The Challenge
The North Bennett Street School is the oldest trade school in the U.S. Located in Boston, it has served generations of students since 1881. But by 2013, it had largely outgrown its current structure, which was a series of buildings cobbled together in the North End.
Funding Solution
A building in the North End came up for sale, and the City of Boston gave the school permission to purchase it. The acquisition and construction costs would be an estimated $25–30 million—an enormous fundraising challenge. In order to aid the acquisition of this building, the Manton Foundation donated $1 million to the school. Receiving that $1 million proved to be a pivotal moment; it helped other donors view the project as being achievable and worthy of their support. And when fundraising began to lag, a second gift from the Manton Foundation closed the gap.
The Impact
Today, the North Bennet Street School’s students get to work in a modern, productive space that still embodies the local history. It allows the North Bennet Street School to meet the needs of more students than ever and continue its legacy of excellence in the trades.
