CT Philanthropy Digest - Dec 2015

Thursday, December 17, 2015
Featuring the work of local, regional and national philanthropy and highlighting the
work of Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) members.
December 2015
 
 
 

FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWSfeatures

Giving in Connecticut 2015 Reports 22% Increase in Foundation Assetsgiving_report
According to the Giving in Connecticut 2015 report published by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP), Connecticut foundation assets totaled $10.9 billion in 2013, a 22.6% increase from 2012.
 
Giving in Connecticut 2015 looks at charitable giving in Connecticut by grantmakers and residents, including: individual giving through reported contributions, bequests made through estate giving, and foundation giving.
 
Other key facts include: 
  • Foundations in Connecticut gave $999 million in 2013, a 1% decrease from 2012.
  • 59% of Connecticut foundation assets were held in Fairfield County.
  • In 2013, individuals (including bequests) gave $3.66 billion to charity, up 1.1% from 2012.
Beyond the data, the report includes analysis about cross-sector collaboration, stories about funders making a difference, and quick facts about CCP members. Read more >>
Largest Data Set on CT Wellbeing Now Completedatahaven
DataHaven, a non-profit group leading the collection and study of neighborhood-level public data on key social and economic trends, announced the completion of the 2015 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey. The survey conducted in-depth interviews with 16,219 randomly-selected adults living in every town and city throughout Connecticut, and is the largest data set of its kind.
     Detailed statewide and local results will be made available to the public over the coming weeks. Current findings include: 
  • In Connecticut, four out of five adults report feeling happy and satisfied with where they live; but one-third of adults report just barely or not getting by financially
  • Although official unemployment rates have fallen substantially since 2012, 14% of Connecticut workers are still "under-employed."
  • Nearly one out of every twenty Connecticut adults (4.9%) continue to lack health insurance. 
 
CCP along with the following 12 members were supporters of the Community Wellbeing Survey: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Connecticut Community Foundation, Valley Community Foundation, Katharine Matthies Foundation, Connecticut Health Foundation, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Main Street Community Foundation, United Way of Greater New Haven, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, and NewAlliance FoundationRead more >>
$1.5M Will Support Veterans ServicesNOF
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Newman's Own Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 29 organizations, including eight in Connecticut, that provide services to military men, women, veterans, and their families.
     "Paul Newman served in the United States Naval Air Corps in World War II, and awarding these grants in honor of what would have been his 90th year, and in celebration of Newman's Own Foundation's 10th anniversary, is especially meaningful for us," concluded Forrester, who served in Vietnam as an Army officer. Read more >>
$100K to be Matched for Immigration IntegrationImmigration
The Immigrant Strategic Funders Collaborative (Collaborative), formed of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Hispanic Federation, Perrin Family Foundation, Progreso Latino Fund, and Tariq Farid Foundation, were recently granted $100K from the Open Society Foundation. The Collaborative members aim to match these funds in order to enhance statewide efforts and local work supporting Connecticut's immigrant families in preparation for the implementation of DAPA and the expansion of DACA. Read more >>
Philanthropy Forecast Takes Social Economy & Digital Infrastructure as Givenblue-print
Philanthropy and the Social Economy: Blueprint 2016 is an annual industry forecast about the ways we use private resources for public benefit. Every year the Blueprint, by leading philanthropy scholar Lucy Bernholz, provides an overview of the current landscape, points to major trends, and directs attention to important breakthroughs in the coming year.
     Blueprint is produced in partnership with GrantCraft, a service of the Foundation Center, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. This year's Blueprint takes on the social economy and digital infrastructure as given. Bernholz dives in and explores the changing structure of work and its implications for the social sector. Read more >>
Grant to Bolster Staff, Increase Effectiveness of Homeless ShelterBOA
Bank of America has named South Park Inn as a 2015 Neighborhood Builder in recognition for its work with the homeless in Hartford. Neighborhood Builders receive leadership training and development resources with $200K of flexible funding intended to help increase the organizations' capacity and impact in the community. South Park Inn will use their funding to support two part-time positions, one for bookkeeping functions and the other for a veteran advocate. Read more >>
Two Regional Studies to Help Tackle Food Access/Insecurityfood
The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut has released Starved for Attention: Food Insecurity in Northwest Connecticut. The report highlights key hunger statistics and food security challenges in our Northwest Corner and serves as a guide for funders and the general public to support the fragile network of organizations that work to address those challenges. Learn more >>

The New London County Food Hub Feasibility Study was spearheaded by United Way of Eastern Connecticut and the New London County Food Policy Council (NLCFPC). The study was undertaken to determine the optimal model for a food hub in New London County, the financial viability of such a food hub, and to understand the impact a hub might have on the health, wellness, agriculture, and the economy. Learn more >>

PHILANTHROPY NEWS LINKSMoreNews

CCP MembersMemberNewsLinks
 
Communty Foundation of Greater New Britain
 
Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut
 
Dominion
 
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
 
 
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
 
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford; The Walker Group

Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford
 
Liberty Bank Foundation; Rotary Clubs
 
Lincoln Financial Group Foundation 
 
MetroHartford Alliance
 
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
 
New Canaan Community Foundation
 
Newman's Own Foundation
 
Petit Family Foundation >>
 
Non-membersnon-memberNewsLinks
 
AT & T

GRANTS, RFPS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIESGrants

Big Changes Coming to Small Grants
Monday, January 4 - Quick Grants application deadline
Based on grantees' feedback about Connecticut Humanities' grants, they are making changes for the new year. Starting with the January 4, 2016 deadline, the maximum award for Quick Grants will increase from $1,500 to $4,999. All other grant lines (Capacity, Planning, Implementation requests from $5,000-$50,000) will have quarterly application deadlines of the first business day of February, May, August, and November. If you are thinking of applying for a grant in 2016, contact Lauren Miller (860-685-7578, lmiller@cthumanities.org) or Scott Wands (860-685-7579, swands@cthumanities.org) now to discuss how these changes may affect your project application.
Event Sponsorship Grants - Round 1
Friday, January 22 - Application deadline
Connecticut Community Foundation's Round 1 Event Sponsorship Grants are available to all 501(c)(3) nonprofits, libraries, over-55 communities and/or senior centers for events being held in the 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills after March 30, 2016. Both underwriting grants to offset event expenses and challenge grants to match donations made at your event in response to a challenge are being offered. Learn more >>
Bank of America Student Leader Program
Friday, January 29 - Application deadline
Round Eight: Partners for Places
Friday, January 29 - Application deadline
The Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities' (TFN) Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that creates opportunities for cities and counties in the US to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. Learn more >>
Yale Philanthropy Conference: Fostering Ecosystems of Change
Friday, February 12, 2016, Evans Hall, New Haven, CT
The Yale Philanthropy Conference brings together more than 300 philanthropy professionals from a variety of sectors and functions, creating a platform for learning, networking and innovation. Fostering Ecosystems of Change, will examine how to harness tools for nurturing positive outcomes and amplifying impact in a constantly evolving philanthropic ecosystem. Learn more and register >>
CHEFA 2016 Nonprofit Grant Program
Friday, February 19 - Application deadline
The Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority's (CHEFA) Nonprofit Grant Program provides financial assistance to Connecticut nonprofits that that serve Connecticut citizens in the areas of childcare, culture, education, food insecurity and healthcare. Learn more >>
Grants for Regional Conservation Partnerships in New England
Saturday, February 20, 2016 - Innovation Fund deadline
The Jessie B. Cox Trust Charitable Trust Fund'Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCP) Innovation Grants focus on helping RCPs move from maturing to fully conserving, including developing and/or implementing conservation priority plans, strategic action plans, landowner outreach projects in the focal areas, and capital campaigns. Learn more >>
Minors & Medical Decision Topic of Student Essay Contest
Friday, February 26, 2016 - Submission deadline
The Connecticut Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the Sixteenth Annual James W. Cooper Fellows Quintin Johnstone High School Essay Contest. The 2015-2016 topic is "Minors and Medical Decisions" and was chosen for its special relevance to students of high school age. The contest winner will receive $2,000 and the two runners-up will receive $1,000. Learn more >>
Fairfield County's Giving Day
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Fairfield County's Giving Day, powered by Fairfield County's Community Foundation, and Bank of America, is a 24-hour online fundraising competition that unites community around local causes. Last year, $1,066,091 was donated by 13,161 individuals for 386 nonprofits that serve Fairfield County. Learn more >>

people2PEOPLE

American Savings Foundation has elected two new members to its board of directors: James Jones, dean of students at New Britain's Slade Middle School, and James Little, formerly the vice president of American Savings Trust Department, and currenty the director of development for Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Read more >>
The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut introduced their 2016 officers and six new members of their board of trustees at its 2015 annual meeting held earlier this month.
     New officers include Govind Menon, chair; Dyanne Rafal, vice chair; Stephen Larcen, treasurer; and Lee Ellen Terry, secretary, who will continue to guide the Community Foundation in its implementation of its new strategic plan.
     New members to join the 16-member board are: Cathy Bokoff of Norwich, Ulysses B. Hammond of Waterford, Eileen Ossen of Mansfield and director of the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, Anne L. Rash of Mansfield, Sandra Yarrow Rueb of Old Lyme, and David Schulz of Mystic. Read more >>
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's Progreso Latino Fund has featured Pedro Soto in their Celebrating Latino Leaders series. Pedro, chief operating officer for Space-Craft Manufacturing Inc., is a business leader with a passion for preserving Greater New Haven's history. Read more >>
Fairfield County's Community Foundation has welcomed seven new members to its 27-member board of directors. All were recently elected to serve a three-year term. They include: Clay Fowler of Pound Ridge; Gerald M. Fox III of Stamford; Michelle Garvey and Don Kendall of Weston; Maya Tichio of Greenwich; Briggs Tobin of Ridgefield; and Bruce Winningham of Old Greenwich. With a combined history of extensive leadership in the business community and active involvement in local and national nonprofits, they will empower the Community Foundation to make an even greater impact throughout the region. Read more >>
The Harold Webster Smith Foundation and the Smith family were honored for spearheading a neighborhood revitalization project in the historic Hillside neighborhood of Waterbury, CT, where Webster Bank founder Harold Webster Smith grew up.
     Cathy Smith, wife of Webster Chairman and CEO Jim Smith, accepted the Waterbury Neighborhood Council's Good Neighbor Award on behalf of the foundation and the family. 
Read more >>

usABOUT CCP

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) is an association of grantmakers committed to promoting and supporting effective philanthropy for the public good.
     CCP's members are foundations (private, corporate, community), business and corporate giving programs, bank trusts, donor-advised funds, individual philanthropists, and those serving the philanthropic sector. CCP members granted more than $720 million in 2013 from assets of more than $6.3 billion.
     CCP is dedicated to providing its members with the highest quality programs, resources and services, networking opportunities, and insight and news about grantmaking and philanthropy.
     For more news about philanthropy in Connecticut, go to the CCP's News Room, Connecticut Philanthropy Digest archives and our blog, CTPhilanthropyNotes.org.
     News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to the CCP for consideration. The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Communications Manager.
Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
221 Main Street, Hartford, CT  06106