Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $20 million+ (total grants), $2-3 million (strategic grants)
• Assets: $275 million
• Decision Time: 4-5 months (July submission to January decision)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
• Geographic Focus: Fairfield County, Connecticut (23 towns and cities)
• Total Grants Awarded: Over $390 million since founding

Contact Details

Main Office: 40 Richards Avenue Norwalk, CT 06854

Phone: (203) 750-3200

Website: https://fccfoundation.org

Grant Application Contact: Sharon Jones, Grants Associate Email: SJones@FCCFoundation.org Phone: (203) 750-3200

Overview

Founded in 1992 through the merger of several municipal community foundations (including Danbury and Greenwich), Fairfield County's Community Foundation has grown into a $275 million regional funder serving all 23 towns and cities in Fairfield County, Connecticut. In 2008, the foundation merged with the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, further expanding its reach. The foundation has awarded more than $390 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond.

Under the leadership of President & CEO Mendi Blue Paca, who joined in 2022, the foundation emphasises systems-level change to close opportunity gaps in education, employment, housing, and health. The foundation's "Fairfield County Forward" strategic plan focuses on addressing racial disparities and structural inequities, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour; youth ages 16-25; and women and girls. The foundation distributes over $20 million annually in total grants, with $2-3 million dedicated to competitive strategic grants. In FY24 (July 2023-June 2024), the foundation awarded $4.1 million in strategic grants to 154 nonprofit organisations, with 457 total awards made in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Strategic Programme Support Grants: $10,000-$15,000 (average)

• Focus: Specific programmes addressing foundation result areas
• Application: Annual cycle (Letter of Interest typically July 15-August 15)
• Recommended for: First-time applicants
• Recent recipients include: Association of Religious Communities, Building Neighborhoods Together, Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, Connecticut Legal Services

Strategic General Operating Support Grants: Up to $50,000

• Focus: Highly effective organisations doing systems-change work
• Application: Annual cycle (Letter of Interest typically July 15-August 15)
• Recommended for: Organisations previously funded by the foundation
• Recent recipients include: Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Housing Development Fund, Inspirica, Southwestern CT Agency on Aging

Capacity Building Grants: Up to $10,000

• Focus: Organisational development (leadership development, strategic planning, technology improvements, impact measurement)
• Application: Rolling basis while funding available
• Supports: Mission-aligned organisations investing in their sustainability

Fund for Women & Girls Small Grants: Up to $5,000

• Focus: Projects serving women, girls, and non-binary people in Fairfield County
• Application: Year-round, streamlined application process
• Manages: $20 million Fund for Women & Girls

Priority Areas

The foundation's "Fairfield County Forward" strategic plan focuses on four key result areas:

Workforce & Economic Opportunity ($331,000 in FY25)

• Equitable access to workforce, entrepreneurship, and employment skill-building opportunities
• Financial self-sufficiency and asset building programmes
• Recent grantees: Women's Business Development Council, Career Resources Inc

Housing ($485,169 in FY25)

• Safe, stable, and affordable housing in communities of opportunity
• Recent grantees: Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Housing Development Fund, The Housing Collective

Education & Youth Development ($655,500 in FY25)

• High school graduation preparation for post-secondary education
• Programmes for older youth (ages 16-25)
• Recent grantees: Newtown Youth and Family Services, Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders

Health Services ($444,000 in FY25)

• Equitable access to high-quality, culturally-competent physical and behavioural health services
• Women's and Girls' Health Equity initiative prioritising underserved and uninsured populations

Other Focus Areas:

• Women & Girls ($1,069,915 in FY25)
• Civic Engagement ($47,000 in FY25)
• Discretionary Grants ($147,700 in FY25)

What They Don't Fund

Based on grant guidelines, the foundation does not fund:

• Activities to persuade people to join or support specific religions, political parties, or candidates
• Capital campaigns
• Budget deficit coverage
• Fundraising events
• Land purchases
• Charter or private schools
• Endowments
• Individual assistance

Target Populations

The foundation prioritises serving:

• Black, Indigenous & People of Colour
• Youth ages 16-25
• Women & Girls
• Immigrants
• All Fairfield County residents with focus on closing opportunity gaps

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Mendi Blue Paca Joined in 2022 after serving as Chief Community Impact Officer and VP of Community Impact since 2018. Previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Centre for Effective Philanthropy, and Lincoln Centre. Holds degrees from Harvard College (BA Economics), Harvard Law School (JD), and Harvard Business School (MBA).

Blue Paca emphasises: "I believe we all have a responsibility to create equitable systems and structures, and in my new role, I have an opportunity to do that in a significant way at the community level."

On the foundation's approach: "There's an incredible changing of the guard happening in philanthropic leadership across the country, and with it, attention to new focus areas, particularly a focus on understanding and undoing the impacts of systemic racism."

Key Leadership Team:

• Tara Berlingo, Chief of Staff: Liaison with CEO and Board of Directors, drives organisational effectiveness
• Lutonya Russell-Humes, VP of Grants & Programmes: Oversees major community initiatives aligned with strategic goals
• Elaine V. Mintz, VP of Strategy & External Relations: Directs external relations, communications, community engagement, and evaluation (since 2011)
• Joseph Collin, VP of Philanthropy: Leads fundholders/donor relationships and departmental strategy
• Christina Rose, VP of Strategic Partnerships: Oversees legacy and planned giving, manages Philanthropic Advisory Council (joined 2025)

The foundation operates with a philosophy of being "guided by those most impacted by inequity" and emphasises collaborative, data-driven approaches over traditional top-down philanthropy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Strategic Grants (Annual Cycle)

Four-Step Process:

1. Create or access an online Grants and Programmes Portal account
2. Complete eligibility screening quiz
3. Submit Letter of Interest (one per organisation per cycle)
4. If invited, submit full application

Timeline:

• July 15 - August 15: Letter of Interest submission window (typical dates)
• Early September: Invitations to apply sent to selected organisations
• End of September: Full applications due
• Early January: Funding decisions announced
• January 1 - December 31: Grant term
• July 15: Interim report due
• January 15: Final report due

Note: The foundation operates one annual cycle for strategic grants.

Capacity Building Grants & Fund for Women & Girls Small Grants:

• Rolling applications accepted while funding is available
• Streamlined application process

Eligibility Requirements

Organisations must:

• Be recognised by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or 509(a) public charity, OR work under a fiscal sponsor with these credentials
• Use funding to serve people who live in Fairfield County
• Have completed any prior grant-funded work and submitted final reports before reapplying
• Align with the foundation's "Fairfield County Forward" strategic plan

Decision Timeline

Strategic Grants: Approximately 4-5 months from Letter of Interest submission to decision announcement (July submission to January decision)

Capacity Building & Small Grants: Applications reviewed within 4-6 weeks

Decisions are based on:

• Type of programme and identified community need
• Measurable results and capacity for evaluation
• Community collaboration
• Broad base of financial support
• Project budget alignment

Success Rates

The foundation awarded $4.1 million in strategic grants to 154 organisations in FY24, with 457 total awards made across all grant types in 2023. Specific success rate percentages for competitive applications are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations that have received previous grants must complete the funded work and submit final reports before applying for new grants. Specific waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented; applicants should contact Sharon Jones, Grants Associate, for clarification.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Prioritises

For Strategic Grants: The foundation prioritises requests from organisations that are:

• Centred in systems change: Addressing root causes of inequity rather than symptoms
• Results-oriented: Demonstrating capacity to measure and evaluate impact
• Data-driven: Using evidence to guide programme design and improvement

For General Operating Support: The foundation seeks organisations that:

• Are critical to achieving one or more key result areas
• Centre systems-change work addressing structural racism and inequity
• Have proven track records of effectiveness and impact

Foundation Philosophy

As CEO Mendi Blue Paca states, the foundation should be "guided by those most impacted by inequity." This represents a departure from traditional top-down philanthropy toward community-led solutions.

On addressing disparities: "I think I have the chance to address the extreme racial disparities that we see in our county and throughout many communities."

Grant Size Recommendations

• First-time applicants: Apply for Programme Support grants (average $10,000-$15,000)
• Previously funded organisations: May apply for General Operating Support (up to $50,000)

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

Recent grantees demonstrate the foundation's priorities:

• Housing: Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, Housing Development Fund, The Housing Collective, Inspirica
• Workforce Development: Women's Business Development Council, Career Resources Inc
• Community Support: Building One Community, Person to Person, Alliance for Community Empowerment
• Youth Development: Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, Bridgeport Generation Now
• Women & Girls: Aurora Women and Girls Foundation
• Legal Services: Connecticut Legal Services, Connecticut Veterans Legal Centre
• Civic Engagement: Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Additional Support

Beyond grants, the foundation operates a Centre for Nonprofit Excellence providing low-cost, high-quality professional development workshops to help organisations grow their capacity and impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Systems change is paramount: The foundation explicitly prioritises organisations addressing structural inequities and root causes rather than surface-level symptoms. Frame your work in terms of systems transformation.

2. First-timers start small: New applicants should apply for Programme Support grants ($10,000-$15,000) rather than General Operating Support. Build a track record before requesting larger grants.

3. Demonstrate measurement capacity: Being "results-oriented" with strong evaluation capabilities is a key selection criterion. Show how you measure impact and use data to improve programmes.

4. Target population alignment matters: Projects serving Black, Indigenous & People of Colour; youth ages 16-25; and women & girls receive priority. Be explicit about how your work serves these populations in Fairfield County.

5. Letter of Interest is competitive: The two-stage process means your LOI must be compelling enough to receive an invitation to submit a full application. Make your case for systems change and measurable impact in this initial submission.

6. Complete prior work before reapplying: If you've received previous grants, ensure all work is completed and final reports submitted before submitting new applications.

7. One application per cycle: Organisations may only submit one Letter of Interest per grant cycle, so choose your strongest programme or organisational need.

References

• Fairfield County's Community Foundation - Our Grants: https://fccfoundation.org/our-grants/
• Fairfield County's Community Foundation - Apply for a Strategic Grant: https://fccfoundation.org/apply-grant/
• Fairfield County's Community Foundation - Staff Leadership: https://fccfoundation.org/staff/
• Cause IQ Profile - Fairfield County's Community Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/fairfield-countys-community-foundation,061083893/
• Inside Philanthropy - Fairfield County's Community Foundation: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/connecticut-grants/fairfield-countys-community-foundation
• Six Questions with Mendi Blue Paca: https://fccfoundation.org/six-questions-with-mendi-blue-paca-new-president-of-fairfield-countys-community-foundation/
• Denver Frederick Interview - Bridging the Gap: https://denver-frederick.com/2023/04/28/bridging-the-gap-mendi-blue-paca-on-fairfield-countys-fight-against-economic-inequality-and-racial-disparities/
• More than $4.1 Million in Strategic Grants Awarded: https://fccfoundation.org/more-than-4-1-million-in-strategic-grants-awarded-in-fy24-to-area-nonprofits-from-fairfield-countys-community-foundation/
• Connecticut Council for Philanthropy - Fairfield County's Community Foundation: https://www.ctphilanthropy.org/redhen/org/256
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/fairfield-county-community-foundation-inc-296ff1e5-5312-4437-b52a-559f203a043c

All sources accessed December 2024.