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Connecticut Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Connecticut Community Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,311,580 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 8 weeks from submission deadline
  • Grant Range: $1,500 - $25,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills, Connecticut

Contact Details

Address: 43 Field Street, Waterbury, CT 06702

Phone: 203-753-1315

Email:

Website: https://conncf.org

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

Key Staff Contact:

  • Patrick McKenna, Assistant Director, Community Impact: pmckenna@conncf.org, 203-753-1315 ext. 118 (organizational capacity building initiatives, Strengthening Nonprofits grants, Grassroots Leadership, Ion Bank Foundation, Women's Fund)
  • Josh Feliciano, Information Technology Associate: jfeliciano@conncf.org, 203-753-1315 (technical support with applications and reporting)

Overview

Established in 1923, Connecticut Community Foundation is one of Connecticut's oldest and most established community foundations, serving a 21-town region in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. With annual giving of over $7.3 million (2023) and administration of more than 450 charitable funds, the Foundation provides leadership in addressing critical community issues, strengthens local nonprofit organizations through grants and technical assistance programs, and works with individuals, families, and corporations to advance philanthropy in the region. The Foundation has adopted a trust-based philanthropy philosophy, which focuses on simplifying and streamlining the grantmaking process, conducting due diligence before engaging with potential grantees, and practicing open and honest communication with nonprofits. In 2023, the Foundation made 201 grants across diverse areas including education, economic development, civic engagement, arts and culture, health, environmental justice, women and girls, LGBTQ causes, and more.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking (Application cycles in February and October)

  • Average grant size: $5,000 - $15,000
  • Application method: Online via GOapply portal, two annual competitive cycles
  • Supports broad range of community needs including education, economic development, civic engagement, arts and culture, health, environmental justice

Strengthening Nonprofits Grant Program (Application cycles in February and October)

  • Average grant size: $5,000 - $15,000
  • Application method: Online via GOapply portal
  • Supports organizational capacity building including professional development, consulting, financial planning, communications, evaluation, and inclusivity practices
  • Prioritizes organizations addressing disparities within communities

Grassroots Leaders Program (Rolling basis, reviewed in odd-numbered months)

  • Average grant size: $5,000 - $7,000
  • Application method: Rolling basis, quarterly review
  • Empowers community residents with funding for projects that strengthen Waterbury and its neighborhoods
  • Focus areas: youth development and leadership (including young adults 18-24), community-building projects and events
  • Reviewed quarterly by a committee of community residents

Women's Fund (Application cycles in February and October)

  • Grant range: Varies
  • Application method: Online via GOapply portal
  • Supports programs benefiting women and girls in the service area

Ion Bank Foundation (Application cycles vary)

  • Geographic focus: Hartford County, Litchfield County, New Haven County (CT), and Morris County (NJ)
  • Decision timeline: Approximately 8 weeks from submission deadline
  • Supports nonprofits in Ion Bank's service area

Arts & Culture Grants (Application cycles in February and October)

  • Grant range: $2,000 - $15,000
  • Recent examples: festival support, museum programming, live performances, cultural celebrations

Priority Areas

Based on 2025 grant awards, the Foundation actively funds:

  • Arts & Culture: Cultural festivals, museum education programs, live performance series, community celebrations, theater productions
  • Basic Needs & Social Services: Homelessness prevention and services, food security, affordable housing, essential items for families
  • Youth Development: Youth leadership programs, recreational activities, music and arts programs for young people, mentorship
  • Women & Girls: Support groups, peer-led programs, services for formerly incarcerated women, programs for adolescent girls
  • Health & Human Services: Maternal health, behavioral health, substance abuse recovery
  • Civic Engagement: Community organizing, advocacy, grassroots leadership
  • Education: K-12 programming, workforce development, culinary job training
  • Immigration Services: Legal services for immigrant communities
  • Food Security: Food rescue and recovery programs, meal delivery, soup kitchens

The Foundation specifically supports:

  • System change and advocacy efforts
  • Core nonprofit operations including staff time, overhead, and evaluation
  • Organizations working to reduce disparities in the community
  • Programs that bring people together and build community

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Requests for political or religious purposes
  • Capital expenditures on buildings not owned by a nonprofit
  • Requests from municipalities or religious organizations for buildings (Ion Bank Foundation)

Governance and Leadership

The Connecticut Community Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of trustees and managed by a staff of experts in fund management, philanthropy, charitable gift planning, grantmaking, and community issues.

Board of Trustees includes:

  • Dan - Has served on the Board since 2012, chaired the Scholarships Committee since 2013
  • John A. Michaels - Vice President for Strategy at Michaels Jewelers
  • Bob Bailey - Former senior international banker with over three decades of experience leading multi-billion-dollar divisions for Citibank, NationsBank (Bank of America), and Banco Santander
  • David - Certified public accountant at Budwitz & Meyerjack of Cheshire
  • Edith Reynolds - Co-owns The John Bale Book Company, served for many years on the Grants Committee
  • Carolyn - Experienced business executive, market researcher, and executive coach, former executive vice president of GfK Custom Research North America

The Foundation's board represents diverse professional backgrounds including banking, retail, accounting, publishing, and research, providing strategic guidance aligned with community needs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Connecticut Community Foundation uses an online system called GOapply for grant applications and reporting. Organizations must register a GOapply account to apply for grant funding.

First-Time Applicants: Required to set up an in-person meeting with the Program Officer who staffs the area of interest before submitting a request. These conversations are an important part of the process and are tied to eligibility.

Application Cycles: For most programs, applications are accepted for two yearly grantmaking cycles with due dates in mid-February and October. Some programs have different schedules:

  • Grassroots Leaders Program: Rolling basis, reviewed in odd-numbered months (quarterly review)
  • Application dates are subject to change and will be updated as new grant applications open

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or municipal entity seeking a grant for public purposes
  • Organizations may also have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor if they do not have their own nonprofit status
  • Must have a board that is representative of the community, of which a majority are neither employees nor relatives of employees
  • Must provide services, supports, or programming to communities located within the 21-town service area
  • Must possess Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

Reapplication: Organizations can apply for funding for the same project over multiple years and can apply for more than one grant from the Foundation during a competitive round.

Decision Timeline

  • Typical timeframe: Approximately 8 weeks from submission deadline to decision (Ion Bank Foundation)
  • Notification method: By phone or letter
  • Grassroots Leaders: Quarterly review cycle for applications submitted on rolling basis

Success Rates

In 2023, the Foundation made 201 grants totaling $7,311,580. Historical data shows:

  • 2023: 201 awards
  • 2022: 190 awards
  • 2021: 204 awards

Specific success rates (percentage of applications funded) are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can apply for funding for the same project over multiple years. There are no stated restrictions on reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's trust-based philanthropy approach and documented practices, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Trust-Based Alignment: The Foundation's philosophy focuses on "simplifying and streamlining the grantmaking process for applicants, doing due diligence before engaging with potential grantees, and practicing open and honest communication with nonprofits." Applications should reflect authentic organizational needs rather than what applicants think the Foundation wants to hear.

2. Community Connection: The Foundation prioritizes organizations that serve the 21-town service area in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. Strong applications demonstrate:

  • Direct service or programming to communities within the geographic region
  • Understanding of local community needs and disparities
  • Engagement with community members in program design

3. Equity Focus: The Foundation specifically supports "organizations working to reduce disparities in the community." Successful applications show:

  • How the project addresses inequities
  • Who benefits from the work and why those populations are underserved
  • Commitment to inclusive practices

4. Core Operations Support: Unlike many funders, Connecticut Community Foundation "includes support for core nonprofit operations such as staff time, overhead, and evaluation." Don't shy away from including operational costs in your budget.

5. Systems Change: The Foundation "supports system change and advocacy efforts." Projects that go beyond direct service to address root causes are valued.

6. Relationship Building: First-time applicants must meet with the Program Officer before applying. Use this meeting to:

  • Ask questions about fit and alignment
  • Get feedback on your project concept
  • Build understanding of Foundation priorities
  • Demonstrate your organization's capacity and community connections

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • Brian Gibbons Homeless Outreach ($5,000): Emergency services and outreach support for women at risk of being unhoused
  • CT Institute for Refugees & Immigrants ($25,000): Immigration legal services in Waterbury
  • Food Rescue US ($15,000): Expansion of food recovery work
  • St. Vincent DePaul Mission ($10,000): Culinary jobs training program
  • Mattatuck Museum ($15,520): Arts programming at Waterbury's Children's Community School for 100+ K-6th grade students
  • The Gathering Festival ($10,000): Support for culturally diverse festival in Waterbury
  • Black Boarders of Connecticut ($5,000): Mom's on the Mountain program engaging female guardians in youth skiing activities

Application Tips:

  • Complete the in-person meeting requirement for first-time applicants—this is non-negotiable and tied to eligibility
  • Use the GOapply portal for all submissions
  • Contact program staff (Patrick McKenna or Josh Feliciano) with questions—the Foundation values "open and honest communication"
  • Be specific about how your project serves the 21-town geographic area
  • Include realistic overhead and operational costs—the Foundation explicitly supports these
  • Demonstrate community representation on your board
  • Consider applying to multiple programs if your work fits more than one (the Foundation allows multiple applications per cycle)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is essential: You must serve one or more of the 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. Clearly articulate local impact.
  • First-time applicant meeting is mandatory: Budget time for scheduling and attending an in-person meeting with program staff before your first application—this is tied to eligibility.
  • Trust-based approach means authentic proposals: The Foundation values honest communication and streamlined processes. Write authentically about your organization's needs rather than over-promising.
  • Core operations are fundable: Unlike many funders, Connecticut Community Foundation explicitly supports staff time, overhead, and evaluation costs. Include these in your budget.
  • Equity lens matters: Prioritize showing how your work addresses community disparities and who benefits from your programs, especially underserved populations.
  • Multiple applications allowed: You can apply for more than one grant per cycle and can reapply for the same project across multiple years—take advantage of this flexibility.
  • Two main deadlines annually: Plan for mid-February and October submission cycles for most programs, with Grassroots Leaders accepting rolling applications reviewed quarterly.

References

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