Innovative direct-giving platform launches in new city with support from the MassMutual Foundation
BOSTON, MA – NeighborShare, the pioneering direct-giving platform that connects donors with neighbors in need, today announced its expansion into greater Boston. The launch brings NeighborShare’s innovative approach to charitable giving to New England’s largest city, in partnership with eight respected local nonprofit organizations and with funding support from the MassMutual Foundation.
NeighborShare’s Boston launch marks a significant milestone in the organization’s mission to create a more equitable and efficient charitable giving ecosystem. By leveraging technology to facilitate direct, transparent, and trustworthy person-to-person giving, NeighborShare provides immediate, targeted assistance to individuals facing financial hardships.
“We’re thrilled to bring NeighborShare to Boston,” said Kelli Kreps, executive director of NeighborShare. “Our platform is already connecting neighbors in need with those who can help in 26 states across the country, and we’re excited to work with our new partners to address critical unmet needs in the Boston community. The support from the MassMutual Foundation has been instrumental in seeding this expansion and we will be seeking out more Boston-based supporters to expand our number of nonprofit partners and ultimately neighbors served.”
The six nonprofit partners joining Women’s Money Matters and Bridges Homeward in NeighborShare’s Boston network are HarborCOV, La Colaborativa, NOAH, Roca, Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center, and Youthbuild Boston.
NeighborShare conducted an extensive discovery process earlier this year and selected the partner organizations through a competitive application process. Through the programs and services, they already implement, partners will identify households in need and facilitate direct financial assistance for emergent needs such as car repairs, medical bills, childcare, and job training costs. Since its founding, NeighborShare has facilitated more than $1 million in cash assistance to nearly 10,000 neighbors nationwide. NeighborShare’s support serves as a safety net for safety net organizations, helping to ensure that a small, unexpected expense doesn’t cause a family to spiral into larger crises, like job loss or homelessness. With 1 in 3 Americans unable to afford a $400 emergency, this just-in-time cash assistance is crucial.
Verena Catherine Niederhoefer, Acting Executive Director of YouthBuild Boston, conveyed the organization’s excitement about the partnership: “Becoming a partner with NeighborShare will allow YouthBuild Boston to further assist young people of color in our community as they navigate a positive pathway to self-sufficiency, neighborhood responsibility, and careers in the building industry.”
Sunindiya Bhalla, Executive Vice President of Roca, Inc., expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “NeighborShare’s innovative approach aligns perfectly with our efforts to provide timely, effective support to those in need. We’re excited to see how this collaboration will enhance our ability to serve a group of very vulnerable, young women and mothers who often have nowhere to turn to for support.”
Philip Giffee, NOAH Executive Director, shares that “NOAH is excited to be part of the NeighborShare innovative partnership. With nearly four decades of experience in addressing the evolving issues faced by area community members, we are extremely glad to be part of a collaborative effort to bridge pivotal resident needs that otherwise would go unmet.”
“Thanks to the support of NeighborShare and its caring donors, Bridges Homeward is able to support some of the urgent needs of children in foster care and families in crisis. As we all know, ‘it takes a village’, and we are incredibly grateful that NeighborShare is part of ours,” said Courtney Gomez, Chief Program Officer, Bridges Homeward.
“Women’s Money Matters participants are all women and girls who live on low incomes. They often face unexpected emergencies that can undermine their hard-earned financial progress. Our partnership with NeighborShare provides important support that can help mitigate these setbacks and prevent minor incidents from derailing their journey toward financial stability,” shared Danielle Piskadlo, Executive Director of Women’s Money Matters.
“HarborCOV is grateful and excited to partner with NeighborShare to connect domestic violence survivors with resources for safety and stability. We look forward to partnering with the NeighborShare team and broader community to support survivors.” – HarborCOV CEO Kourou Pich.
The MassMutual Foundation, focused on helping build the financial well-being and resilience of communities around the country, has provided crucial funding for NeighborShare’s Boston launch. Dennis Duquette, president & CEO of the MassMutual Foundation, stated, “building stronger communities is at the forefront of everything that the MassMutual Foundation does. Throughout our work with NeighborShare, we have seen how their vision of creating more direct pathways to charitable giving directly contributes to the strength of a community. NeighborShare’s recent expansion into Boston represents a vital step in realizing that vision by continuing to foster financial security for those who need it most. We look forward to continuing our partnership and are committed to further increasing financial resilience across Massachusetts.”
To see vetted needs and support a Boston neighbor today, visit www.nbshare.org/boston.
