Search Through Grants for After School Programs in Connecticut in the U.S.

Alexis de Tocqueville said in Democracy in America that “the health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”

We believe that an informed and engaged citizenry is an essential ingredient of a healthy democracy. Through our initiatives, we hope to create an inclusive table and invite all voices to participate, especially those from communities of color and our youth. Our civic engagement grants are intended to support initiatives that share these inclusive values and will further the depth of understanding and likelihood of participation in civic life in the community.

Our commitment to civic engagement seeks to impact the lives and well-being of residents throughout the region. Mini-grants of up to $1,000 are available to support efforts to build and strengthen our communities towards a just and civil society.

Charitable Investments

CSX is proud to support people and organizations that in turn honor those who serve our communities. We offer monetary and in-kind resources to nonprofit organizations advocating for the betterment of our nation’s military members or community first responders, and have additional resources available to support other community efforts.

In Kind Donations

Intermodal Transportation Services

Intermodal transportation services provide applicable organizations with intermodal equipment and rail service throughout the CSX rail network, and afford these organizations an opportunity to reduce or eliminate their transportation spending.

Ideally, intermodal moves work best when freight is moving 500 miles or more. However, the in-kind moves program requires only that freight have an origin and destination within a combined 250 miles’ distance to a CSX intermodal facility.

CSX’s door-to-door product is an ideal solution for the in-kind moves program, as our trained team will pick up your freight at its origin and transport it to a terminal to be placed on an intermodal train. Then, we will pick up your freight at the destination terminal and deliver it directly to its endpoint. The door-to-door network provides service across the Eastern United States with its large nationwide network and trucking capability.

CSX will also work with you to determine the type of equipment that is an ideal fit to transport your freight. CSX has a large fleet of rail-owned containers, as well as an expansive network of channel partners that can provide equipment to fit your needs.

Railroad Equipment and Materials

CSX occasionally donates materials, supplies and used railroad equipment based on availability. The online in-kind application can be used to request the donation of railroad-related items, including retired rail cars when available. Please note that rail, rail ties and spikes are not available for donation or purchase. Applicants will be contacted if the requested item becomes available within 90 days of their online submittal. At that time, arrangements will be made to transfer possession of the requested item. All applicants will be asked to re-submit their application at a later date if the requested item does not become available within the 90-day period.

Eager to Learn Program

Our Eager to Learn program was created to provide college test prep assistance to all learners and, in 2022, was expanded to promote education about and access to trade schools. This program will ensure that students from every socioeconomic background can access the highest quality SAT and ACT prep materials, tutors, and opportunities and explore careers in the skilled trades. We want to partner with organizations poised to provide these services or those already working with students to raise ACT and SAT scores or mentor students interested in a trade. We want all students to have a fair and equal opportunity to get into the best colleges, universities, or trade schools. We also strive to position students to be offered scholarships and tuition packages by raising their scores. Grants are capped at $25,000.

Program Goal

The Eager to Learn program was designed to give students access to the absolute best SAT and ACT prep. In 2022, we expanded the program to include funding for organizations working with individuals interested in alternative career pathways and job skills development. Organizations should be innovative and flexible in helping students and individuals to understand their options for a bright future.

This program will ensure that students from every socioeconomic background have access to the highest quality SAT and ACT prep materials. We want students and young adults to be at the forefront of information available to them from knowledgeable career counselors. We formed this program to partner with organizations poised to provide these services or who are already working to raise ACT and SAT scores or counsel kids on a bright future without the need to attend college. We want to empower students by providing them with a fair and equal opportunity to get into the best colleges and universities and position them to be offered scholarships and tuition packages by raising their scores. If a student’s path does not include college, then we want them to have access to knowledge about trade school careers.

For SAT/ACT programs

we will support organizations and schools implementing small-group test preparation sessions that enable students to achieve optimum outcomes and get the attention and answers they deserve. SAT and ACT programs should consist of groups of no more than fifteen at a time but as close to one-on-one as possible. We believe intensive programs are necessary to raise college entrance exam scores. We want to support and encourage the counseling and mentoring process required to navigate college entrance exams and beyond. Funds can also be used for intensive college counseling, application sessions, and FASFA assistance.

New ERA Writers Program Goals

The New Era Writers Program aims to inspire those who seek to improve their current abilities or find a community with like-minded individuals and writers. We want to provide support and resources to writers and writing programs to help amplify their voices and improve their capabilities. Our Foundation believes that one of the most important life skills is the ability to be an effective writer and communicator. We support programs that will provide anyone with the knowledge and skills to express themselves through the art of writing and encourage higher levels of training designed to assist in delivering clear and persuasive arguments for change and equality. This program was designed to support writers as they pursue a career and love of writing.

Program Outline

The New Era program was created to encourage writing professionals, teachers, counselors, professors, and schools to start or continue programs supporting professional and creative writing career paths.

The program can support:

• Any writing genre: Journalism, Fiction, Poetry, Prose, Blogging, Novel, Autobiography, Book Reviews, Comic Strips, Diaries, Essays, Fables, etc.
• Programs can be Workshops, Writing Clubs, Curriculum Based Programs, After-school programs, Summer Programs, Retreats, etc.
• Program space that provides a safe and inspiring environment.
• Community Partnerships or On-Staff Writing Professionals or Teachers with Writing Degrees or who Minored in Writing or any Humanities, Liberal Arts or another degree that teaches or encourages writing.

Nordson Corporation Foundation

The Nordson Corporation Foundation awards grants to non-profits in our communities throughout the United States. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants to improve the quality of life in our communities, placing a special focus on causes related to education. Employees support the foundation by making donations during our annual A Time to Give Campaign, or by participating in a Community Affairs Committee (CAC). Committees review grant applications and vote to distribute Foundation funds to deserving local causes. During the last financial year, the Foundation gave out 362 grants totaling $6.3 million.

Nordson Foundation Giving Strategies

The geographic areas in which Nordson has major facilities determine the Nordson Foundation's giving priorities.

Within these geographic areas, granting priorities are driven by community needs. Although needs change quickly, our vision is long term. We pursue and support results-oriented opportunities that prepare individuals for full and equal participation in the economic and social mainstream. We believe these kinds of programs help improve the quality of life over the long term and produce stronger, more enlightened communities in which we live and work. We strive to fulfill these responsibilities in our communities through contributions to charitable activities with a focus on education. Other major giving categories that are supported are human welfare, civic affairs and arts and culture. 

Nordson Foundation Values 

In the spirit of our corporate founders, the Nordson Corporation Foundation continues to operate on the belief that business, as a corporate citizen, has a social responsibility to share its success with the communities where it operates, and employees live.

We pursue results-oriented opportunities that prepare individuals to thrive in strong, vibrant communities. While Nordson funds a variety of nonprofit program areas, our primary focus is education and offers support to non-profit organizations that cultivate educational curriculum and experiences that foster job readiness and paths to aspire to higher education. 

The Nordson Foundation offers support to non-profit organizations that cultivate educational curriculum and experiences that foster self-sufficiency, job readiness and goals to aspire to higher education. The Foundation is well aware of the fact that for non-profit organizations to remain viable they must receive operating support. With this in mind, Nordson Corporation Foundation does invest in general operating support.  

As stewards of the Foundation assets, the directors feel strongly that the organizations that are supported by the Foundation be able to measure the effectiveness of their mission and programs. Quantitative and/or qualitative data allows for the Foundation to ensure that the organizations it supports are bringing about the desired outcomes in our communities.

Nordson Foundation Goals

The goals of the Nordson Corporation Foundation are to insure that:

• All children have access to and receive quality educational experiences from early childhood  
• All individuals have the opportunity to be self-sufficient members of society 
• There is a continuum of quality educational opportunities 
• Our communities are strengthened by the organizations we fund whether their focus is education, human welfare, civic or arts and culture

Nordson Foundation Funding Strategy

Through its grant-making, the Foundation supports organizations that directly or indirectly seek to maximize success before, during and beyond the traditional classroom years. Grants will be reviewed and considered on the basis of their enrichment to the communities where our employees live and work. Organizations and programs receiving grants will be expected to identify relevant, measurable outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.

Education

• Early Childhood Care and Education
• Maximizing Student Success
• Access to quality educational opportunities
• Innovative programs
• Partnerships/collaborations with school districts
• Funding gaps not covered by public monies
• Augmenting core curriculum
• Exposure to programs that expand on traditional education
• Workforce Preparation
• Initial preparation for the world of work
• Retraining for the new job market
• Strengthening our communities

Human Welfare

• Promote prevention and lifestyle maintenance programs and activities
• Promote crisis intervention
• Promote life transition opportunities
• Promote systemic change

Arts and Culture

• Actively seek to broaden the audience bases in Nordson communities
• Support the visual and performing arts
• Provide educational enrichment for students
• Motivation for at-risk youth
• Provide access to the arts for special needs audience
• Promote greater understanding among people via the arts

Civic

• Work to improve the physical or economic environment
• Provide cultural or historical preservation
• Strive to inform citizens and increase their participation in community improvement

Our Mission

The Foundation’s mission is to utilize its assets to assist any not-for-profit organization seeking to promote the arts or create programs that inspire, engage, and teach.

We hope that someday the arts will no longer be considered a school elective or an interest for the few but a necessity for living a full life and for the health of our hearts and minds. 

Through our partnerships in the community, we are utilizing the arts to harness its extraordinary power to inspire, raise educational outcomes for students, and enrich the overall quality of life in marginalized communities.

We believe that there is a great synergy in combining the talents of musicians, museum educators, nonprofit arts advocates, actors, teachers, and writers. We believe that the arts, in all forms, have significant intrinsic societal value and can take on multiple roles in youth education for healthy brain and social development. 

In keeping with our mission, the Foundation values and will support organizations protecting and utilizing nature to enrich peoples’ lives through conservation and beautification. We believe that a healthy environment means a healthier population overall. 

Studies have shown that children benefit both mentally and physically from outdoor activity and clean air. We seek to continue to work with organizations that understand the value of our human connection with and reliance on a thriving and accessible green infrastructure.

Our Foundation is also interested in supporting health science and medical research. We understand that supporting cutting-edge technology and research is paramount in gaining important ground on treating and hopefully curing all forms of cancers and diseases. We are specifically interested in supporting research in treating and curing pancreatic and other forms of high-mortality illnesses that have lagged in funding and medical advancement. 

P/Arts Program

P/Arts Program Information

P/Arts stands for Philanthropic Arts and is our Foundation’s own initiative launched in 2019 to help catalyze non-profit, tax-exempt public charities, accredited schools and universities, and government or public agencies. We want to help implement or enhance educational programs utilizing the arts in daily curricula for early childhood education programs as well as K-12 students.

The P/Arts Program Was Created To Encourage Partnerships Within The Philanthropic Arts And Education Communities.

Organizations applying for P/Arts funding must be accredited 501(c)(3) organizations that are using performing and/or visual arts education to help:

• Enhance and Transform Existing Outdated Public School Curricula
• Motivate & Engage Children and Students
• Deepen Professional Development for Teachers, Professors, and Childcare Workers
• Link School and Home
• Use Evidence-Based, Arts-Based Instruction
• Help to Lessen the Education Achievement Gap

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

About PCLB

The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation (PCLB) was formed in 1999, by Dr. Peter Buck and his wife Carmen Lucia as a private family foundation to manage their family’s philanthropy in a thoughtful and strategic manner.

PCLB’s work is anchored by its mission statement, “giving motivated people the tools they need to help themselves.” These tools are about more than grants and include guidance, connections, convening, information, and other forms of assistance that the foundation and its grantees can provide. PCLB looks to support the highest‐quality organizations that show initiative, leadership, and innovation in solving issues that are meaningful to the family and the communities where family members live.

Program Areas

PCLB makes grants in five program areas:

• Education
• Outdoors
• Science
• Medicine
• Family Projects

Our choice of work in these program areas is guided by a desire for strategic and systemic change, by our founders’ intent, by our Board members’ interests, and by our staff’s expertise.

Within these program areas, we seek to support the highest-quality, most effective organizations that align with our broad mission of giving motivated people the tools they need to help themselves and that align with our more specific program area goals. Broadly, we provide the following types of financial support:

• General Operating: PCLB prefers to make general operating grants, to give our grantees the greatest ability to do the work they know is most important to meet our shared goals. Generally, we have general operating relationships with organizations that last for an extended period, recognizing that many of the issues on which we work take time to address.
• Restricted Support: PCLB also makes restricted grants, often to focus on areas of particular geographic interest or to support a specific department or area of work within an organization that has a broad scope.
• Big Bets: Philanthropy is uniquely positioned to take risks and try big things. In this spirit, PCLB makes a limited number of grants to fund especially large, time-limited projects that have the potential to change narratives around and trajectories of grantees’ work.
• Program-Related Investments: PCLB makes Program-Related Investments (PRIs) in the form of low-interest loans. PRIs are offered to current PCLB grantees to complete land conservation projects and to meet the facility needs of charter schools. Loans are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, within guidelines established by the Foundation.

Autism Community Impact Grant

The Flutie Foundation recognizes not-for-profit organizations who share our mission to help individuals and families with autism live life to the fullest. For our 2023 Autism Community Impact Grant, we will continue granting these organizations with a particular emphasis on supporting traditionally under-served, under-funded, culturally diverse communities.

Our Autism Community Impact Grant cycle will consider requests that will help fund programs and projects showing potential to make an IMMEDIATE impact in the community and align with the Flutie Foundation priorities as stated in our Seven Key Dimensions described below. We especially encourage organizations with programs serving those most profoundly affected by autism to apply and share their stories.

Grant Funding Priorities

Work/School

Providing a path for educational opportunities, vocational skills programs, employment, housing, transportation and healthcare delivery for individuals on the autism spectrum.   

Active/Social

Support for recreational and sports programs, aquatic programs, social skills training, family events and summer camps for all individuals on the autism spectrum.

Safe/Supported/Informed

Funding for community organizations and schools who are providing vital resources and actively assisting individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families through advocacy programs, diagnostic and clinical services, direct family support, safety equipment, emergency care, respite services and other opportunities that will enhance the quality of life for those affected.

Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Our Vision

A healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all.

Our Mission

Collaborating with partners to put philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of our community in Eastern Connecticut.

Our Values

Integrity, Equity, Respect, Courage, Empathy

Regional Impact Grants

Our regional grant opportunities are based on donor intent and link with our strategic priorities. Each is focused on a particular geographic area.

The Community Foundation is committed to incorporating a focus on equity and social justice in our work towards a healthy, thriving Eastern Connecticut.

Programs that promote racial equity, contribute to movement building, and seek to change inequitable systems through advocacy will be a priority.

Preston Community Fund

The Preston Community Fund accepts applications for the purpose of supporting the arts, cultural and social needs of the residents and organizations of the Town of Preston, Connecticut. The Fund supports the development of innovative and imaginative programs, projects and services in cooperation with 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies and programs for the exclusive benefit of Preston residents, organizations, programs, projects or services.

Mission

The Northwest CT Community Foundation, Inc. (NCCF) is the community foundation located in and serving Northwest Connecticut. NCCF enhances life for citizens in its 20-town service area by:

• Awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to students

• Helping donors create lasting, local legacies

• Encouraging local philanthropy and volunteerism

• Building endowments for future generations

NCCF serves the following communities: Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Canaan (Falls Village), Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury (Lakeville), Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Washington, and Winchester/Winsted.

Cycle Grants

Areas of Concentration

NCCF has five areas of concentration: 

• Arts & Culture
• Civic & Education
• Environment
• Health
• Social Services 

Funding

Grants are designated as:

• Small ($1,500 and under); or
• Traditional (over $1,500).

When considering how much to request in traditional applications, be aware that the Foundation’s average grant amount is $5,000. It is not uncommon for a grant award to be lower than the amount requested. The amount awarded may be greater for major capital expenditures, significant new programs with a solid plan for long-term support, bold expansion of existing programs, or large capacity building efforts. 

Corporate Sponsorships

We give back as much as we can, as often as we can, and to as many organizations as possible. Because nothing is more rewarding than knowing we played a part in finding a solution. Easing the burden for people struggling to make ends meet, helping a child learn to read, or inspiring someone to keep moving forward – one step, one day and one moment at a time.

As part of this commitment, we proudly support numerous non-profits and events through corporate sponsorships at many levels. Contributions support organizations that are involved in meeting the cultural, educational, community development, health and human services needs of communities within the bank's footprint in the central, eastern, western and shoreline areas of Connecticut and in Greater Springfield Massachusetts.

We strongly believe that supporting the causes we are passionate about creates stronger engagement and longer lasting ties in the communities where we live and work. Here are some examples of events we’ve sponsored in the past:

• Dinner fundraisers
• Walk-a-thons/5Ks
• Community concert series
• Golf tournaments
• Theatrical performances
• Chamber of Commerce events, fairs, festivals, parades, and home shows
• Community, semi-professional or professional sporting events

Branch Sponsorships

Many branch offices sponsor local youth athletic programs, school events, walk-a-thons, golf tournaments and other events, at amounts up to $1,000.

The Claire C. Bennitt Watershed Fund, Inc. partners with local land trusts, municipalities, state agencies and others to protect threatened watershed lands. It is proud of its efforts to protect water quality while adding value to a community’s quality of life by protecting open spaces.

Purpose of Grants

• To award grants for the acquisition of title, conservation easements, and/or development rights to watershed land for the purpose of protecting, preserving, and enhancing water quality now and for future generations throughout the region.
• To award grants to organizations providing education in the appreciation of and preservation of our environment, with particular emphasis on the understanding of our water resources, the negative impacts of development and other activities on water quality, and the benefits to water quality and the environment of preserving watershed land as open space.

Funding

Such grants typically do not exceed $10,000.

Building Equitable Opportunity

This new grant area combines several of the Foundation’s former grant opportunities including Cradle to Career (early care and youth development) and Economic Vitality grants. By combining these areas, we recognize that although systems are often siloed by issue area or population, individuals and families navigate across policies, systems and programs. Building Equitable Opportunity seeks to explore solutions across generations and systems.

Our focus on equitable opportunity emerged from research on the deep educational and economic disparity that exists in our region. We found disparity based on race, and also income, age, geography, and gender/sexuality.

Income: The median household income of Waterbury residents was $40,879 in 2017, compared to over $93,000 for the towns in the Litchfield Hills.

Age: Children and youth are most likely to be low-income in Waterbury with 64% of the population being under the age of 17.

Geography: Funding spent per pupil varies greatly by geography, students in the Litchfield Hills have nearly $20,000 spent per pupil vs. just over $15,000 in Waterbury. Only 62% of Waterbury children have a pre-k experience compared to 79% statewide.

Race: Only 26% of Black students and 23% of Latinx students were proficient in reading by 3rd grade compared to 45% of white students in Waterbury

Gender/Sexuality: LGBTQ youth are at more than double the risk of homelessness compared to non-LGBTQ peers.

Our approach focuses on:

• Supporting programs, advocacy, and system change efforts that build equitable pathways out of poverty and to economic mobility
• Promoting access to quality culturally responsive education, especially focused on Waterbury where there are significant disparities by race and income
• Supporting the development of jobs and career pathways with livable wages
• Promoting opportunities to build assets for BIPOC families that have been left behind in traditional banking systems
• Targeting education interventions that support BIPOC students and include youth and parent voice in decision-making

Efforts we support include:

• Increasing collaboration between school systems and preschools to align readiness, support kindergarten transition, and focus on parent voice
• Evidence-based initiatives that improve the quality of the pre-k and K-12 experience for Black and Latinx, low-income, and children with disabilities (examples include: RULER, Circle of Security, Restorative Justice Practices)
• Interventions that address disproportionate minority contact in in pre-K-12 education and expand access to pathways to college
• Programs that substantially build the long-term assets and economic resiliency/mobility of residents (such as financial education and planning, job and skills training, etc.)

We encourage requests that:

• Provide services or support to the communities located within our 21-town service area
• Support system change and advocacy efforts
• Include support for core nonprofit operations such as staff time, overhead and evaluation
• Support organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in March 2015 and based in Rye Brook, New York.

Elizabeth M. Pfriem was the daughter of a Polish immigrant coal miner moves with her family at the end of World War II from the dying coal mines of Scranton, Pa., to the prospect of a better life in the prosperous city of Bridgeport. When you talk about business impact and philanthropic influence in Bridgeport, Mrs. Pfriem’s legacy is to be admired with the likes of P.T. Barnum and industrialist Frank D’Addario. She went about her business quietly yet her impact was wide and loud that benefited school kids, neighborhoods, social service organizations, medical facilities and the Barnum Festival for which she served as ringmaster, the only woman to occupy that role in its 70-year history. 

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation is dedicated to improving the human condition by supporting public charities that provide education, health services, food security, and safe, affordable housing, primarily focusing on the greater Bridgeport, Connecticut area. The foundation's mission centers on facilitating provisions that help vulnerable populations, especially children and families in need. It supports organizations that align with its goals of enhancing education, healthcare, food access, and housing safety. The foundation is committed to sustainable, high-impact programs that address community needs, particularly in Bridgeport.

Foundation Grants

Grants are made by invitation only to 501(c)(3) public charities that demonstrate fiscal responsibility, strong leadership, and innovative programs poised for growth. The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation considers organizations that fit our funding criteria and align with our mission statement. The Foundation reviews Letters of Inquiry on an ongoing basis. Applications received after the deadline date will be considered for the following year.

Background

The Memorial Fund supports the Transformation of Key Systems by providing grants to groups who are Building Community Power and Disrupting Institutional Inequity – including those doing advocacy or community organizing work; or affecting change from within educational institutions. 

Equity Grants For Community Groups

The Memorial Fund supports the Transformation of Key Systems by providing grants to groups Building Community Power and Disrupting Institutional Inequity.

Given the current sociopolitical climate and the demands of those working in these spaces, the Memorial Fund is primarily focused on supporting our current grantee partners in the most meaningful ways possible at this time. 

Systems Change Lens

Building Community Power

Groups working to increase the power of communities of color living in poverty (i.e. youth, residents, students, parents) by equipping community members with the tools necessary for engaging in individual and collective, bottom-up, social change efforts.

Disrupting Institutional Inequity

Groups developing and advocating for practices, policies, and structures that promote equity in education (at the school, district, or state level) and in related intersectional issues.  

Transforming Key Systems

Efforts to Build Community Power and Disrupt Institutional Inequity culminate in Transforming Key Systems.

Key Issue Areas

To advance educational equity in Connecticut, we prioritize efforts that promote:

• Anti-racist and inclusive curricula
• School climate (discipline, over-policing, exclusionary language practice, etc.)
• Equitable school financing
• Teacher Diversification

We also support efforts directed at the following adjacent systems:

• Criminal Justice
• Economic Justice
• Health Equity
• Housing Equity
• Immigration Justice

Types of Work

Community Organizing

• building leadership and collective power – the ability to decide and act – among community youth, residents, students, and parents working together for social and systemic change.

Infrastructure Support

• building capacity for community organizers

State and Local Advocacy

• addressing key issues, especially when done in partnership with organizing and grassroots groups.

Grassroots Social Change

• leading social change grounded in and responsive to their community.

Funding Range

up to $85,000- Those groups with medium alignment are eligible for this range.

Groups that center their work on education, or are viewed as filling one of the following roles will receive awards on the higher end of the range:

Collective Action Leaders

• build relationships and lead coalitions by convening groups to create networks, strategize, and build public will.

Field Builders

• provide key leadership in a field or area of strategic interest and are often uniquely positioned to advance change.

Infrastructure Supporters

• build the infrastructure needed to support groups who are building community power or advancing educational equity.

Innovators

• pioneer strategies or practices to advance equity that can serve as models for others.

Criteria

The criteria listed here represent maximal alignment with the mission of the Memorial Fund (no group will have all characteristics) and are what we use to evaluate applications and determine funding levels.

• Building Community Power
  • Provide support, skills, and training for grassroots groups to lead social change
  • Build solidarity and trust among communities most affected
  • Focus efforts on communities of color (youth, parents, residents) in high poverty neighborhoods
• Community Organizing
  • Intentional about shifting inequitable power dynamics
  • Take direction from and operate with accountability to group members
  • Consistently develop group members to become leaders, and leaders to become organizers
  • Actively build a membership base
• Disrupting Institutional Inequities
  • Engage in state and local advocacy
  • Provide training and expertise for community engagement in advocacy efforts
  • Raise public awareness on key issues (see Key Issues above)
  • Design and implement advocacy campaigns
  • Have established relationships with local and state lawmakers
  • Cross-group collective action, including partnering with community-based grantee partners to advance shared advocacy goals

• Leadership
  • Leadership that is reflective of the population served
  • Efforts led by person(s) with lived experience in the community being served
• Culture
  • Co-create and advance an anti-racist organizational culture
  • Use a racial equity lens in your work
• Capacity
  • Clear goals, strategies, and activities
  • Established process to mark progress
  • Demonstrable progress toward goals
  • Clear understanding of existing organizational capacity, as well as what needs to be built to carry out desired work
  • Strong mission and values alignment between the group and the proposed work
• Partnership
  • Strong partnerships with other community organizations, including current grantee partners

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

CT Grown for CT Kids

The CTG4CTK Grant shall, assist schools, school districts, childcare centers and homes, and organizations to develop farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state's economy.

Connecticut Farm to Early Childcare and Education (ECE) Grant

Purpose

Early Childcare Education (ECE) is a critical component of farm to school, yet many operate very differently from K-12 education, thus we have created a separate track for all ECE providers and networks to apply. Applicants under this category will only be evaluated against each other.

Potential Projects

Project Examples (projects can incorporate multiple components; you are not limited to those listed):

• Purchase of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares for students and families.
• Purchase of CT Grown farm products for integration into student snacks/meals with clear educational farm and/or nutrition connection.
• Purchase and installation of raised garden beds or indoor growing systems/container gardens, tools, and equipment for experiential learning.
• Development/expansion of agriculture curriculum for students.
• Establishing and expanding Farm to ECE Networks.
• Professional Development Trainings for staff.
• Family engagement activities such as the creation of recipe books, cooking classes and/or take-home taste tests.
• Farm field trip and farmer visit to school(s)

Funding

Early childcare educators may apply for up to $50,000, and their programs must run for a minimum of twelve (12) months to a maximum of eighteen (18) months.

Mission

The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation was established in 1973. The Foundation's 3 primary focus areas reflect Mr. Balfour's strong affinity for the employees of the Balfour Company, his commitment to the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and his lifelong interest in education. Specifically, the Balfour Foundation supports:

• Educational scholarships to employees of the Balfour Company, as well as to their children and grandchildren
• Organizations serving the people of Attleboro, with special consideration given to those organizations that provide educational, human services and health care programming for underserved populations
• Educational organizations that serve New England

Focus Area

Educational Organizations

The Foundation's educational funding is generally focused on organizations or programs that provide support for underserved or under-represented populations to prepare for, access and succeed in higher education, including 2-year and 4-year institutions.

It is clear that Mr. Balfour was interested in supporting students for successful completion of college. As such, the Foundation focuses its grantmaking in the New England area on programs that support college readiness, access, and success. The Foundation is most interested in programs that support students all the way into and through post-secondary credential attainment (2- or 4-year credentials). Programs within institutions of higher education aimed at attracting, supporting, and retaining (through successful completion) under-served and under-represented populations are also of interest. In this area, we will consider applications that request scholarship funds, if those scholarships are part of a broader set of services and supports.

Iroquois’ Community Grant Program

We believe that delivering clean natural gas is part of a bigger picture. Since 1991, Iroquois has partnered with our pipeline host communities by providing unique funding programs, which empowers them to take steps to preserve their environmental heritage and increase passive recreational opportunities.

Our first program, the Land Preservation and Enhancement Program (LPEP), provided funding for more than 200 projects including the preservation of more than 12,000 acres of open space, and the creation of 22 new parks. This one-time program's success led to a 10-year successor program, the Land Enhancement and Acquisition Fund (LEAF), launched in 1995. At its conclusion in 2006, LEAF had provided assistance in completing an additional 100 projects within our communities.

Continuing our commitment to being a good corporate neighbor, Iroquois established a Community Grant Program in 2007 that provides lasting benefits to communities where Iroquois’ facilities are located. While remaining focused on environmental and passive recreation initiatives, funding areas have been expanded to include historic preservation and targeted arts & culture.

If your organization is developing a community or environmental initiative designed to provide long-term, lasting benefits, we invite you to contact us for possible funding under Iroquois’ Community Grant Program. This competitive-based program, with grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, is reserved exclusively for communities where Iroquois facilities are located. Priority is given to those proposals that meet established criteria and rank high with the program’s intent.

Focus Areas

Primary Focus Areas: Environmental Initiatives (Preservation, Enhancement, Education) and Passive Recreation

Secondary Focus Areas: Historic Preservation, Civic & Community, Targeted Arts & Culture

Annual Environmental Grant Program

The Rockfall Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 Annual Environmental Grants Program, available to non-profit organizations, municipalities, and schools. The Environmental Grants are for projects and programs that support the environment through conservation, preservation, restoration, or education in the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which includes Middlesex County as well as Lyme and Old Lyme.

Funding for materials, transportation, program/presenter fees, intern stipends and similar items are eligible.  Funding must be applied to the items/activities described in the application form. Substitutions are not permitted unless prior approval has been obtained.

Applications are rated on the following criteria:

• likelihood of proposal reaching fruition and its target audience;
• clear alignment and benefit to a priority area;
• innovation;
• engagement of youth;
• environmental justice/disadvantaged populations;
• Previous Rockfall support or existing project with proven progress;
• implications beyond the immediate purview of the proposal;
• Potential for broader application beyond the proposed activity;
• Clarity and confirmation of matching funds sources.
• likelihood on continuation without further funding from the Foundation; and
• a budget that is clear and reasonable.

Types of programs, projects and initiatives that are funded include:

• environmental education,
• responsible environmental planning,
• preservation of the Connecticut River Watershed,
• innovative solutions to waste stream management and pollution,
• open space acquisition,
• environmental justice, or
• anything consistent with the priorities listed.

Environmental Education is broadly defined, and not limited to school curricula; environmental education programs can target any age from preschool through adults. Activities that engage young people, provide hands-on experiences, offer internships, or creative approaches to learning are encouraged.

Capital projects that facilitate learning are not prohibited but will be carefully scrutinized for their application to hands-on learning. Planning projects should be approached with consideration for the natural environment and those that support sustainable communities. Preservation of the Connecticut River Watershed includes projects designed to protect and benefit the water quality of the Connecticut River watershed and raise awareness of responsible living in the watershed. 

Priority Areas

• Preservation – work to protect ecosystems, species, and other irreplaceable elements of the region’s natural heritage.
• Conservation – work to minimize our use of finite natural resources and our negative impacts on ecosystems and communities.
• Restoration – work to re-establish the healthy functions of an ecosystem or parts of ecosystems.
• Education – work to foster a stronger awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues.

Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations. The Foundation supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, the Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center that offers meeting rooms and office space for non-profit organizations.

Environmental Champions Awards

Through its Environmental Champions Awards, The Rockfall Foundation recognizes individuals and groups to highlight their contributions to the region in the area of natural resource preservation, conservation, restoration, or education. The Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award* is given for outstanding life-long accomplishments. Certificates of Appreciation are awarded to recognize significant programs and projects.

The focus areas include:

• Preservation: work to protect ecosystems, species, and other irreplaceable elements of the region’s natural heritage.
• Conservation: work to minimize our use of finite natural resources and our negative impacts on ecosystems and communities.
• Restoration: work to re-establish the healthy functions of an ecosystem or parts of ecosystems.
• Education: work to foster a stronger awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainability issues.

The nominee’s contributions must impact the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which includes the following towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. Impacts to the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound are also eligible as long as there is a benefit to at least one of the listed towns. What We FundPrograms, projects, or capacity building initiatives within one or more of the Foundation’s priority areas are eligible for funding. Annual grants support both ongoing programs and start-up initiatives. The Foundation’s grants often provide critical seed money and support for groups that do not have large budgets or staff.Ideally, these grants can be leveraged to attract additional funders.Grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000. The available pool in 2024 for all grant awards is $31,200. The Grants Committee may schedule applicant interviews at their discretion if they believe it will be helpful to their understanding of the proposal.Funding for materials, transportation, program/presenter fees, intern stipends and similar items are eligible. Items such as food, regular operating expenses (e.g. insurance, rent, and other overhead), indirect labor, salaries and benefits are not generally funded, but may be considered for organizations under financial hardship. Funding must be applied to the items/activities described in the application form. Substitutions are not permitted unless prior approval has been obtained.

New England States Touring (NEST) funds performances, readings, and screenings of work by regional, national, and international artists presented by New England-based nonprofit organizations.

Program Goals

• Expand direct access to high quality artists and aesthetic diversity for all New England communities by artists from New England, the nation, and across the globe.
• Stimulate opportunities for collaboration and partnerships among New England cultural organizations and between artists and organizations.
• Encourage projects that provide meaningful interaction between artists and communities, extending beyond the stage.

NEST Artists

NEST artists are professional artists from New England who meet the NEST artist requirements. They represent a wide range of disciplines, including dance, folk art, interdisciplinary work, media, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling, and theater. NEST artists must be available for public performances and must maintain a permanent residence in New England.

About the New England States Touring Grant Program

There are three distinct grant opportunities for New England nonprofit organizations: NEST 1, NEST 2, and NEST 3. Organizations serving rural communities and/or deeply engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are encouraged to apply.

NEST 1

Funds the public presentation and engagement of a New England artist presented by a New England nonprofit organization based in a different New England state from the artist’s home state. 

NEST 2

Funds the public presentation and community engagement activities of a New England artist presented by two New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include one presenting organization based inside of the artist’s home state and one other organization from outside of the artist’s home state.

NEST 3

Funds tours, including public presentation and community engagement activities, of regional, national, or international artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include a minimum of three New England organizations in different communities presenting the same artist. The organizations applying must be from at least two different New England states. 

• Each organization is responsible for reviewing the program goals and criteria, negotiating the terms of the engagement with the artist, and completing a NEST 3 application.
• Organizations may submit up to three NEST 3 applications.
• The annual deadline is the first business day of March.
• Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee to a maximum of $10,000.
  • Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee.
• New England artists must be listed as NEST-eligible on CreativeGround.
• For non-New England artists, an artist work sample must be submitted by one of the touring partners.
• Grant period: Touring projects must occur between June 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026.

Deadlines

NEST 1 & 2 grant deadlines occur three times a year, as follows:

• First business day of August, for projects beginning on or after November 1.
• First business day of December, for projects beginning on or after March 1.
• First business day of March, for projects beginning on or after June 1.

The annual NEST 3 grant deadline is the first business day of March.   

About Willimantic Basic Needs Fund Grants (formerly the Willimantic Welfare Bureau)

We support programs and services designed to promote self-sufficiency for residents of the Town of Windham through education and employment.

Priority is given to programs that:

• promote individual and family economic security;
• increase food security and access to nutritious food;
• decrease homelessness through programs that promote diversion and intervention.

About the Allison Keller Education Technology Program

Realizing the gains that many people with autism have achieved using the iPad, the Allison Keller Education Technology Program was created in honor of Flutie Foundation Board Member Kevin Lane Keller's daughter Allison. The goal of the program is to help fill the financial and technological gap for schools and organizations that assist individuals with autism. Since 2012, the Flutie Foundation has granted over $820,000 to 177 schools and organizations for programs specifically serving individuals with autism that have an established technology program in place or have expressed an interest in starting a program using the iPad or other technology tools.

Applications will be considered for any technology tools and/or training that improve learning outcomes or performance. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tablets & Accessories
• Apps
• Smartboards
• Laptops
• Technology Training
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational activities & access to STEM studies

The Flutie Foundation is seeking innovative partners who are using technology to address real needs facing the autism community. One program per public school district is eligible to be awarded an Allison Keller Education Technology grant annually. Think outside the box!

Travelers believes that strong communities are sustained by educational and economic opportunities — and we are dedicated to assisting our communities in generating those opportunities. With a focus on equity and inclusion, we target our giving and volunteerism to help improve academic and career success, develop thriving neighborhoods and create culturally enriched communities.

Travelers is ensuring opportunity by contributing to efforts that create strong, vibrant communities and offer pathways to success. Through corporate funding and the Travelers Foundation, Travelers targets its giving to achieve three outcomes: Academic & Career Success, Thriving Neighborhoods and Culturally Enriched Communities. Our primary focus is educating underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce. In addition, Travelers contributes to organizations that aid in developing communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and that enhance lives and learning through arts & culture. 

Travelers accepts grant applications exclusively for Hartford, Connecticut and St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily for project, program and operating support and for limited capital opportunities.

Academic & Career Success

Because today’s student will be tomorrow’s co-worker, education is the primary focus of our giving. We support college and career readiness programs for underrepresented students from middle school through college and into career. 

A successful future starts in the classroom. But many people struggle to get the education they need to compete for quality jobs and to lead a fulfilling life. Our giving focuses on helping to provide a foundation for individual success and on building a skilled workforce for our industry and our communities.

Where We Give

Nearly half of our annual giving goes toward initiatives that help underrepresented students attain academic and career success. We seek to improve academic achievement gaps by focusing on low-income and minority students in grades five through 12, students in college and those seeking careers in the insurance industry.

Funding Priorities

Academic & Career Success: Travelers supports initiatives that improve academic achievement and career success for underrepresented youth, specifically targeted at public school students in grades five through 12, students in transition to post-secondary education, and students in post-secondary learning environments.

• Middle & High School Academic Achievement– Travelers funds initiatives that foster improved academic achievement for middle and/or high school students.
• Post-Secondary Preparation & Degree Attainment– Travelers supports organizations that are building awareness of and personal readiness for post-secondary education and educational initiatives that improve degree completion for underrepresented students.
• Career Awareness & Readiness– Travelers supports educational initiatives that are building awareness of and preparation for careers in insurance and financial services.

Is your nonprofit working to create positive change in your local community? 

Presented by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation in partnership with NBC and Telemundo stations in 11 markets, NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants Program is strengthening our communities by providing funding to local nonprofit organizations that are solving everyday problems. This year, our station will award $225,000 to exceptional nonprofit programs focused on local impact.

Grant Categories

Youth Education and Empowerment - In-school and out-of-school programs that equip youth with the tools they need to succeed, including STEM/ STEAM education and youth entrepreneurship.

Next Generation Storytellers - Programs that promote access and develop pathways for emerging talent, diverse voices, and underrepresented youth to explore careers in arts, news, sports and entertainment.

Community Engagement - Programs that enable individuals to engage and volunteer in their communities.

Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, NBCUniversal Local and Telemundo stations are committed to supporting a culture of inclusion whereby organizations encourage equitable access, opportunities, and resources for traditionally underrepresented communities.

About Cigna

Our Mission

To improve the health and vitality of those we serve.

Our Vision

A better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community.

Youth Mental Health Grant

The Cigna Group Foundation is committing $9 million over three years to improve the mental health of youth (ages five to 18) as it relates to post-pandemic stress and distress. This commitment includes support for their parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals like educators and therapists.

We seek to collaborate with and support nonprofits that leverage evidence-informed programs and services to serve local youth experiencing the most need.

During the first year of our three-year commitment, we will focus on investing in solutions that address mental health concerns early, and strategically offer programming, intervention, and access to care in schools and related settings in underserved communities. We look forward to partnering with nonprofit organizations that align to at least one of these grant program goals:

• Increase reach of programming that fosters social-emotional skills and well-being.
• Increase the number of parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals who feel equipped to support.
• Increase pathways to mental health intervention and access to care.

Grant Range and Term

• $100,000 – $150,000
• One-year term

Our Mission

To promote wellness and access to opportunities so that individuals and communities can thrive.

Grounded in our work in Connecticut and New York, we support visionary leaders and nonprofit organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, help individuals contribute to their communities, and champion advancements and experiences that make it possible for all people to live healthy and joyous lives.

Innovation Fund

The Tow Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant opportunity for nonprofit organizations innovatively expanding access to the care and support that youth need to thrive.

The Innovation Fund intends to make grants, ranging from $300,000 to $1 million over three years, to up to 10 organizations that are improving youth mental health and well-being and serving young people between the ages of 0-25.

Through the Innovation Fund, the Foundation hopes to inspire and invest in bold approaches, and to learn from exploring questions like: What are the most challenging barriers youth and their families face in accessing support for mental health and well-being? What emerging innovations exist to address these barriers? What is the resulting impact of these innovations on youth and their families?

The Innovation Fund takes a broad and inclusive approach when imagining the kinds of care and support that may have a positive impact on youth mental health and well-being. This includes interventions across the prevention to treatment continuum. We welcome submissions from a diverse array of organizations working in a variety of community, school, and clinical settings. For the purpose of this initiative, the word “innovation” could mean scaling proven efforts, attempting to apply existing efforts to new populations or geographies, or experimenting with a novel approach altogether. By not defining “innovation,” we hope to encourage creative thinking.