Better Beaches Grant Program
Since 2008, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to award small grants to local organizations and artists to activate the region’s public beaches through free events and programs on DCR beaches in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull.
The goal of the Better Beaches Grant Program is to give decision-making power directly to community members over community spaces. We do this by allocating state funds to organizations and individuals to host free events and programs on public beaches. It creates opportunities for people who may not already be visiting the beach, or who face barriers to accessing the beach, to enjoy these shared waterfront spaces.
Whether you are part of an organization, collective, or are a creative individual with a vision for a more diverse and activated waterfront, the Better Beaches Grant Program may be for you! Grant applicants can come from any community, so long as their proposed event takes place on one of our region’s public DCR beaches from Nahant down to Hull.
For the 2025 beach season, we will be allocating over $300,000 in small grants ranging from $2,500 – $8,500 per grantee. Applications are currently open and will close January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm.
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We will prioritize grantees who:
Have an annual budget of under $750,000
Are led by or intentionally serve community members who face barriers to accessing the Boston Harbor, including people of color, Queer people, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, multilingual people, and low-income community members.
We are looking to build a culture of mutuality: as we invest in you, we expect you to invest in the Better Beaches program too. However, you do not need to be an expert in event planning or Boston’s beaches. We recognize that you’re an expert in your community's needs, and we value that perspective. All we ask is that you’re excited by the mission of this program and have the ability to fully participate.
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The Better Beaches Grant Program supports a diverse range of public events and programs that celebrate and engage communities on Boston Harbor beaches.
Grant funds must go toward events and programs that:
Are FREE to the public
Take place on DCR public beaches and beachfront parks. For a full list of which beaches and beach-front parks, see below.
Happen between June 1 – September 30, 2025
Better Beaches grant funds can support a wide variety of events, including: youth and family fun days, cultural festivals, science and learning programs, music and dance events, kayaking, swimming, fishing, book groups and literacy programs, community resources, art classes and markets, self-care and wellness events, fitness and sports classes, and more. Get creative! Projects may be one-time events, a series, or recurring gatherings.
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Below is the full list of DCR beaches and beachfront parks included in our program. For more information on each beach, including public transportation accessibility, availability of ADA materials, lifeguard status, and more, check out our site guide.
Kings Beach/Red Rock Park, Lynn
Nahant Beach, Nahant
Revere Beach, Revere
Short Beach, Revere
Winthrop Beach, Winthrop
Constitution Beach, East Boston
Pleasure Bay and Marine Park, South Boston
Marine Park, South Boston
L and M Street beaches, South Boston
Carson Beach and Mother's Rest, South Boston
Malibu/Savin Hill Beach, Dorchester
Tenean Beach, Dorchester
Wollaston Beach, Quincy
Wollaston Beach Playground, Quincy
Nantasket Beach, Hull
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We expect grantees to meet the following requirements:
Host a free event on one of DCR’s public beaches between June 1 – September 30
Attend the virtual Better Beaches Orientation on Tuesday, April 15th from 10:00am – 12:30pm
Submit all necessary documents and permits by the stated deadlines, including the Memorandum of Agreement, the DCR Special Use Permit, and the Feedback & Engagement Report
Attend at least one of four free educational exploration opportunities provided by Save the Harbor
Uphold and represent Save the Harbor’s mission and values
Adhere to DCR’s rules and regulations
Enjoy your beach. Join your community. Apply today.
We’re looking to build a motivated and engaged community of grantees made of small organizations, coalitions, collectives, individuals, and creatives. This grant program is not just about securing funds; it’s a way to get involved, bring your community to the Boston Harbor beaches, and help shape the future of our waterfront.
One of the primary intentions of the Better Beaches Grant Program is to help community members build relationships with Boston Harbor and create events, programs, or community traditions that bring new audiences to the beach. We want to help you establish a new idea, attract additional funders, and evolve your programs to match the interests and needs of your audience. We will also continue to fund events that have explicitly aligned with our values of bringing people of color, Queer people, people with disabilities, and people who don’t primarily speak English to the Boston Harbor.
We will be hosting an optional virtual information session on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 6-8pm. If you have any questions about the grant program or your application, this will be an opportunity to drop in, get information, and ask questions. Click here to register.
Need inspiration?
Better Beaches grant funds can support a wide variety of events, including: youth and family fun days, cultural festivals, science and learning programs, music and dance events, kayaking, swimming, fishing, book groups and literacy programs, community resources, art classes and markets, self-care and wellness events, fitness and sports classes, and more. Get creative!
See a full list of the programs and partners we funded last year here. Scroll through the examples below for a deeper look into some of the incredible 2024 events.
Be Well Retreat with Love Your Magic: This event was hosted on Red Rock Park in Lynn. It was a one-day wellness retreat for Black and Brown girls (grades 1-6) from Boston and Lynn. Participants (35 in total) practiced yoga, meditation, and other wellness-focused activities. Love Your Magic used the funds to provide breakfast and lunch. They also gifted each participant with a yoga mat, sunscreen, a journal, and art supplies.
Lynn Music Festival with the Lynn Music Foundation: The Lynn Music Foundation held its first-ever Lynn Music Festival at Red Rock Park. The festival featured 8-9 tables with local organizations and businesses, food and drinks, and about 10 musicians and bands from the area. The group used most of its funds to pay the musicians and cover AV, photography, and tech costs.
Community Care and Wellness Fair with Mutual Aid Eastie: This event took place on Constitution Beach. Around 200 people attended, mostly Spanish-speaking community members from East Boston. The fair offered various health and wellness activities, like reiki, massages, and arts and crafts. There was also a live acoustic band and free food. Mutual Aid Eastie used their grant to make these activities and food free for the public.
2024 World Music Concert Series with Tareq Rantisi: this musical series took place on Nantasket Beach and Revere Beach (two concerts in total). The events brought multiple local World Music ensembles to the beaches, and they attracted around 200 viewers in total (invitees and normal beach-goers). Tareq spent his funds on audio and sound engineering, equipment, and paying the musicians.
Scenes on the Beach with Playblack Studios: this event brought 5 local actors to Mother's Rest on Carson beach to perform fun, high-energy staged readings of scenes from popular and local media. The audience (around 20 people) participated in themed trivia in between scenes and debriefed afterwards to discuss the impact stories and spaces like these can have on creatives of color. Playblack Studios used their funds on paying artists, marketing, prizes, and tech rental.
Beach Storytimes with Daddy and Me Inc.: Daddy and Me Inc. organized a literacy program for fathers of color to read with their children on the grass at Tenean Beach in Dorchester. This was a small, recurring event, with 10-30 people attending each time. The group used its funding to buy new books for families, so dads could take them home, as well as free food, marketing materials, and other supplies.
Beach Bash with Stonewall Sports: This event was hosted (twice) on Malibu Beach for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The day featured various sporting activities, like beach volleyball and lawngames, as well as free food and a DJ. Stonewall sports used their funds to cover the cost of drag performers, food, and a live DJ.
Plein Air Painting from Paint by the Ocean: This series of five outdoor painting class was hosted on Red Rock Park in Lynn by Lynn-based artist Annette Sykes. The event welcomed around 200 artists across the five classes to learn outdoor painting techniques and connect with the ocean. Annette used her funds on paying assistant artists, buying posters and yard signs, and buying materials (canvases, brushes, paints) for the artists.
Family Beach Day from North Shore Haitian Association: This event took place on Revere Beach in Revere. It attracted around 50 Haitian community members and offered free Haitian food, beach games, and activities. Their grant funds covered catered food, flyers for marketing the event, and tent rental and other equipment rentals.
Veterans Beach Party from E.F. Gilmore Disabled American Veterans Chapter 64: On Constitution Beach in East Boston, members and friends of this group gathered for food, games, and music. The event was made accessible for community members with physical and mental disabilities. The grant was used to provide free food and activities for participants.
STEP Into Wellness with BlackBrownBoston: This fitness class was hosted on Carson Beach in South Boston. They provided a water bar with various sports drinks and mixes, a live DJ, and multiple fitness trainers. Their grant funds went toward hiring the DJ and trainers, as well as covering the cost of transportation for some who did not have the funds to get to Carson Beach on their own.
Queer Beach Takeover & Family Affair with Boston LesBiGay: This event was hosted on Carson Beach in South Boston. It brought around 75 members of the BI-POC LGBTQA+ community together for a celebration on the beach with tents, kites, and rainbow flags. Boston LesBiGay used their funds to pay for a chef and catering, event-specific T-shirts, and a live DJ.
You do not need to be an expert in event planning or Boston’s beaches. We recognize that you’re an expert in your community's needs, and we value that perspective. We are looking to build a culture of mutuality: we are happy to provide resources and support to help you plan and execute the best event for our shared community.
We have your back!
Check out our free resources to help plan a successful event
Questions?
We will be hosting an optional virtual information session on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 6-8pm. If you have any questions about the grant program or your application, this will be an opportunity to drop in, get information, and ask questions. Click here to register.
If you require any reasonable accommodations, please email Maya at smith@savetheharbor.org