Contact: Jennifer O’Brien, Program Director
JennOB@cfect.org

NEW LONDON – The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut announces over $314,000 in 2023 grant awards from its four Women & Girls Funds. The goal of the grants is to invest in women and girls across the 42-town region by supporting programs that focus on economic security, education and workforce development, health and wellbeing, leadership and advocacy.

• Northeast Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $25,464 to nine nonprofits
• Norwich Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $23,000 to three nonprofits
• Southeast Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $204,247 to 27 nonprofits
• Windham Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $61,808 to 14 nonprofits

This year’s grants include funding for:

• Our Piece of the Pie was awarded grants to support SpeakHERS of Change to help females and female-identifying youth to develop healthy habits, make positive decisions, practice self-care, understand and manage emotions and behaviors, thrive, and lead.
• Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut received funding to provide basic needs and services for senior women living alone in New London.
• She Leads Justice was awarded grants to support the Women of Color First campaign to advance policies that promote economic equity.
• Madonna Place received funding for Great Beginnings home visiting, which provides in-home parenting and child developmental education, parenting education and support for expectant and new mothers and families.
• TEEG (Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group) and United Services each received grants for a collaborative project to train staff at each agency and do public awareness around child sex trafficking.

“We are pleased to announce 53 grant awards to help reduce inequity in the lives of women and girls in Eastern Connecticut. Support ranges from supporting mothers of newborns to helping keep vulnerable senior women in their homes. The Community Foundation is dedicated to backing initiatives that help women overcome financial and social obstacles to their success. Thanks to the donors and volunteers of our four Women & Girls Funds, we have invested more than $3 million in our part of the state,” stated Program Director Jennifer O’Brien.

In 1999, the Community Foundation established its first Women & Girls Fund to support nonprofits that empower women and girls to pursue positive, productive lives – for themselves and their families. Since that time, three other Women & Girls Funds were established in Windham, Norwich and the Northeast Corner to advance the equity and well-being of women and girls through grantmaking, advocacy and action. Collectively, the Women & Girls Funds have an endowment of over $5.1 million and have awarded more than $3.3 million in grants to 687 programs.

To learn more about the Women & Girls Funds or how to set up your own named fund to benefit women and girls in Eastern Connecticut, contact Director of Development Lauren C. Parda at lauren@cfect.org or call 860.442.3572.

Please visit our website for a complete list of grantees.

About the Community Foundation

Serving 42 towns and comprised of over 600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut puts philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of the region, focusing on four priority areas: empowering youth, promoting basic needs and rights, preserving the environment, and advancing animal welfare. The Foundation stewards net assets of nearly $110 million and has awarded more than $95 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983. To learn more, visit cfect.org.

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