Connecticut Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Connecticut Community Foundation supports 21 Connecticut towns in the areas of arts and culture, cradle to career, economic vitality, environment, grassroots leaders, healthy communities, older adults, Southbury, technology for organizations, and women and girls.
FUNDING AREAS: Arts and culture, cradle to career, economic vitality, environment, grassroots leaders, healthy communities, older adults, Southbury, technology for organizations, women and girls
IP TAKE: The CCF features a wide range of grant programs, many with opportunities for grassroots organizations and leaders.
PROFILE: Established in 1923, the Connecticut Community Foundation (CCF) was founded in Waterbury, Connecticut. This is the community foundation that serves the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills communities with a 21-town regional focus. The foundation seeks to "[foster] creative partnerships that build rewarding lives and thriving communities” in order to keep “communities alive with partnerships that demonstrate the power of giving.”
CCF largely focuses its giving on 10 impact areas. Arts and culture grants support innovation, partnerships, and access to the arts. Cradle to career grants support early child care, youth, coaching, and youth travel. Economic grants invest in safety net programs, the planning and development of infrastructure to drive economic growth, and efforts in financial literacy and job training. Environment grants fund clean-up efforts, conservation projects, and environmental awareness campaigns.
Health grants seek to provide access to care, mental health, substance abuse, eye health, disease prevention, and physical fitness. Older adult grants support healthy aging, creative expression in the elderly, and intergenerational projects. The foundation assists nonprofits with technical needs, including hardware and software, and it also has a Women’s Fund to address the needs of women and girls in the region. Additional grant funding initiatives include event sponsorships, eye research through the Herbst Fund, international youth travel through the Whittemore Fund, Naugatuck health and wellness through the Saunders Fund, and Southbury issues through the Southbury Community Trust Fund.
Grants range between $5,000 and $10,000, although larger grant requests are considered. Geographically, CCF prioritizes the following Connecticut towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Cheshire, Goshen, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Milford, Oxford, Prospect, Roxbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury. This foundation offers one year of funding at a tim, but often supports the same nonprofits for multiple years. The grant review process and decision-making takes about 10 weeks from the deadline date. Past grantees include the Mattatuck Historical Society and Museum, the Waterbury Symphony, Project Ackonadi, Arts Escape: Threads, and Kelly’s Kids.
To apply for a grant, nonprofits must use CCF’s online application system. Each funding areas has its own grant guidelines to follow; however, many of the programs accept applications once or twice per year. Keep in mind that funding for equipment and capital campaigns is limited with CCF. Current foundation financial data can be viewed here. Grantseekers can direct general questions to the foundation at info@conncf.org or 203-753-1315. The foundation’s news section is a good place to keep up with recent grant awards and events.
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