The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut works closely with the nonprofit organizations that serve the communities of New London, Windham and Tolland Counties in pursuit of a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut. Priority will be given to programs and initiatives that:
- Empower Youth: to ensure that our youth live in a safe and supportive environment, and have access to high quality, emotionally, intellectually, culturally and environmentally rich learning opportunities.
- Promote Basic Needs & Rights: to ensure that the region's residents have access to social and health services, healthy nutrition, stable housing, job training and education, and arts and culture.
- Preserve the Environment: to foster understanding of and promote action on the relationship between the health of the natural world and the health and well-being of our residents.
- Advance Animal Welfare: to ensure adequate protection, care and humane treatment of animals and wildlife.
Regional Impact Grants: regional grant opportunities are based on donor intent and link with our strategic priorities. Each is focused on a particular geographic area.
- Norwich Youth: Norwich Youth Grants support youth development programs and services for economically and socially disadvantaged Norwich youth, to help fill the gap in services left by the closing of the YMCA of Southeastern CT in Norwich.
- Southeast General Grants: Grants are designed through donor intent to benefit the residents of East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Salem, Stonington and Waterford. Grants generally support programs directed toward two of our community impact priority areas: Preference is given to programs that:
- are collaborative in nature;
- are regional in scope;
- promote systems change;
- are rooted in evidence-based, solution-oriented approaches;
- serve lower-income communities;
- include specific, measurable outcomes; and
- affect positive change over the long term.
- Willimantic Welfare Bureau: support for programs and services designed to promote self-sufficiency for residents of the Town of Windham through education and employment.
- 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.
- Ossen Fund for the Arts: Offered in partnership with the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, these grants are designed to support arts education for the students of Natchaug, W.B. Sweeney, Windham Center and North Windham elementary schools in the Town of Windham.
Environmental and Animal Welfare Grants: 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.
Women and Girls Grants: advancing the equity and wellbeing of women and girls throughout Eastern Connecticut through grants, advocacy and action. For more information about each fund, and to apply for a Women & Girls grant: https://www.cfect.org/Nonprofits/Apply-for-a-Grant#77354-women--girls-grants
Neighbors for Neighbors Fund: The Fund is designed to be flexible and nimble in supporting the work of nonprofits and others in meeting the basic needs of residents of Eastern Connecticut. It is intended to complement federal, state, and municipal government relief efforts to identify and fill gaps, and to expand local capacity to address all aspects of the coronavirus pandemic as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Civic Engagement Mini-Grants: Their 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.
The foundation does not provide funding for capital or endowment campaigns, litigation costs, religious programming, endowment campaigns, deficit funding or debt retirement. The foundation does not typically make grants for special events. We do not make grants to individuals or to for-profit endeavors.