The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:
For the concluding year of the School Program Grants, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) awarded $24,500 to the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) to support education programs in every school that will enhance learning beyond the classroom. Grants will support programs across multiple disciplines, including STEM programs, Literacy Week and the arts, to serve 2,700 students of all ages across the district. The list of grantees is here. A new grant portfolio, Education and Youth Development, will launch this March.
This award includes support for STEM initiatives for K-3 students district wide, giving elementary students inquiry-based learning experiences that bring science to life. While WPS internal funds were able to support STEM initiatives for Grades 4 – 5, support from Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has made it possible for more than 1,100 students in Grades K-3 to participate in several STEM initiatives, including:
The Discovery Museum (Kindergarten); Bugman Entomology (Grade 1); Mystic Aquarium (Grade 2); and Rainforest Reptiles (Grade 3). Since 2022, Enanta has donated $20,000 to support STEM programs in Watertown’s elementary schools.
“Enanta is a proud supporter of STEM activities in the Watertown Schools. We know tomorrow’s
scientists need encouragement. We want to be part of growing the next generation, through enabling hands-on learning about science in the elementary grades and supporting mentorship programs with Watertown’s high school students,” said Jay R. Luly, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Enanta Pharmaceuticals. “We appreciate our partnership with the Watertown Community Foundation and applaud their commitment to enriching the STEM education of our local students.”
Watertown’s biotech community has donated $55,000 since 2021 to support STEM initiatives in Watertown Public Schools. In addition to Enanta Pharmaceuticals, past supporters have included Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics, Landmark Bio, Kymera Therapeutics and Vigil Neuroscience.
School Program Grants Conclude
While the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) began to offer education grants in 2011, the WCF School Program Grant portfolio began in 2017 in collaboration with the Watertown Education Foundation (WEF) with $25,000 in funds. In 2018, WEF merged with WCF and established an expendable fund of $118,000 to enhance learning beyond the classroom at Watertown Public Schools. Since the inception of the School Program Grant portfolio, the Watertown Community Foundation added $137,000 from WCF funds, fundraising events, and generous contributions from Watertown’s biotech companies for STEM programs, ultimately awarding $280,000 in School Program Grants to serve more than 23,000 students between 2017 and 2025.
“The Watertown Education Foundation began in 1992 with the mission to strengthen Watertown’s commitment to excellence in education at the Watertown Public Schools. In these final years of funding, the Watertown Community Foundation has worked to be a diligent steward of this mission to benefit several generations of Watertown’s youth,” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, Co-President and School Program Grant Chair, Watertown Community Foundation.
Introducing New Grant Portfolio: Education and Youth Development
With the conclusion of the School Program grants, the Watertown Community Foundation has launched a new grant portfolio, the Education and Youth Development Grant Program. As a result of a year-long, community-informed, strategic planning process, this new grant program will provide a unified, comprehensive approach to supporting Watertown’s young people. It will fund programs that contribute to the overall well-being of Watertown’s youth — academically, socially, emotionally and physically. The Foundation seeks to fund initiatives and create access to opportunities that foster skill-building, creativity, leadership, confidence and resilience, while creating pathways for all young people to thrive.
Eligible non-profits and public entities that serve Watertown’s youth are invited to apply. Grant applications will open March 2 – 23, 2026. For more information, visit here.
About The Watertown Community Foundation
The Watertown Community Foundation advances and supports positive change for the people who live and work in Watertown through the transformative power of community giving. We envision a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds can thrive, connect, and contribute to the strength and resilience of our city. Started with funds from the sale of the Watertown Arsenal property in 2003 and powered by generous donations from Watertown residents and businesses, the Foundation has awarded more than $3,000,000 in grants. We are
committed to convening local stakeholders, creating cross-sector collaborations, and breaking down barriers to bring people together to turn philanthropy into action. For more info about our mission, board of trustees and impact, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.