Grantees Selected to Create Lasting Change in Fairfield County
NORWALK, CT -- Fairfield County’s Community Foundation announced the results of its current grantmaking cycle. Competitive grants totaling $1,609,290 were awarded to 106 nonprofit organizations that align with the Community Foundation’s result areas and its vision to close the opportunity gap in Fairfield County by eliminating disparities in income, education, employment, housing and health.
The Community Foundation is currently in its second year of its three-year strategic plan focused on fostering a vital and inclusive community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive while promoting philanthropy as a means to create lasting change in Fairfield County.
“With gratitude to our donors, our Board, philanthropic members of the community and our talented staff, it is truly an honor and privilege to award grants to 106 nonprofits this grantmaking season. The grants total over $1.6 million and get us closer to closing the opportunity gap. The nonprofits that received these grants will advance the essential work being accomplished throughout the region,” stated Juanita James, CEO & President, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation.She continues, “It’s exciting because the organizations selected represent an array of grantees that are working diligently and passionately to create impactful, lasting change in our community,”
The Community Foundation’s result areas drive where the organization focuses its grantmaking, community leadership work, and fundraising efforts. The types of grants include program support, capacity building support, and general operating support. The following is a detailed breakdown of recent grants by result area:
Result Area: All Fairfield County residents have safe, stable, healthy and affordable housing in communities of opportunity
Total Grants Awarded: $308,000
In this result area, the Community Foundation awarded grants to organizations that represent the Community Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting and sustaining thriving communities and ensuring equitable access to safe, healthy and affordable housing for all Fairfield County residents. Grantees include Career Resources, Inc ($23,500); Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT) ($10,000); Connecticut Fair Housing Center ($30,000); Filling in the Blanks ($15,000) Homes with Hope Inc. ($12,500); Kids in Crisis, Inc. ($10,000); Malta House ($10,000); NAMI Connecticut ($10,000); Regional Plan Association ($30,000); Supportive Housing Works Inc. ($102,000); Sustainable CT, Inc. ($30,000); The Stamford Partnership ($10,000) and Wholesome Wave, Inc. ($15,000). Connecticut Fair Housing Center will be utilizing its grant to support expanding access to affordable housing in a variety of locations. Filling in the Blanks will be concentrating its award on the Weekend Meal Program.
Result Area: All Fairfield County older youth and young adults have training and credentials that lead to meaningful career opportunities
Total Grants Awarded: $103,500
Young people in Fairfield County often graduate without the skills or preparation needed to secure a living-wage job. By aligning youth with educational tools and job opportunities, Thrive by 25 aims to empower every young adult to achieve self-sufficiency by age 25 – strengthening the future of our whole community. Several organizations advancing that goal were selected for grants. They include: Ability Beyond ($18,500); Connect-Us ($25,000); Danbury Youth Service, Inc. ($15,000) Domus Kids, Inc. ($25,000) and INROADS, Inc. ($20,000). INROADS, Inc. will be directing its grant to their Leadership Development Academy. Danbury Youth Service, Inc. will be focusing on their Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
Result Area: All Fairfield County students graduate with a high school degree and are prepared for post-secondary education and employment.
Total Grants Awarded: $474,500
In this result area, the Community Foundation awarded grants to organizations that represent an ongoing commitment to education support to close the opportunity gap. The grants were awarded to ACCESS Educational Service, Inc. ($10,000); Audubon Connecticut ($17,500); Bridgeport Public Education Fund ($25,000); Carver Foundation of Norwalk ($25,000); Danbury Grassroots Academy ($15,000); Family & Children's Agency ($25,000); Future 5 ($25,000); Green Village Initiative, Inc. ($25,000); Horizons at Brunswick School Student Enrichment Program ($14,000); Horizons at Greens Farms Academy ($20,000); Horizons at New Canaan Country School ($20,000); Horizons at Norwalk Community College, Inc ($10,000); Horizons Sacred Heart University ($20,000); Housatonic Valley Association, Inc. ($10,000); INTEMPO ($15,000); LifeBridge Community Services ($15,000); Malta House ($10,000); McGivney Community Center ($20,000); Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County ($15,000); Norwalk Community College Foundation ($20,000); Norwalk Grassroots Tennis and Education ($10,000); SoundWaters ($15,000); South End Community Center ($18,000); Stamford Public Education Foundation ($25,000); Stepping Stones Museum for Children ($10,000); Sterling House Community Center ($15,000); The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport ($20,000) and Wesleyan University ($15,000). INTEMPO’s grant will be directed to their summer music camp boosting children’s engagement in STEAM and supporting literacy. Audubon Connecticut will support the Audubon WildLife Guards which is an innovative coastal stewardship, youth training and employment program.
Result Area: All Fairfield County women and girls are economically secure, healthy and safe
Total Grants Awarded: $554,900
Through the Fund for Women & Girls, philanthropists come together to invest in sustainable solutions that support the safety, health and economic security of women and girls across Fairfield County. Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls (FWG) awarded five grants through its Renewable Grants Program to the following organizations for the second year of its Sexual Violence Prevention Program: Center for Family Justice, Inc ($20,250); The Rowan Center ($20,250); Triangle Community Center ($20,250); Women's Center of Greater Danbury ($20,250); and YWCA of Greenwich ($20,250). Grants were also given to All Our Kin ($25,000); Aurora Women and Girls Foundation, Inc. ($5,000); Bridgeport Caribe Youth ($5,000); Cardinal Shehan Center ($2,500); Caroline House, Inc. ($20,000); Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. ($10,000)
Child First, Inc. ($25,000); Connecticut Council for Philanthropy ($20,000 & $7,500); Domestic Violence Crisis Center ($25,000); Girl Scouts of Connecticut ($25,000); Girls With Impact ($2,500 & $20,000); Hope in Harmony ($2,250); Homes with Hope, Inc. ($12,500); Jane Doe No More ($4,000); LiveGirl ($15,000); Malta House ($10,000); Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, Inc. ($25,000); MS President Us Inc. ($4,000); Power to Decide ($20,000); Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc. ($5,000); Saturday Academy ($5,000); Saint Joseph Parenting Center ($20,000); Stamford Health System ($5,000); TBICO ($20,000); The Center for Family Justice, Inc. ($20,000); The Child & Family Guidance Center ($900); The Rowan Center ($20,000); Triangle Community Center ($20,000); Western Connecticut Association for Human Rights ($2,500); Women's Business Development Council ($25,000); Women's Campaign School at Yale University ($5,000) and Women's Center of Greater Danbury ($20,000). Stamford Health System will be utilizing their grant for breast MRI’s for women at high risk for breast cancer. Jane Doe No More’s grant will be directed to the Escape Alive Survival Skills Program.
Result Area: Center for Nonprofit Excellence
Total Grants Awarded: $20,000
Center for Nonprofit Excellence celebrated it tenth anniversary in 2019 and bestowed two grants this grant cycle. Five Frogs, Inc. ($10,000) will be investing in their leadership development program. Pro Bono Partnership ($10,000) will utilize the award to provide legal assistance and education to FCCF grantees, professionals and board members.
Result Area: Civic Education
Total Grants Awarded: $120,000
Nonprofit organizations received a total of $120,000 as part of the Community Foundation’s community advocacy and engagement initiatives. United We Dream Network Inc ($25,000); Special Education Legal Fund Inc. ($20,000); Serving All Vessels Equally, Inc. ($15,000); FaithActs for Education ($20,000); Center for Popular Democracy / Make the Road Connecticut ($20,000) and Career Resources, Inc ($20,000) were granted civic education grants.
Result Area: Unique Initiatives, Memberships and Awards
Total Grants Awarded: $38,390
These grantees include ARI of Connecticut, Inc. ($5,000); Asset Funders Network ($2,000); Bridgeport Generation Now ($2,500); Bridgeport Regional Business Council ($500); Building One Community ($2,500); City Lights and Company ($4,000); Center for Popular Democracy / Make the Road Connecticut ($2,500); Connect-Us ($2,500);Connecticut Council for Philanthropy ($5,000); Grantmakers for Effective Organizations $1,890); Independent Feature Project, Inc. ($2,500); National Center for Earth and Space Science Education ($6,000) and The Chicago Community Trust for Workforce Matters ($1,500). National Center for Earth and Space Science Education grant is being directed to Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP): Mission 14 at Stamford High School.
As a valuable best practice, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence educates and informs nonprofits on Results Based Accountability (RBA). RBA is a framework for nonprofits to measure and share outcomes related to programs and related grants. A complete list of grantees and information about applying for a grant from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is available at fccfoundation.org.
Photo Caption: Through grantmaking, training and convening, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation supports nonprofits year-round, including Fairfield County’s Giving Day 2020 on February 27th. Mark your calendars! This billboard , located on I-95 in Stratford, CT was donated by Barrett Outdoor.
About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with the Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $230 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought-leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts, and philanthropists to close the opportunity gap. Our goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at FCCFoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN. Listen to Fairfield County Thrives at https://fccfoundation.org/podcasts/.
###
Contact:
Helen L. Koven
Helen L. Koven LLC
Public Relations Consultant
203-273-4410
Website & Social: FCCFoundation.org | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIN | Listen to Fairfield County Thrives at https://fccfoundation.org/podcasts/