Building community by reinvesting in the people driving change in Somerville
We connect philanthropy to community-led work, strengthening grassroots initiatives and expanding access to opportunity. By investing in people, programs, and partnerships, we help local ideas grow into lasting impact.
Our work focuses on building nonprofit infrastructure, supporting leadership, and ensuring community-driven efforts have the capacity to thrive. Through collaboration across sectors, we help create a stronger, more unified Somerville.
The Somerville Foundation acts as a convener, connector, and resource multiplier
We carry out our functions as a community foundation that reinvests wealth equitably into the community, while also providing services that set us apart from similar organizations
Strengthen Capacity Through Collaborative Grantmaking
We partner with funders and community stakeholders to co-design grant opportunities that support local organizations and amplify grassroots leadership.
Grow Grassroots Initiatives Through Fiscal Sponsorship
We provide 501(c)(3) coverage, financial infrastructure, and strategic support to emerging organizations—helping them launch, grow, and lead without needing to incorporate.
Provide Back-End Services That Power Frontline Work
From payroll and HR to legal compliance and reporting, we offer essential administrative services that allow mission-driven programs to focus on impact—not paperwork.
From Education Foundation to Community Foundation
As Somerville’s needs evolved, so did our vision. By 2023, it was clear that challenges like housing instability, income inequality, and limited access to healthcare and workforce opportunities required a broader, more inclusive approach. In response, TSF underwent a bold transformation.
Today, TSF serves as a connector, convener, and catalyst—supporting nonprofits, aligning with city and school priorities, and amplifying community voice. More than a grantmaker, TSF reinvests in local potential and helps build the social infrastructure that makes Somerville more equitable, resilient, and connected.
Somerville Foundation, fresh from name change, expands mission without leaving youth behind.
See full article on Cambridge Day.
FY25 Impacts
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​TSF launched trust-based grantmaking to support nonprofits tackling basic needs, youth opportunity, and community culture
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Delivered over $150,000 in ARPA-funded support to youth programs
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Partnered with SCALE to secure a $200,000 WIOA grant for workforce development
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Raised visibility through events like Art Beat, Union Square Farmers Market, and the Food Nation Celebration
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Hired its first full-time Program Manager and part-time Development Manager to build sustainable infrastructure.
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TSF's Executive Leadership
Sal Islam, Interim Executive Director
Sal Islam graduated from Somerville High School and became involved in local organizations like Groundwork Somerville and Teen Empowerment from a young age through early adulthood. He currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of The Somerville Foundation (TSF) and previously served as Board Vice President when the organization operated as the Somerville Education Foundation.
Sal brings deep community ties and a broad public sector background spanning municipal, state, and federal roles. He has played a central role in shaping TSF’s transition from an education-focused foundation to a community foundation rooted in equity and local empowerment.
As TSF’s first full-time Director, Sal leads the organization’s strategic growth, strengthens its nonprofit infrastructure, and ensures TSF remains a central force in Somerville’s community and civic ecosystem.
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