The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy works with members promoting effective philanthropy throughout the state, and with our colleagues nationally through the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, whose network represents more than 5,500 participating organizations and is the largest network in American philanthropy. Photos: 2016 Philanthropy Luncheon and Conference, Trumbull, CT.
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Foundations Sign Joint Statement on Immigration >>
New Research Highlights Role of Funder Networks & Associations >>
Poll Shows That New Englanders Believe Student-Centered Learning Can Improve Readiness Across Region >>
Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s Health Equity Roundtable Produces New Report on Transgender Health >>
Fairfield County and Greater Hartford Engage in Fundraising for Nonprofits >>
FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS
Foundations Sign Joint Statement on Immigration
Three CCP member foundations, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the Paul J. Aicher Foundation, have joined GCIR (Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees) and other foundations in signing a joint statement in support of the role and contributions of immigrants and refugees in our society.
Resources
GCIR has provided information and resources on recent policy developments, specifically the new guidelines that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implementing the President’s executive orders on immigration enforcement.
Kica Matos, Director of Immigrant Rights & Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change, recently produced a video that looks at the fear and anxiety immigrant children and families are currently facing: "I Live in a Crazy Time." Kica is the Board Chair of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
New Research Highlights Role of Funder Networks & Associations
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation's recently commissioned research, Peer to Peer: At the Heart of Influencing More Effective Philanthropy, highlights the important role of regional and national philanthropy serving organizations (PSOs) as trusted sources of knowledge on philanthropic practice for foundations.
"This first-of-its-kind study of how U.S. foundations access and use knowledge about effective philanthropy, most foundation staff and board members shared that they rely on their peers and colleagues as their most trusted knowledge sources and as their preferred means to gather knowledge. They also draw on funder networks and funder gatherings where there are in-person networking opportunities. In particular, funders cited regional associations of grantmakers as being helpful in connecting them with one another."
Read The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers President & CEO David Biemsderfer's Blog about the research >>
Poll Shows That New Englanders Believe Student-Centered Learning Can Improve Readiness Across Region
According to the results of a new poll, New Englanders overwhelmingly believe that at least half of high school students across the region graduate unprepared for college and a career, and that student-centered learning environments are part of the solution to this readiness problem. The poll, released by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation (Nellie Mae) and conducted by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, surveyed 2,400 individuals across the region from August 5-31, 2016. Its findings shed light on growing concerns that our children are not fully equipped for life after high school, representing a tipping point in public opinion that positions student-centered learning—which tailors education to the interests and needs of each student—as an answer to providing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed upon entering post-secondary education and the workforce.
“Although graduation rates are at an all-time high, New Englanders are well aware that a diploma alone is no longer sufficient to ensure success for our students after high school,” said Nick Donohue, president & CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. “Too frequently students arrive at college requiring developmental or remedial classes to strengthen basic skills just to move on to college-level material, or they begin careers without the tools and skills necessary to help them early on in their professional lives. The situation is more severe for people in traditionally marginalized communities – places that we need to prosper so our society can advance. The good news is that student-centered approaches to learning represent a path forward in which all students can succeed.”
According to Nellie Mae, across New England, only 50 percent of high school students are graduating with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed after high school. These poll results show that New Englanders not only agree this is unacceptable, but that 90 percent believe that student-centered learning environments are part of the solution toward ensuring high school graduates are college and career ready. Nellie Mae defines student-centered learning as personalized and happening anywhere, anytime. In student-centered environments, students move ahead based on mastery of content rather than class-seat time and they exert ownership over their own learning.
Read the Poll Report >>
Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s Health Equity Roundtable Produces New Report on Transgender Health
Beginning in 2016, Harvard Pilgrim Heathcare Foundation’s Health Equity Roundtable, in conjunction with Harvard Pilgrim’s Center for Inclusion Initiatives, have been collaborating to learn more about the issues that impact health disparities in the transgender communities in their service area.
In March of 2016, the Roundtable convened members of the transgender communities in Boston at the Dimock Community Health Center. The findings have been summarized in a report which has been featured in the Boston Globe. The Foundation hopes that the Boston Globe story will bring attention to the issues raised in the report and lead to improvements in the quality of care received by members of our transgendered communities.
Read the full report and executive summary >>
Fairfield County and Greater Hartford Engage in Fundraising for Nonprofits
Two regions in Connecticut are enaging in funding raising for nonprofits during in March: Fairfield County's Community Foundation is holding their 4th annual Fairfield County's Giving Day on March 9 and for the first time, Brackets for Good kicks off a competitive online fundraising initiative for Hartford-area nonprofits through March 31.
Brackets for Good - Hartford 2017
The innovative Brackets for Good – Hartford 2017 provides local residents with an unprecedented opportunity to rally their favorite charitable causes to victory in the online bracket-style competitive giving tournament. The field narrows each week, and a champion is determined on March 31.
Participating nonprofits rally enthusiastic donors to out-fundraise their opponents in order to advance. Competing nonprofits keep donations received during tournament play, no matter how many rounds they advance. The winning organization receives an additional $10,000 Championship grant. The website https://hartford.bfg.org provides information on the participating nonprofit organizations and the updates on their weekly fundraising efforts. Supporters have from February 24 at 8pm EST to March 3 at 8pm EST to donate to help their favorite causes advance to the second round. Dollars from donors translate to points ($1 equals 1 point), giving participants the opportunity to advance in each market bracket.
Brackets For Good – Hartford 2017 sponsors include: Stanley Black & Decker, Aetna, Express Strategies, Lids, Supporting Strategies, Bloomerang, and The Perfect Promotion.
“Stanley Black & Decker is committed to building a better tomorrow," said Donald Allan, Jr., Stanley Black & Decker Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer. "It’s not just the homes we help build with our tools, or the schools we protect with our security systems. It’s also a commitment to stepping up and bettering our communities. Partnering with Brackets For Good is a fun and impactful way we can support organizations that are serving the Hartford community, where many of our employees call home." Learn more >>
PHILANTHROPY NEWS LINKS
CCP Member News Links
Aetna & Aetna Foundation
Head of Aetna Foundation Approaches Health Care as a Social Problem >>
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Poet Dora Malech Begins Six-Month Amy Clampitt Fund Residency >>
Children's Fund of Connecticut
Cigna Foundation
Cigna Foundation Announces Grants to Support Health, Well-Being and Sense of Security For Women and Children Worldwide >>
Comcast
Foundation Awards Over $700K in 2016 to New England Nonprofits >>
YWCA Hartford Region Receives Grant to Support the Young Women’s Leadership Corps >>
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
Looking Back: Nearly $1.4M in Grants, Increased Gifts, 75th Anniversary Celebration Highlight Community Foundation's 2016 >>
$17K Donation Helps Upgrade New Britain H.S. Academy of Finance >>
Connecticut Community Foundation
New Guide to Giving Highlights Philanthropy of Local Residents and Charitable Giving Opportunities in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills >>
ESPN
A Record $3.8M Raised for Cancer Research Through ESPN’s 2016 Jimmy V Week Campaign >>
Eversource Energy
Eversource Volunteers Making Snow for Special Olympics Connecticut Winter Games >>
Farmington Bank Community Foundation
Farmington Bank Hosts Connecticut Asset Building Collaborative Speed Networking Event >>
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Foundation Grants $1.9M to 74 Area Nonprofits >>
American Cancer Society Receives HPV Education and Prevention Grant >>
$7.5K Grant Will Sustain and Broaden Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s Education Program >>
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Hartford Foundation’s Record-Breaking Grantmaking Topped $33.3M in 2016 >>
Center for Latino Progress Receives $102K Grant to Establish “Transport Hartford Academy” >>
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
Foundation Awards Nearly $2.5M to More Than 900 Organizations in 2016 >>
Liberty Bank Foundation
Foundation Donates $44K to New Haven Community >>
Foundation Helps Klingberg Vo-ed Program >>
Lincoln Financial Foundation
Mark Twain House and Museum Receives Grant for Education Programs for Hartford Students >>
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Student-centered Learning Drives Improvement in Meriden >>
New Canaan Community Foundation
Community Foundation Hears Positive Effects; Invites Guidance for Future >>
Newman's Own Foundation
Newman’s Own Foundation Awards $2.5 Million in Grants to Independent Media >>
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut Receives Foundation Grant >>
Kent Historical Society Uses Grants for Upgrades, Storage >>
The Prudential Foundation
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Honors CT Youth Volunteers >>
Travelers Foundation
Marlene Ibsen Discusses Travelers EDGE's Combo of College and Career Success >>
United Way of Western Connecticut
United Way of Western Connecticut Announces Multiple Opportunities for Income Tax Filing, Financial Stability >>
Non-Member News Links
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT)
ACGT Announces Cancer Gene Therapy Grant Recipients >>
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its Foundation Tackled Some of Connecticut’s Most Complex Health Needs in 2016 >>
Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation
Foundation Distributing $106,500 in Grants >>
Colgate-Palmolive
Silvermine Arts Center Awarded Colgate-Palmolive ICE (Inner City Education Fund) Grant >>
Dalio Foundation
Student-centered Learning Drives Improvement in Meriden >>
Dime Bank
Foundation Awards $5.5K Grant to Furniture Bank >>
M & T Bank
Keeler Tavern Receives Grant for Battle Commemoration >>
Vince & Linda McMahon Family Foundation
McMahon To Dump Some Assets, Positions To Avoid Conflicts >>
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley Funds YMCA Energy-Savings Program >>
Petit Family Foundation
Petit Foundation, Rotary Donate $1,500 Toward Gold Star Monument >>
United Health Foundation
$2.5M Partnership to Benefit The Governor’s Prevention Partnership and The Village for Families & Children >>
Foundation and Local Organizations Team Up to Improve Health of Hartford Families >>
Wells Fargo
Stamford Public Education Foundation Receives Funding from Wells Fargo >>
GRANTS and RFPS
Member Grants and RFPs
William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
IMMEDIATE SUPPORT: Responsive grants for communities in Connecticut responding to current and emerging threats, trauma and/or harassment related to these manifestations of hate and bias and oppression >>
Perrin Family Foundation
RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT: Mini-grants to support and enhance the safety and resilience of communities responding to current, emerging, or heightened threats, harassment and trauma resulting from current events and related to manifestations of oppression in a specific community >>
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
MARCH 8: Application deadline: Women & Girls Fund Grants >>
Main Street Community Foundation
MARCH 15: Application deadline: Proposals for the Plainville Community Fund >>
MARCH 31: Application deadline: General Cycle Grants >>
The Donaghue Foundation
MARCH 27: Letter of Intent deadline: Another Look: Better Health for Elders in Care Facilities >>
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
MARCH 29: Request for Proposal deadline: Continuous Improvement Evaluation >>
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
MARCH 30: Application deadline: Responsive grants >>
Branford Community Foundation
MARCH 31: Application deadline: Competitive quarterly grant cycle >>
American Savings Foundation
APRIL 7: Application deadline: After School Grant Proposal >>
The Fund for Greater Hartford
APRIL 28: Letter of Intent deadline: Letters of Intent >>
Non-Member Grants and RFPs
Knight Foundation
MARCH 1: Informational Webinar: Register >>
MARCH 24: Application deadline: Knight Community Information Lab, an 18-month journey where foundations will use human-centered design to define local information needs, and create ways to meet them. Instead of funding individual projects, we are asking foundations to take a step back, test their assumptions and co-create solutions with their communities. >>
Connecticut Office of the Arts
MARCH 15: Application deadline: Supporting Arts in Place >>
MARCH 15: Application deadline: Connection and Correlations Grants >>
MARCH 22: Application deadline: Project Grants >>
MARCH 22: Application deadline: Regional Initiative Grants >>
May 17: Application deadline: Artist Fellowship Grants >>
SCHOLARSHIPS
Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
MARCH: Application deadlines vary, most arrive in late March: Scholarships >>
United Way of Western Connecticut
MARCH 5: Application deadline: Roberta K. Eichler Scholarship >>
Connecticut Community Foundation
MARCH 15: Application deadline: First-time scholarship applicants and Leever scholarship re-applicants >>
Main Street Community Foundation
MARCH 17: Application deadline: Scholarships for local residents who wish to pursue their educational and career goals >>
SBM Charitable Foundation
MARCH 31: Application deadline: Scholarships for High School Seniors >>
Joe Lieberman Connecticut Scholarship Fund
APRIL 1: Application deadline: Scholarships for High School Seniors >>
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
APRIL 1: Application deadline: Scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year >>
Link to Additional CCP Member Scholarship Opportunities >>
EVENTS and OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
MARCH 2: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm: The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts & Connecticut State Capitol, Hartford
Organized by the Connecticut Office of the Arts, Connecticut Arts Day is a day to celebrate and to learn about the successes and aspirations of the arts and cultural sector in Connecticut. The event features special performance throughout the day, remarks by state, regional and national leaders, two panel discussions and a keynote address by Laura Callanan, founding partner of Upstart Co-Lab, a national collaboration connecting artists, impact investors and social entrepreneurs to create more opportunities for artists to deliver social impact at scale.
Starting MARCH 7: Tuesday from 6:00 - 8:30 pm: HYSB, Falls Village
The Foundation for Community Health, Housatonic Youth Service Bureau (HYSB) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will offer a free six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
MARCH 11: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm: The Whitney Center, Hamden
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven offers training forums, workshops and other opportunities to share best practices to organizations serving Greater New Haven and the Valley. Purposeful Boards, Powerful Fundraising, designed for board/staff teams, addresses the complementary roles Board members play in their organization's governance and resource development.
MARCH 15: Nonprofits registration deadline for outside service area
APRIL 3: Nonprofits registration deadline for 21-town service
APRIL 25-26: Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills
Connecticut Community Foundation will host its fifth annual online community giving event, Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills, and nonprofit organizations who provide services in the region are invited to participate. Participating agencies can receive substantial dollars while also raising awareness for their vital work through the broad media exposure and marketing reach generated by hundreds of local businesses, individuals and organizations leading up to and during the event. Since the first event in 2013, Give Local Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills has raised $3.1 million in unrestricted funding for nonprofit organizations in the region. Ion Bank Foundation is the presenting sponsor for the fifth consecutive year.
MARCH 16: Public Library of New London
The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut is pleased to join the Public Library of New London, a Foundation Center Network Partner, in sponsoring the Nonprofit Resource Center’s 2017 Workshop for Nonprofits. The Writing for Digital - Web, mobile, email, Facebook workshop is a non-technical overview of writing for digital media.
MARCH 16: Best Practices from Successful Great Give® Participants
APRIL 4: Engaging Donors
APRIL 19: Kimbia Mechanics of the Giving Event Platform
MAY 2-3: The Great Give
This series of workshops is specifically designed to help nonprofits maximize their success in The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's The Great Give, May 2-3, 2017. The Great Give® 2017 is the eighth major community-wide giving event on giveGreater.org® taking place for 36 hours starting 8:00 am on May 2 and ending 8:00 pm on May 3. Between 2010-2016, giveGreater.org® has distributed more than $5 million in grants to nonprofits as a result of direct donations through seven giving events.
MARCH 30: Nomination deadline
The Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls in Greater Hartford is seeking nominations for Greater Hartford young women between the ages of 14 to 18 years old (current high school freshmen, sophomores or juniors) who are doing great things in our community. Aurora wants to recognize a young woman who has identified a need or issue in her community and has actively addressed the problem. The honoree will be recognized as Aurora’s 2017 Young Philanthropist of the Year at our annual breakfast on Friday, October 20, 2017. She will have an opportunity to share her experiences with breakfast attendees and she will receive a small monetary award.
MARCH 31: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm, UCONN Middlesex County Extension Office, Haddam
The Rockfall Foundation's annual symposium will examine the impact of changing precipitation patterns on communities and a variety of adaptive responses for municipalities, residents, and businesses. Presenters address the challenges of managing infrastructure, maintaining adequate water supplies, supporting local agriculture, fighting insect borne disease, and planning for smart design.
APRIL 5: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, University of Bridgeport, Waterbury Campus
Connecticut Community Foundation's Nonprofit Advisory Institute offers basic skill and advanced trainings throughout the year. The Effective Communication with Prospects and Donors workshop will focus on nonprofit newsletters, web sites, and grant reports, and will also touch upon getting to know and segmenting your audiences, conducting a successful site visit with your funder, assessing and re-adjusting your communications efforts for maximum impact, and cultivating all donors for future support.
APRIL 20: Hyatt Regency, Greenwich
Fairfield County's Community Foundation's Fund for Women and Girls annual event will feature Keynote Andrea Jung, president and CEO of Grameen America and former CEO of Avon Products. A role model and trailblazer for women, Andrea Jung was Avon's first female CEO. She is credited with defining Avon as more than just a cosmetics company, leading it to become the company for women and enabling economic independence and self-sufficiency for millions of women worldwide. Jung is currently the President & CEO of Grameen America, where she is working to scale the organization to solve economic issues for women and their families across the country through microloans, training, and support.
APRIL 25: New Canaan
New Canaan Community Foundation's (NCCF) event recognizes the unsung heroes of the New Canaan Department of Human Services and features keynote speaker and acclaimed author Annette Ross as she speaks about her family's inspiring story of struggle and resilience. The event benefits the NCCF Touch a Life program. Reservations may be directed to mernst@newcanaancf.org.
APRIL 27: 5:30 pm: Aqua Turf Club, Southington
Main Street Community Foundation's 16th annual Wonder of Women (WOW) will feature guest speaker Silvia Baldini, a nationally recognized chef and winner of Food Network's Chopped. Proceeds from the event support grants to programs assisting women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
THE POWER OF GOOD PEOPLE
Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls in Greater Hartford Welcomes New Board
At its recent annual meeting, the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls in Greater Hartford honored the service of departing Board Chair Janet Bailey Faude, and welcomed new Board Chair Karen Jarmoc. Karen is the CEO of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Foundation also welcomed two new Board members: Moraima Gutierrez and Evelyn Williams Johnson. Moraima Gutierrez is the Assistant District Director for Economic Development for the Connecticut District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Evelyn Williams Johnson serves as Claims Counsel for Tokio Marine HCC - D&O Group.
Eversource Energy Foundation Leader Elected to CCAT Board
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT) has announced the election of Rodney (Rod) O. Powell, president, Corporate Citizenship for Eversource Energy, to the CCAT Board of Directors. At Eversource, Powell is primarily responsible for directing and managing the Eversource Energy Foundation and the company’s social responsibility programs. Powell serves on the Board of Directors of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts and the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. Read more >>
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Announces Interim President
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has announced the appointment of Yvette Meléndez as interim president, effective March 20, 2017. This follows the planned retirement of Linda J. Kelly who has served the Foundation as president for more than 11 years. Ms. Meléndez will serve as interim until a new president is named, and will take a leave of absence from the board during this time. She is not a candidate for the position. Ms. Meléndez has served on the Hartford Foundation’s board for close to 12 years, the last three as chair. She has over 30 years of successful managerial experience in state government, higher education and at Hartford Healthcare, Hartford Hospital, from which she is recently retired. Read more >>
Nellie Mae Education Foundation Announces Board Leaders
The Nellie Mae Education Foundation (Nellie Mae), recently announced the appointments of Janet Phlegar and Karen Hammond as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Phlegar will assume leadership following David Wolk, who stepped down at the end of his term limit and will remain on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Janet Phlegar previously served on the Nellie Mae Board as Chair of the Board’s Organizational Measurement Committee and as a member of the Executive Finance and Grants Policy & Program committees. Her experience as a former middle and high school teacher inspired her to work toward advancing school-based action research and the multiple roles of teachers. She also worked as the Executive Director of WestEd’s Learning Innovations Program, which specializes in customized technical assistance, training, and research and evaluation services for schools, districts, state agencies, communities and higher education institutions.
Karen Hammond serves as Chair of the Board’s Investment Committee and the Executive Finance and Grants Policy & Program committees. She has also served in a variety of leadership roles for the financial services industry. In 2013, Hammond retired from her position as Managing Director at Devonshire Investors, the private equity group affiliated with Fidelity Investments. Read more >>
Trumbull Resident Appointed to UW of Coastal Fairfield County Board
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County announced the addition of Trumbull resident John T. Morris to the Board of Directors for the remainder of the 2016-17 fiscal year. Morris spent over 40 years in executive management, advancing his career to Vice President while working at Citibank in New York City and then as Senior Vice President at Bank Julius Bear. "We are fortunate to welcome Mr. Morris to our board of directors,” stated Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., President & CEO, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. “We know that his expertise and leadership in the field of finance and banking will be a tremendous asset to our organization." Read more >>
ABOUT CCP and CONNECTICUT PHILANTHROPY DIGEST
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.
The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest (Digest) is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Director of Communications. The Digest is a summary of recent activities by Connecticut foundations and grantmakers, and is compiled and distributed monthly to media outlets, local legislators and grantmakers in order to raise the profile of philanthropy throughout Connecticut. News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to CCP for consideration. 2017 Publication Dates: March 20; April 17; May 22; June 19; July 24; August 21; September 18; October 23; November 20; December 18. Submission Deadlines: Close of business one week before the publication date.
Powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Giving Day on March 9 is an inspiring day of philanthropy in Fairfield County that benefits a host of area nonprofits. To date, nearly 300 nonprofits from throughout Fairfield County have registered. Ranging from hunger relief, access to housing, educational opportunities for youth and adults, animal welfare, access to arts and culture and so many more, nonprofits of all interests and sizes participate in what has become an annual day for residents and businesses ‘to give where you live’.