William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund

OVERVIEW: The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund education, fighting racism, ending poverty and promoting societal equity in Connecticut.

FUNDING AREAS: Education, fighting racism, ending poverty, promoting societal equity

IP TAKE: This funder has evolved with the times and is now a major equity funder in Connecticut, which makes it a good one to know for local anti-racism efforts in local towns.

PROFILE: Established in 1964, the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund is a family foundation based in Hamden, Connecticut. The Graustein family was from Prussia and moved to Boston in 1874. Archibald Graustein’s widow and son decided to put the assets that were left behind in trust after his death into this fund, which was further funded upon Mrs. Graustein’s death in 1993. The foundation aims to " achieve equity in education by working with those affected and inspiring all to end racism and poverty.” It funds local efforts for education, fighting racism, ending poverty and promoting societal equity.

The William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund has recently made a shift in its grantmaking strategy toward equity and diversity. To the Graustein Memorial Fund, equity in education means transforming institutions and educational processes, preparing all students for success from birth, eliminating opportunity gaps, encouraging communities of color and low-income communities to participate in the education of children and changing inequities and divisions in race and class. One focus area, building community power, involves investing in confronting racism and poverty in schools and society. The disrupting institutional inequity focus area involves changing structures and holding leaders accountable to commitments to people of color and living in poverty. The transforming key systems focus area is all about advancing policies and changing laws at the state level that oppress people. The foundation awards responsive grants, grants from the director’s discretionary fund, racial equity training and support grants and technical assistance grants.

Grants range between about $100 and $150,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the following Connecticut communities: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Meriden and Waterbury. Past local grantees include the YWCA Hartford Region, Ascend Mentoring and the Village for Families and Children.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and awards grants on an invitation-only basis. Direct general questions to the staff at 203-230-3330 or to Rachel for grants management questions at rmurphy@wcgmf.org.

PEOPLE:

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