Community Impact

LBF Grant Application | Sponsorship Application

Community Support at Lee Bank

Grants & Sponsorships

The next application deadline for the Lee Bank Foundation is March 2, 2026.

Lee Bank’s commitment to community stretches back to our founding in 1852. Since then, our contributions and sponsorships have supported a wide range of organizations, events, and initiatives across Berkshire County. In 2021, the Lee Bank Foundation was established to further the Bank’s long-standing mission of community reinvestment.

In 2025 alone, the Lee Bank Foundation distributed $250,180 in grant funding to 49 local organizations.
Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded a total of 218 grants, distributing more than $1.09 million to nonprofits serving Berkshire County.

As an independent, community-based bank, Lee Bank does not have obligations to shareholders. Instead, our obligation—and our privilege—is to reinvest in the communities we serve by supporting the organizations and initiatives that help the Berkshires thrive.

Our grant and sponsorship recipients include arts and cultural organizations, grassroots groups, and nonprofits focused on food security, literacy, job readiness, economic development, and other initiatives that benefit local individuals, families, and children. Priority is given to Berkshire County–based organizations that receive the majority of their funding from local sources.

Lee Bank Foundation Grants

Program and project-based funding

Grant funding through the Lee Bank Foundation is available to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations seeking support for programs and projects that help reduce opportunity and wealth gaps for youth and families in Berkshire County.

Foundation focus areas include:

Education and literacy
Food security and nutrition
Economic growth and development
Health and human services
Mentorship, internship, and school-to-work initiatives

Organizations may receive grant funding once within a 12-month period. To support the broadest range of community organizations, funding for the same program is limited to three consecutive years, after which an organization must either apply for a new program or take a one-year break before reapplying.

Grant applications are reviewed quarterly, and all applicants are notified of a funding decision by the end of the review month.

[Apply for a Grant]

Sponsorships

Support for community events and activities

Lee Bank sponsorships are intended to support community events and activities, such as fundraisers, festivals, races, performances, athletic teams, and similar initiatives that bring people together and enhance community life.

Sponsorship requests are reviewed monthly, and applications must be submitted at least 6–8 weeks prior to the event. Organizations may receive one sponsorship per calendar year. Approved sponsorships are typically notified by receiving a check in the mail.

Sponsorships are not intended to support general operating expenses, ongoing programs, staff salaries, or capital projects.

[Apply for a Sponsorship]

Not Sure Which to Apply For?

Apply for a sponsorship if you are seeking support for a specific event or activity.
Apply for a grant if you are requesting funding for a program or project with defined goals and outcomes.

Questions may be directed to Alison Brigham, VP of Brand Experience and Community Impact, at [email protected].

Documents to help you prepare your proposal:

Sample Grant Application

Sample Program Budget

We want to congratulate all of our 2024 Lee Bank Foundation grant recipients!