Save the Harbor is giving out $300K for free beach events

Better Beaches Grant Program is looking to fund community organizations and individuals hosting free beach events this summer

Through the Better Beaches Grant Program, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) are looking for input from community organizations, local groups and artists to bring diverse and interesting events to DCR beaches in Revere, Nahant, Lynn, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull. Events will be free for community members to attend and should reflect the many interests and identities of the community. Anyone can apply to this grant program, whether they are part of an organization or a collective or a creative individual with a vision for a more diverse and activated waterfront. This grant program is not just about securing funds; it is a way to get involved, bring community to the Boston Harbor beaches and help shape the future of the waterfront.

Grants from $2,500–$8,500 will be awarded based on a tiered system depending on the number of people the proposed event will serve and the amount of different components involved. The Better Beaches Grant Program has funded different types of events, including wellness/recreational programs, children’s programming, performances and music and cultural events — as long as they involve the community and any one of our region’s many beaches. Some examples of previous events Save the Harbor has funded are:

• “Beachdrift” by Subdrift, a group who highlights local South Asian creatives and creatives of color, was a full day of vibrant workshops, crafts, music, games and food led by community members.
• NamaStay Sober Beach Yoga, where over 400 attendees participated in free weekly beach yoga on Revere Beach, especially for those who are sober and are in recovery.

To apply for a grant or ask any questions about the Better Beaches Grant Program, please contact Maya Smith at sm***@***********or.org and Isabella Carrion at ca*****@***********or.org. Applications are due by January 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m., after which Save the Harbor’s Better Beaches Grants Committee will review the proposals and reach out to selected grantees by March 11, 2026. For more information and a full list of the 2025 grantees, go to https://www.savetheharbor.org/better-beaches/grant-information or attend one of the information sessions. Your ideas on how to make our public beaches accessible and enjoyable spaces for all of our communities are welcomed!

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region’s public beaches and the Boston Harbor Islands. The organization provides free programs and events and creates opportunities for people to experience Boston Harbor and our spectacular urban natural resources firsthand, with an emphasis on breaking down barriers of race, language, income and ability.