Search Through Grants for the Arts in Connecticut in the U.S.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to promote the arts, education, and initiatives that seek to better our world by utilizing nature and the sciences.

General Grants

Our Letter of Inquiry form is the first step in the general grant process. The letter of inquiry should be used for projects that fall outside our three programs' scope. Some additional areas of focus for our Foundation include:

Environmental Ingenuity

We are working with organizations to reduce human environmental impact and increase fresh and saltwater quality.

Medical Research

Focusing on funding initiatives involving high-mortality, under-funded diseases, specifically, but not exclusively, pancreatic and colon cancer.

Visual and Performing Arts

We fund projects that provide students and children in the regions we serve with opportunities to experience quality arts programming, both visual and performing.

Veterans Initiatives

We work with several veterans organizations to provide respite locations, therapeutic programming, and service animals for our wounded, recovering, and returning servicemen, women, and members.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Vision

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.

Our Story

The Tow Foundation was established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow as a way to give back to the communities that shaped them.

Leonard and Claire’s three children, Andrew, Emily and Frank, joined the board of directors soon after its inception, and our initial investments were largely guided by the personal passions of the boardroom. With a focus on New York, our earliest grants went to innovative projects in the fields of medical research and higher education.

As our organization evolved, so did our areas of support. Emily Tow was hired as the Foundation’s president and first full-time staff member in 1995. Motivated by the belief that every child deserves an opportunity to thrive, our grantmaking expanded to include nonprofits with a focus on youth justice. As the years went by, the transformative power of theater and performing arts led us to add culture as a core area of interest.

Today, our five primary impact areas are

• Arts and culture,
• Higher education,
• Civic engagement,
• Equity and justice
• Medicine and public health.

What We Fund - Justice Initiatives

We must address the harm caused by unfair systems and work to build new ones grounded in equity and justice. To realize a future in which all people are healthy, safe, and free to lead a fulfilling life, there must be a commitment to racial equity and justice.

We invest in work at the policy-change level to end mass incarceration, mass criminalization, and other harmful systems. We also fund direct service organizations working to support and empower individuals and families who have been impacted by these systems.

• Advocacy, organizing, and coalition-building, led by directly impacted leaders
• Initiatives that affirm the humanity and dignity of people who are incarcerated and remove barriers to their success
• Opportunities, care, and resources for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system
• Cross-disciplinary, intersectional approaches to achieving equity and justice

The Rich Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation under section 509(A) of the Internal Revenue Code designed primarily for the benefit of the residents and charitable organizations of lower Fairfield County. Since its inception, the Rich Foundation has given over $8,000,000 to a variety of Stamford, Connecticut area non-profit organizations involved in the arts, education, healthcare and social services.

The Hartford Foundation For Public Giving - Together for Good

As Greater Hartford’s community foundation, we are a public, grantmaking organization bringing together dedicated individuals, businesses and nonprofits to understand local challenges, share information and put resources behind solutions that can improve the quality of life for those both in our region and across the state of Connecticut.

We are fortunate to share a vision of Greater Hartford with many who are working to build a more equitable and resilient place to live, work and play. The barriers to success are longstanding, systemic and persistent. We are naming them and have an approach to address them by combining our financial resources, the talents of our team, and our wide-ranging community partnerships. Together, we will grow and share opportunity in a way that benefits everyone in the Hartford region.

Investing In Our Community

We partner with nonprofits to build a stronger and more equitable Greater Hartford. Our grantmaking addresses systemic issues and responds to evolving needs in our community.

The Hartford Foundation works with nonprofit organizations to bring about lasting change in our community. Our grantmaking both addresses major issues affecting our community and responds to evolving community needs.

Regular Grants

An organization may be eligible to apply for one regular grant every three years, selecting its highest priority from one of the following grant types: 

Program/Project

Grants that support new programs, demonstration projects, studies, or surveys that do not commit the Foundation to recurring costs. These grants provide funding for one to three years and may also be used to enhance, expand or strengthen existing programs, services and organizational capacity.

Continuation

Additional funding provided at the end of a grant to help an organization reach project outcomes that were not met within the original schedule. Continuation grants can last up to two years and are only for projects that meet certain criteria, such as those that address high-priority community issues.

Capital Grants

Grants supporting capital improvements, such as building purchase, construction or renovation, or capital equipment purchase. The Foundation generally supports a capital or building campaign once.

General Operating Support

Grants that support an organization’s ongoing activities and stability, as outlined in its strategic plan. Funding can be used at the organization’s discretion. These grants are an option for organizations with budgets over $200,000. Eligibility is highly competitive, and organizations must be in sound financial condition.

• General Operating Support Grants: FAQs
• General Operating Support Grant Application Process

Transitional Operating Support Grants

In special circumstances, these grants help well-run nonprofits that have experienced unexpected income gaps to continue important programs or close down operations.

Priority is given to programs that provide: 

• Critical basic human needs, such as food and shelter, to indigent and working poor. 
• Services other than basic human needs, such as health, education, literacy and legal services, to vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
• Services that make a major impact on quality of life and/or the region’s economy, such as arts and culture, workforce development and economic development.

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.

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.

Established in 1983, the Albert Wadsworth and Helen Clark Meserve Memorial Fund is a private foundation that supports a range of public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut. 

Mission

To support public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Services
• Public/society benefit

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. 

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Grants from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation are distributed in four focus areas (human needs, environmental stewardship, education, community vitality) and are limited to organizations defined as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

Grant applications will be accepted online during two annual grant cycles, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Funding

Most grant awards range from $1,000 to $15,000, while higher amounts may be awarded when a program is an exceptional fit. We often receive funding requests far in excess of our Foundation budget. Regrettably we must often decline support for otherwise worthy proposals. Such a response does not reflect on Dominion Energy's view of the value of the organization or its services.

Leaving Our Positive Footprint on the World

The Neag Foundation serves as a philanthropic force for positive change in education, healthcare, and the arts and humanities, and our initiatives are dedicated to improving the human condition and making a positive difference in the world. We support requests to improve and enhance education, and human services and make a medical impact, primarily in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. We encourage creative educational ideas, as well as exciting initiatives for health and wellness. Our mission is to make a positive impact and help people live healthier, happier, and more productive lives.

Our Founders

Raymond Neag served as a founder of Arrow International Inc., an innovative medical device company. He and his wife Carole have a strong history of philanthropic support for Berks County, Pennsylvania, communities in Connecticut, the University of Connecticut, and the UConn Health Center. Their motivation is simple: to improve the lives and education of Connecticut and Pennsylvania families today and in years to come.

Focus Areas

Higher Education Institutions

• Colleges and universities need our support, as states continue to decrease their allocations to higher education. The Neag Foundation is committed to supporting research and creative, new programs at colleges and universities. We believe that support for higher education can have a lasting impact on future generations of college students.

Healthcare

• The Neag Foundation supports healthcare and our donations in this area will advance research, healthcare intervention programs, and educational outreach. We also support innovative solutions to meet varied and increasing demands in medical professions.

Humanities & the Arts

• The Neag Foundation supports the arts and humanities because we believe in the power of the human experience and the ways in which the humanities and the arts enhance our understanding about our world. The arts bring us joy, help us understand our world, and enable us to improve our well-being and happiness.

If your organization is interested in submitting a proposal for consideration by the Neag Foundation, we encourage you to carefully review our criteria for funding to become acquainted with our grant-making goals and strategies. Unfortunately, we must decline many excellent proposals every year because they do not fit the parameters of our work. This is not a reflection of the ideas or importance of the applications but of our need to make thoughtful choices as we seek to continue the legacy of Ray and Carole Neag.

About the Foundation

It was fitting — and only natural — that, upon her death in 1974, Marian Woodward Ottley would establish by Will, the David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund in loving memory of her parents, and in her words, “In order to carry out their wishes and mine in attempting to make this a better world for those who come after us.”Her Will created a distribution committee to direct the trustee to distribute income and principal exclusively to or for the benefit of non-profit institutions, corporations, and associations that are located in New York and in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that are organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, charitable, or scientific purposes. The Fund also awards grants to governmental agencies.

The distribution committee has attempted to carry out Mrs. Ottley’s wishes. It will continue to do so in an effort to make this a better world for those who come after her generous family.

David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund (Watertown) Grant

The David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund (Watertown) makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in New York and in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Mission

As stated in the Will of Marian Woodward Ottley, the fund’s mission is “to make this a better world for those who come after us.”

Program Areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion

Program type

• Arts,
• Culture, & Humanities
• Education
• Health
• Human Services

Mission

The George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation was established in 1960 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services and health care programming for underserved populations in Connecticut.

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.   

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.

Legends & Lore Marker Grant Program

This program commemorates folktales, legends and folklife as an important part of every community’s cultural heritage.

Does your community have a great piece of folklore that should be shared? Legends & Lore is designed to promote cultural tourism and commemorate legends and folklore as part of our heritage.

Generally speaking, folklore is the stories, customs, traditions, and expressive arts and crafts that are passed on from one person to another, often from generation to generation. Folklore is the knowledge that people share as members of a group or community. Our shared identities and sense of belonging are the result of shared traditions, stories, customs, and activities.

Legends & Folklore Guidelines

Successful Legends & Lore marker applications typically fall within three main categories:

Folktale- Fictional stories passed down about people or events not proven to have existed. (e.g. Thirteen Curves, Champy, Headless Horseman, Tramping Ground)

Legends- Stories passed down that are popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable. (e.g. John Henry, Grancer’s Ghost, Betsy’s Ride, Natty Bumppo, “Natty Bumppo”)

Folklife- Traditions such as music, skills, crafts, and events passed along within a community. Often involving real people that can be verified with primary sources. (e.g. “Goose Day,” The Arborglyphs, Dennis McGee, Herbs & Healing, Folk Singer)

Subjects which are not successful include:

• Historical events lacking a folkloric aspect
• Purely literary creations
• Personal/family folklore which does not extend to the greater community

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

Mission

The George H. C. Ensworth Memorial Fund was established in 1949 to support charitable organizations that focus on health and human services, youth services, enjoyment of the natural environment, education, religion, and the arts. The George H. C. Ensworth Memorial Fund specifically serves the people of Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Grants from the Ensworth Memorial Fund are 1 year in duration. 

Program types:

• Arts, Culture, & Humanities;
• Education;
• Environment;
• Health;
• Human Services;
• Religion-Related

You will find submission information in the Application and Procedures module here.

The Gladys Brooks Foundation was created under the will of Gladys Brooks Thayer of New York. 

Its purpose is to provide for the intellectual, moral and physical welfare of the people of this country by establishing and  supporting non-profit libraries, educational institutions, hospitals and clinics.

Scope of Grants Considered

The Foundation will consider major grant applications for innovative projects in the fields of libraries, education, hospitals and clinics.

Grants for Libraries 

Grant applications will be considered generally for resource Endowments (print, film, electronic database, speakers/workshops) capital construction and innovative equipment. Projects fostering broader public access to global information sources utilizing collaborative efforts, pioneering technologies and equipment are encouraged.

Grants for Educational Institutions

Grant applications from universities, colleges and secondary schools will be considered generally for:

• educational endowments to fund scholarships based solely on educational achievements, leadership and academic ability of the student; 
• endowments to support fellowships and teaching chairs for educators who confine their activities primarily to classroom instruction in the liberal arts, mathematics and the sciences during the academic year;
• erection or endowment of buildings, wings or additions thereto of buildings, and equipment for educational purposes;
• capital equipment for educational purposes.

Grants for Hospitals & Clinics

Grant proposals from hospitals and clinics where the proposal addresses a new health need, an improvement in the quality of health care or reduced health costs with better patient outcomes will be considered generally for:

• endowments for programs;
• erection or endowment of buildings, wings of or additions to buildings;
• capital equipment.

Bydale Foundation Grant

The Bydale Foundation’s domestic geographic areas of interest are Westchester County, North Carolina, and Massachusetts, or those with a nationwide focus. Within these geographic areas, the foundation provides support for programs in the areas of the environment, social justice, women’s rights, grassroots advocacy, performing arts, and poetry.

The foundation also provides grants to:

• Human rights
• Peace advocacy
• Environmental organizations in Israel.

Travelers Foundation

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 contributes to organizations that prepare historically underrepresented students to lead tomorrow’s workforce, develop vibrant communities through small business support and neighborhood revitalization, and 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.

Thriving Neighborhoods

Travelers supports organizations that help create and maintain safety, stability and vitality in low- and mixed-income communities.

What Our Funding Supports:

• Accessible, Safe Housing– Travelers supports organizations and programs that provide permanent housing and supportive services to create safe, stable neighborhoods.
• Successful Small Businesses – Travelers funds organizations that develop economic vitality and create and retain wealth by assisting the creation and growth of small businesses, with an emphasis on women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses. Travelers also supports programs that prepare individuals for business ownership and support them on their journeys.
• Resilient Communities – Travelers supports organizations that show leadership in disaster preparation, response and recovery.

Mission Statement

The SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc., perpetuating the vision of the former Savings Bank of Manchester, is committed to bettering the lives of those who live and work predominantly East of the River in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham Counties. Priorities established for the Foundation’s giving are Health, Human Services, Education, Housing, and the Arts.

Guidelines for Giving

The purpose of the Foundation is to fund programs that improve the quality of life for residents in the communities it serves. The Foundation contributes to a wide range of organizations that foster education enrichment, economic development, and social well-being.

The categories of grants funded by the Foundation are as follows:

Education

The Foundation is committed to helping people achieve their goals through education. Scholarships are a high priority awarded through grants to both universities and colleges located in Connecticut, as well as to direct service programs that enhance academic and personal achievement such as adult literacy and reading readiness programs.

 Scholarships

College scholarships of up to $5,000 each are awarded annually to students selected on the basis of school and community activities, academic achievement, and financial need. The applicant must reside permanently in one of the counties served by the Foundation. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate education. Recipients of Foundation undergraduate scholarships may qualify for scholarships for graduate studies. Students must attend an accredited institution of higher education in the state of Connecticut. They must be in the top 40 percent of their high school class or maintain a 2.5 grade point average or higher in college, and exhibit financial need.

Applications for scholarships are accepted from January through March for the following academic year (beginning September). Awards are made in June.

Health Programs

Priority is given to programs that provide direct services to the community, including hospitals, community health programs, prevention programs and intervention services.

Human Services

The Foundation funds broad-based projects that enhance and improve the quality of personal life for the residents of its communities — such as libraries, municipal programs, social services for families and children, and economic development initiatives.

Housing

Funding may be awarded to organizations that expand home ownership opportunities and provide access to affordable housing within communities served by the Foundation.

Arts

The Foundation supports a wide range of cultural events, including theater, music, and art programs. The aim is to broaden access to cultural activities and enrich the lives of people who live and work within the communities served by the Foundation.

Goals & Priorities

The Stocker Foundation adopted a broader 21st century definition of literacy to help students keep pace in today’s rapidly changing world.

The Stocker Foundation remains committed to closing the education equity gap and making good educational practices great by supporting kindergarten readiness and ensuring students can read at or above grade-level by third grade. However, we can achieve more by combining these priorities to include STEAM-focused grantmaking. Remember, literacy is a part of every content area, always!

What is STEAM? STEAM is an educational approach that creates access points for guided student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking through the infusion of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.  

The Stocker Foundation will partner with new and existing 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that can effectively and realistically address the following areas of interest:

• Development of foundational reading and writing skills.
• Implementation of cross-disciplinary and project-based learning through STEAM.
• Safety-net services that ensure students are healthy, engaged, supported, and challenged, removing barriers to learning and academic achievement. A small percentage of available funding per community will be considered.

Washington Trust Charitable Foundation

The Washington Trust Charitable Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations within our market area, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southeastern Connecticut.

Charitable grants range widely in size. Multi-year grants are often considered for capital funding (to build or repair facilities), capital campaigns, or specific projects, with consideration given to:

• Affordable Housing and Revitalization Programs
• Business and Economic Development
• Youth and Family Services
• Hospitals, Health and Human Service Organizations
• Museums, Arts and Cultural Organizations
• Colleges, Universities, Libraries
• Conservation and Environmental Groups

Bulkley Foundation

To support charitable organizations in Fairfield County, Connecticut with a specific focus on organizations serving the town of Norwalk.

Program Areas

• Animal Welfare,
• Arts and Culture,
• Civic Activities,
• Community Development,
• Education,
• Environment,
• Health and Medical Research,
• Human and Social Services,
• Religious

Mission

The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund was established in 1936 to support and promote quality educational, cultural, human services, and health care programming for underserved populations. The Palmer Fund specifically serves the people of New London, Connecticut.

Guidelines

The majority of grants from the Palmer Fund are 1 year in duration. On occasion, multi-year support is awarded.

Program type

• Arts, Culture, & Humanities
• Education
• Health
• Human Services

Mission

The Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation was established in 1957 to support “charitable projects of a public nature in said Kensington,” and to promote quality educational, cultural, human services, environmental, and health care programming for underserved populations. The Moore Charitable Foundation specifically serves the people of Kensington, Connecticut.

Program Type:

• Arts, Culture, & Humanities;
• Education;
• Environment;
• Health;
• Human Services