We strive to foster a greater region-wide understanding of – and to promote action on – the relationship between the health of our natural world and the health and well-being of our residents. The Foundation will consider environmental grants that benefit any of the 42 towns in our region.

Priority will be given to programs that:

• preserve and protect environmentally significant lands, waterways and wildlife habitats – for the benefit not only of the ecosystem, but for the health, livelihood and enjoyment of local residents;
• engage youth, especially youth of color, in environmental education to help develop the next generation of stewards of the environment; and
• focus on environmental justice: the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens and meaningful participation of all communities in environmental decision-making.

What we will fund

These grants must be for the benefit of the residents of the 42 towns in our region, which includes the towns of Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham and Woodstock.

Preference is given to programs that are:

• collaborative in nature;
• regional in scope;
• promote systems change;
• rooted in evidence-based, solution-oriented approaches;
• serve lower-income communities;
• seek to eliminate racism and societal inequities;
• incorporate the voices of clients, consumers and youth in planning;
• include specific, measurable outcomes; and
• affect positive change over the long term.

We will also consider:

• grants for existing programs, new initiatives or special projects;
• public policy and general operating grants;
• capacity-building grants (please call to discuss);
• a limited number of multiyear grants (please call to discuss in advance of submission).
  

Contact Jennifer O’Brien, Program Director, at JennOB@cfect.org or 860-442-3572 with questions or to discuss a proposal.

Eligible applicants may submit grant requests of $10,000-50,000.

Please review our General Eligibility Criteria for Grants

Deadlines and notifications

• The link to the grant application will be available on our website by November 1, 2023.
  
• The application deadline is 5pm on Friday, January 12, 2024.
  
• Final decisions will be made and applicants will be notified by the end of April 2024.