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Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Inc

Annual Giving
$2.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,097,072 (2022 total)
  • Total Assets: $72.4 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months per cycle
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $25,000 (occasionally larger)
  • Geographic Focus: Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington, CT only
  • Founded: 1941

Contact Details

Address: 74a Vine Street, New Britain, CT 06052-1409

Phone: 860-229-6018

Fax: 860-225-2666

Email: info@cfgnb.org

Website: www.cfgnb.org

Office Hours: Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Grants Contact: Joeline Wruck, Director of Grants & Initiatives
Email: jwruck@cfgnb.org
Phone: 860-229-6018, ext. 307

Overview

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) was founded in 1941, making it one of the oldest community foundations in the nation. It began when two local manufacturing companies, The Stanley Works and New Britain Machine, pooled $30,000 in gifts before World War II to establish what was then called the New Britain Foundation for Public Giving. Today, the foundation manages over 300 charitable funds with a $70 million endowment and total assets of $72.4 million as of 2024.

The foundation's mission is "to inspire philanthropy, responsibly manage permanent charitable assets, and partner to address key community issues through strategic leadership." Primarily a grant maker for many years, CFGNB has evolved to become a community leader, building bridges and coordinating community-wide efforts to shape the future of the Greater New Britain area.

In 2022, CFGNB awarded $2,097,072 in grants and scholarships, with over $1 million awarded by March 2023 and $481,111 awarded through July 2024. The foundation serves exclusively the Connecticut towns of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Response Grants: The foundation's primary grantmaking program operates on a two-cycle annual schedule. Grants mainly range from $5,000 to $25,000, but occasionally larger amounts are awarded. The foundation makes grants for general operating support, capital projects, and project-specific initiatives.

Vouros Grant: The Reverend Carl G. Vouros Memorial Fund supports empowerment programs in the New Britain community specifically. Applications open February 1 with an April 15 deadline and decisions made in late May. Organizations must take a one-year hiatus after three consecutive years of Vouros funding.

Capacity Building Initiative: Provides mini-grants of $500-$2,000 to help nonprofits implement training received through the foundation's capacity building workshops.

Scholarship Program: Awards over 60 scholarships annually to area students pursuing higher education.

Priority Areas

The foundation's areas of focus include:

  • Arts, Culture, and Heritage: Enhancing quality of life and investing in long-term economic vitality
  • Community and Economic Development: Building stronger, more resilient communities
  • Education: K-12 education with emphasis on STEM and career-related programming
  • Health and Human Services: Meeting basic needs and improving community health
  • Capacity Building: Strengthening local nonprofit organizations through training in strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, and board development

Key Emphasis: The foundation strongly prioritizes collaborative work and community partnerships. Their grantmaking is backed by assertive efforts to nurture relationships, build bridges, and coordinate community-wide efforts.

What They Don't Fund

Based on information from related grantmaking programs in the same portal system, the foundation typically does not fund:

  • Sectarian or religious activities
  • Political or lobbying activities
  • Capital campaigns (generally)
  • Deficits
  • Direct support of individuals
  • Annual or endowment campaigns
  • Camperships or scholarships for academic and/or enrichment programs (through Community Response grants)
  • Public/independent schools
  • Organizations outside of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington

Note: Capital equipment requests are generally not funded but may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Kaylah Milligan - President & CEO (effective January 1, 2025)
Milligan was selected after a nationwide search to succeed retiring CEO David Obedzinski. She joined the Community Foundation in March 2013 as an administrative assistant and rose through the ranks, serving as program associate, assistant director of development, director of development and community response, and director of philanthropy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology and Spanish from Central Connecticut State University and a Master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Marist College.

David J. Obedzinski - President & CEO (August 2017 - December 31, 2024, retired)
Obedzinski led the foundation for eight years, bringing more than 30 years of management experience in philanthropy. Prior to joining CFGNB, he was vice president of philanthropy for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association.

Robert S. Trojanowski - Vice President & CFO
Joined the foundation in September 2011 and oversees financial administration.

Joeline Wruck - Director of Grants & Initiatives
With more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit world, Joeline joined CFGNB in November 1997 as Director of Programs. She manages the foundation's comprehensive grant program.

Cara Petersen - Communications and Development Officer
Contact for Vouros Grant applications at 860-229-6018, ext. 308 or cara@cfgnb.org.

Board Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of directors that includes:

  • Richard M. Dighello - Shareholder at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C.
  • Jennifer L. Farley - Vice President Quality, Patient Safety Officer at Hospital for Special Care
  • Thomas Mills Jr.
  • Dr. Nicole Sanders - Director of Talent and Equity at Consolidated School District of New Britain
  • Dr. Zulma R. (full name not specified in sources)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
All applications begin with a Letter of Inquiry submitted through the foundation's online grant portal. LOIs are due on January 1 or July 1 each year.

Step 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
Following LOI review, organizations may be invited to submit full proposals. Full proposal deadlines are February 1 and August 1.

Before Applying: Applicants should review the Community Investment Guidelines for complete information on the grants process and areas of interest. The foundation encourages prospective applicants to contact Joeline Wruck to discuss proposals before submitting a Letter of Intent.

Decision Timeline

  • LOI deadlines: January 1 and July 1
  • Full proposal deadlines (if invited): February 1 and August 1
  • Funding decisions announced: April and September
  • Typical decision time: 2-3 months from LOI submission

Success Rates

In their first round of 2022 grants, the Community Foundation approved $312,420 in Community Response grant awards to 17 programs and organizations. This represents a competitive application process, though specific success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. However, the Vouros Grant program requires organizations to take a one-year hiatus after three consecutive years of funding.

For questions about reapplication, contact Joeline Wruck at jwruck@cfgnb.org or 860-229-6018, ext. 307.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Collaborative Partnerships: The foundation strongly prioritizes collaborative work and community partnerships. Their grantmaking is backed by assertive efforts to nurture relationships, build bridges, and coordinate community-wide efforts. Applications that demonstrate partnerships with other organizations or community-wide collaboration are likely to be viewed favorably.

Geographic Focus: Organizations must be based in and provide services to the communities of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington. This is a strict requirement.

Strategic Alignment: The foundation has evolved from being primarily a grant maker to becoming a community leader that partners "to address key community issues through strategic leadership." Applications should demonstrate how projects align with broader community goals.

Capacity Building: The foundation invests significantly in nonprofit capacity building through workshops and training. Organizations that show commitment to strengthening their organizational capacity may be viewed favorably.

Recent Grant Examples (2024)

  • Berlin Equity Action Team: $5,000 for the third annual Juneteenth celebration
  • New Britain Museum of American Art: $50,000 for Education and Outreach program
  • New Britain Youth Museum: $10,000 for strategic planning

Application Guidance

The foundation encourages reaching out to staff members with questions at any time. Joeline Wruck, Director of Grants & Initiatives, is available at jwruck@cfgnb.org or 860-229-6018, ext. 307 "for more detailed grant application guidance and information, or to discuss your proposal before submitting a Letter of Intent."

This pre-application consultation opportunity suggests that the foundation values relationship-building and wants to ensure applications are well-aligned before submission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organizations serving Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington are eligible - no exceptions
  • Two-stage process is selective: Only invited applicants submit full proposals after LOI review, so the LOI is critical
  • Collaboration is key: The foundation strongly prioritizes partnerships and community-wide efforts - demonstrate your collaborative approach
  • Contact them first: The foundation explicitly encourages pre-application discussions with Joeline Wruck - take advantage of this opportunity
  • Capacity building matters: Show commitment to strengthening your organization, not just funding programs
  • Think long-term and strategic: The foundation wants to "shape the Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington of tomorrow" - connect your work to broader community impact
  • Plan ahead: With only two LOI deadlines per year (January 1 and July 1), you'll need to plan your application timeline carefully

References

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