The seeds for the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts were planted in 1991 by a group of concerned citizens who formed a steering committee to discuss the need for a public community foundation. Over the next four years, a feasibility study funded by the Island and the Polaroid foundations was conducted, the first Corporators meeting was held, and a board of directors was appointed in 1994.


The Foundation was officially launched in 1995 when CFSEMA incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, obtained nonprofit tax-exempt status from the IRS, and hired Anne M. Beaulieu as its first president. The Foundation's first $100,000 gift was received that year, and in 1997 CFSEMA received a gift of one million dollars to establish the drug abuse prevention and education effort known as Youth Entitled to Success (Project YES).

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Assets and Giving for Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts

Assets

2019 - 41,915,970
2018 - 35,719,482
2017 - 36,391,823

Domestic Grants

2019 - 3,446,899
2018 - 3,272,101

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