The mission of the Community Fund for Wellesley is to promote the common good and to benefit all residents of our town. We serve as a permanent source of funding to foster innovation and collaboration in support of community needs and opportunities.
The Community Fund for Wellesley was established in 2008 in celebration of Wellesley’s 125th birthday. A dedicated group of town residents had a vision to create a fund that would exist to benefit members of the Wellesley community for generations to come. Over the past 15 years, we have made grants of over $700,000 to more than 48 local non-profits and Wellesley town departments.
The Community Fund for Wellesley (“CFFW”) is committed to supporting organizations that are working towards creating a stronger, more vibrant community in Wellesley. The CFFW promotes the common good and benefits all Wellesley residents by serving as a source of funding to foster innovation and collaboration across organizations that support our community’s needs. In celebration of our 15th anniversary, the CFFW awarded a total of $100,000 to organizations benefiting Wellesley residents working in the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Building, Education, the Environment, and Health and Wellness.
The special occasion was celebrated by over 60 nonprofit leaders, Town representatives, donors, and founders of the fund at Papa Razzi in Wellesley on November 2nd. The event was festive and convivial, celebrating the grant awardees and bringing together the non-profit community in conversation and connection. Photos below:
For high school students who live or learn in Wellesley.
Coming soon!
The Community Fund for Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund was established with an initial gift of $10,000 from the Community Fund for Wellesley. This initial gift was used to ensure an immediate source of grant support in the town.
Established with an initial gift of $10,000 from the Community Fund for Wellesley. This initial gift was used to ensure an immediate source of grant support in the town. Since April 2020, the Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund has granted $125,000 thanks to generous donations from many Wellesley residents and the business community.
Grants have been used for a multitude of items and programs, including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), meals for neighbors who otherwise would not have access, technology for elderly neighbors to connect to their loved ones, a summertime ‘COVID-safe’ mobile movie theater, support for remote education, mental health resources, youth employment and and many other essentials during this time.
This fund is a partnership between The Community Fund for Wellesley, an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization, and the Wellesley Select Board, that addresses unmet needs in our community resulting from the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
Coming soon!
By making a contribution to Community Fund for Wellesley, you are helping to build an endowment that strengthens the community, creating pride of place among residents today and for years to come.
We are grateful to our Founding Members, and to subsequent donors, for their support of our mission. The Founders early commitment expanded our opportunities to make an impact in the community. With their and others continued support, we have successfully established an important source of community philanthropy and catalyst for new ideas to keep our community strong.
The Stewards of The Fund for Wellesley will provide the capital to enable The Fund to continue addressing the opportunities and needs we see here in Wellesley today, tomorrow, and into the future.
Wellesley Youth in Philanthropy Campaign Change-Makers have committed to a gift of $5,000+ to help the Foundation for MetroWest and the Fund for Wellesley build a permanent fund to operate the Wellesley YIP program, so that this program will remain a fixture for Wellesley youth and local nonprofits forever.
The Community Fund for Wellesley’s Board is comprised of individuals who reside or work in Wellesley and who represent the diverse aspects of the community. This allows the Fund to maintain a broad perspective on the town’s needs and opportunities. The Community Board is also responsible for reviewing and assessing grant proposals from local nonprofits to determine which will receive funding support.
Philippa and her husband have lived in Wellesley since 1997 and raised 3 children there. She has been a Town Meeting Member for approximately 10 years in total, and served on the Wellesley Friendly Aid Board for six years. About 15 years ago, as a result of volunteering to teach an ESL Conversation Class, Philippa decided that Wellesley should have a coordinated ESL program. In 2011, she initiated and developed Wellesley ESL through the support of the Wellesley Library, Wellesley Friendly Aid, and the Fund for Wellesley who provided some of the startup funds. After 6 years as the Program Coordinator of Wellesley ESL, She became the Director of Project Literacy of Watertown, which is a large library-based program with over 600 students, 20 classes and 200 volunteers. In 2017, Philippa became a Board Member of the Marshall Homes Fund of Watertown where she served on the grant review committee. Annually, the Marshall Home Fund provides over $100,000 in grants to programs that support Watertown’s elderly population. In 2021, Philippa retired, and today enjoys travelling, being a grandparent, and gardening; and enjoying getting more involved with civic affairs now that she has more time. Philippa is currently serving as a Town Meeting Member, is on the Sustainable Wellesley Leadership Team, and is a member of the Charles River Regional Council Environmental Committee.
Ellen has served in a volunteer and elected capacity in Wellesley for more than two decades. She recently retired from the Wellesley Board of Selectmen after serving 9 years. During her tenure, Ellen dealt with a wide range of matters and helped to advance important initiatives involving multiple Town boards, a broad spectrum of many public and private institutions and organizations at the state, regional and local levels.
Ellen and husband David, an attorney, moved to Wellesley in 1992. Their two children are in graduate school. Prior to her municipal work, Ellen worked as a Project Director for the MA Department of Public Health. She is co-owner and manager of a small real estate investment company and holds degrees from Tufts University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Mary Beth has been a Wellesley resident since 1977 and attended Wellesley High School, Dartmouth College, and Babson College for her MBA. Her 33 year career first as a private banker and then as a wealth advisor started at BayBank. She spent 12 years with Boston Private Bank and has now been with Wellesley Investment Partners, a subsidiary of Wellesley Bank, for 5 years. Mary Beth and her husband Randy have 3 adult children: Meghan, Caitlin and Kevin.
Lisa has worked as a mental health nurse for the past 32 years, providing direct care and teaching. Lisa feels strongly about education, prevention and rehabilitation when it comes to mental health and believes our communities need to do more to support this. Currently, she serves on the advisory board for Elliot House, a rehabilitation program for people with chronic, debilitating mental health issues because she thinks it is important to support the resources in her own community that provide a safe and nurturing place for people living and working in Wellesley. Lisa teaches in the baccalaureate nursing program at Regis College, is a graduate of Simmons College and received a master of science in nursing from the University of Massachusetts.
Wendy and her family have lived in Wellesley since 2001. After years of work in health care and outcomes research administration, Wendy’s focus upon moving to Wellesley from Los Angeles has been in supporting her community and non-profit organizations. Wendy has served as President of the PTOs at PAWS and Bates Schools, on the Executive Board of the Central Council of PTOs and Treasurer and President of Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club. Most recently, Wendy completed six years (2011-2017) on the Wellesley School Committee, serving as Vice-Chair three years and liaison to the Permanent Building Committee for the Fiske & Schofield renovation and School Security projects. Wendy has been a Town Meeting Member since 2011, is a Board Member at the Walker School in Needham, focusing on capital projects, and serves on the Security Task Force at Temple Beth Elohim. With her husband, Jim, she enjoys being the parent of and trying to keep up with two busy Wellesley High School students.
Tina Chen, her husband Justin, and their children Olivia and Owen moved to Wellesley in 2018. Tina is the Director of B2C Sales Enablement at Wayfair. Prior to moving to Wellesley , Tina and family were based in Asia where she worked as a management consultant at McKinsey, advising clients across Asia and the Middle East, with focus on growth strategy and family-owned business management. Tina holds a BA in Applied Mathematics from Harvard College and a JD from Harvard Law. Beth is a passionate connector, volunteer and photographer and has lived in Wellesley since 1989. She’s been an active member of Wellesley’s Service League, PTOs, Mother’s Forum and Gardner’s Guild and has served on numerous town committees over the years. She is the owner of Beth Shedd Photography and loves photographing people in and around Wellesley as well as working with its many town organizations: the Council on Aging, Board of Selectmen, Country Club, Town Band, Wellesley Weston Magazine, Wellesley Hills Living Magazine etc. Beth and her husband, Chris, have two daughters – one a junior at UVM and the other teaches 3rd grade in Chicago.
Johanna and her family moved to Wellesley in 2018 after living in New York City for nearly 20 years. Johanna worked as a second grade teacher in the New York City public school system. Always an active volunteer, Johanna has been involved with numerous New York based non profit organizations and a variety of academic institutions. She received her BA from Connecticut College, MA in Art History from Hunter College and MA in Childhood Education from New York University.
The Community Fund for Wellesley is an endowed fund of the Community Foundation for MetroWest, which is a 501(c)(3) public charity and is fully tax exempt. The tax ID is 04-3266789. There are a number of ways you can make a donation.
Please make check payable to Community Foundation for MetroWest and note Community Fund for Wellesley on the memo line.
Community Fund for Wellesley
c/o Foundation for MetroWest
3 Eliot Street
Natick, MA 01760
Please contact us via email or call (508) 647 – 2260 if you are interested in transferring assets.
If you have any questions or would like more information about making your gift, please call us at (508) 647-2260 or email us and we’ll be happy to help you.
Thank you! We appreciate your support.