one of 18 recipients of a 2026 BCF Community Grant.

Project Citizenship provides free, high-quality legal support to immigrants seeking citizenship. With BCF support, they’ll strengthen partnerships with the Brookline Public Library and other trusted local groups and translate outreach materials to better connect with Brookline’s Asian immigrant communities.

“We really have been grateful to local foundations, like BCF, as well as individuals and corporations for their willingness to step up to help at this time,” says Executive Director Gail Breslow. “In spite of all these obstacles that are being thrown at us and at our clients, there's comfort in knowing that the community is behind us.”

Together, we’re working toward a Brookline where everyone has access to opportunity, support, and a path forward.

Link with more info in the comments.

Give locally this . Help shore up local nonprofits with a gift to the Brookline Community Foundation.

Last month, we received a record number of grant requests from Brookline nonprofits, reflecting the pressure they are under as they contend with large public funding cuts and heightened demand for services. YOU have the power to secure essential local services by giving with BCF. Together, we can ensure that every neighbor has the resources they need to thrive.

JUST ANNOUNCED: The BCF Board of Trustees will match every year-end gift up to $45,000. Give today, and your contribution will be doubled! Make a gift at brooklinecommunity.org/give

At the Brookline Community Foundation, we’re here to say THANK YOU to the many donors, partners, and friends who’ve contributed to a better Brookline in 2025.

This year, we made grants to 53 nonprofits that provide critical services in our community and launched a hopeful new guaranteed income pilot called UpTogether Brookline. When the delay of SNAP benefits created a food crisis for 1,500+ neighbors last month, we convened an emergency community-wide network to respond.

These are just three examples of how we’ve remained a steady source of support for Brookline in a time of heightened need. We’re deeply grateful for every donor and partner who has stuck with us in our mission to ensure that every Brookline resident has the resources they need to thrive. THANK YOU.

Learn more about our collective 2025 accomplishments in the link in our bio.