The Foundation encourages you to discuss your proposal concept with program staff before starting an application. If your organization is new to us, an initial conversation is required in order for your application to be considered.

General Eligibility Criteria

Helpful tips when applying

About Our Social Equity Council Community Reinvestment Grants

The Community Foundation is a partner with the State of Connecticut Social Equity Council (SEC) working on a reinvestment strategy to benefit urban areas of Eastern Connecticut. The SEC was established by the Connecticut general assembly under section 22 of Public Act 21-1, an act concerning Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult Use Cannabis. The goal is to reinvest state cannabis revenues back into communities negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.

Nearly $1 million in funding will benefit Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIA) of the Eastern Connecticut region. A DIA is a census tract in the state that has a historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses greater than one-tenth of the population, as determined by the Social Equity Council. DIAs in Eastern Connecticut are located in Danielson, Griswold, Groton, New London, Norwich and Willimantic. (Towns were updated as of 8.9.23)

DIA Map

Eligible Projects Funded Using Pilot Grant Award:

Funding shall be used exclusively in the development, expansion, and support of programs that uplift communities and strengthen families disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs in the following categories:

Reentry/Reintegration Programs

Programs that support formerly incarcerated individuals and their families including fatherhood/parenthood/grandparents’ initiatives; civil legal aid; justice involved youth; expungement/criminal record erasure; homelessness; family stability.

Youth Education, Recreation, and Arts

Enrichment programs for young people and their families that assist in preparing the future workforce; STEM/STEAM; financial literacy; promoting physical and mental health wellness (get outside, get off the games); sports; mentoring; youth and parent leadership and empowerment; creative cultural programs (including performing arts, music, dance, instruments).

  • Awardees must spend all grant funds no later than June 30, 2024.
  • Awardees must provide quarterly reports to CFECT on spending, progress, and outcomes.

Funding:

  • Most grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000. If you seek a grant outside of that range, you must contact the Community Foundation to discuss.
  • Be advised that the source of funding for all Social Equity Council programs and activities is sales tax revenue from CT’s Adult-Use Cannabis Industry, which is not federally legal at this time. Check with your existing funding sources to make sure you can accept them without jeopardizing other (federal) funds.
  • If your organization is new to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, we require that you contact us before applying.
  • One application will be accepted per organization.
  • Applicants may submit for one round only.

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation or organizations using a nonprofit fiscal agent.
  • The proposed program serves residents of the DIAs of Danielson, Griswold, Groton, New London, Norwich and/or Willimantic, CT. (Towns were updated as of 8.9.23)
  • Organizations with an open CFECT grant are eligible to apply.
  • One application will be accepted per organization.
  • Applicants may submit for one round only.
  • We do not provide funding for capital campaigns, litigation costs, lobbying, religious programming, endowment campaigns, deficit funding or debt retirement. Funding for some capital items related to programming is possible.
  • Applicants may not discriminate against any person or group of persons on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state and/or local laws.

Deadlines:

Round 1: Applications due Monday, August 14, 2023, 5 p.m.

Round 2: Applications due Monday, September 11, 2023, 5 p.m.

Questions?

Please contact Jennifer O’Brien, Program Director, at JennOB@cfect.org or 860-442-3572.

View webinar from July 17:

Watch the webinar video and learn about the details of the SEC grant and application process.

Click Here. Use Passcode: 7@sthR0C

Apply Now

About Our Regional Impact Grants

2023 applications for Norwich Youth, Southeast General, and Willimantic Basic Needs will be online by November 3, 2023.

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. In 2022, we made awards of more than $200,000 from the Fund for Racial Justice. For 2023, we will not have a separate cycle for racial justice but we will integrate this equity lens in each of our Regional Impact cycles.

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

Our Online Grants Center allows you to set up an account to access available grant applications and to start, save, edit and submit applications as well as grant reports.

We encourage all applicants to contact program staff with questions or to discuss your ideas prior to starting an application. New applicant organizations are required to contact us first in order for their application to be considered.

About Environmental and Animal Welfare Grants

2023 applications are closed.

The Peter Grayson Letz Fund for Animals and the Environment was established in 2014 to benefit environmental education and conservation, as well as domestic animals and wildlife, in New London County. The Mary Janvrin & Natalie Janvrin Wiggins Fund for Birds, Other Animals & Nature was established in 2017 and emphasizes the preservation of the natural environment and habitat for birds and other animals.

The Community Foundation is committed to incorporating a focus on equity and social justice in our work towards a healthy, thriving Eastern Connecticut. In 2022, we made awards of more than $200,000 from the Fund for Racial Justice. For 2023, we will not have a separate cycle for racial justice but we will integrate this equity lens in our Environmental and Animal Welfare cycles.

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

Online Grants Center:

Our Online Grants Center allows you to set up an account to access available grant applications and start, save, edit and submit applications as well as grant reports.

We encourage all applicants to contact program staff with questions or to discuss your ideas prior to starting an application. New applicant organizations are required to contact us first in order for their application to be considered.

About Our Women & Girls Fund Grants

2023 applications are currently open with a deadline of October 3rd.

Generous gifts and bequests from caring donors have created four permanent endowment funds serving the Northeast, Norwich, Southeast and Windham areas. Together, the four funds are advancing equal opportunities for women and girls throughout Eastern Connecticut, using a lens of equity and social justice in our grants, advocacy and action.

Our grantmaking priorities reflect the challenges identified in The Status of Women and Girls in Eastern Connecticut:

  • Empower women and girls to make positive decisions – Examples include mentoring, leadership, career exposure, character development.
  • Promote healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence – Examples include teen dating violence prevention education, domestic violence shelters and transitional housing, victim advocacy.
  • Advance family economic security – Examples include training for jobs and career advancement, programs to overcome barriers to financial security, and other supports for low-income women.
  • Support access to women’s health, mental health and reproductive health services – Examples include counseling, health education, health care access.
  • Support public policy, advocacy and leadership to promote equity – Examples include statewide policy groups, training programs for grass-roots organizations. Please call the program staff to discuss your ideas.
  • Help New London women, ages 62 and older, with limited incomes to remain in their homes (Southeast only) – Examples include meal delivery, nursing services.

Collectively, the four Women & Girls Funds have an endowment of $5.2 million and have awarded more than $3 million in grants to over 600 programs.

We encourage all applicants to contact the Community Foundation with questions or to discuss your ideas prior to starting an application. New organizations are required to contact the program office before beginning an application.

For more information about each fund, and to apply for a Women & Girls Fund grant:


Recent Recipients

Read more about Recent Grantees

Mini-Grants

For more information on civic engagement mini-grants, contact program director Jennifer O'Brien at JennOB@cfect.org.

Civic Engagement Mini-Grants

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 at the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut 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. Contact program director Jennifer O'Brien at JennOB@cfect.org for eligibility.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT GRANT APPLICATION

Click here for examples of the range of civic engagement activities from PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement).

Note: Grants may not be requested for event sponsorship, staff training or general program support. Additionally, they cannot be used to endorse or denounce a political party or candidate, or to withhold or refuse Information or other assistance based on support for or opposition to particular candidates, parties, or policy/platform positions.