CT Philanthropy Digest - May 2016

Thursday, May 26, 2016

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. Photo: 2016 Philanthropy Luncheon and Conference, Trumbull, CT.


CCP members are proud to promote and support effective philanthropy for the public good. You'll find CCP's Proud Member Logo throughout this publication. Click on the logo and you will be directed to the CCP Member Directory listing additional news about the featured CCP member organization.

 


FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS >>

CCP Philanthropy Conference Recap >>

Ambassador Joseph's Keynote >>

CCP Leadership Announced >>

CCP Publication Introduced >>

$2.6M Raised by 2 Giving Day Efforts in Connecticut >>

Cigna Helps Northeast Hartford Public Health >>

Funders Combat Homelessness with Support for New Housing >>

PHILANTHROPY NEWS LINKS >>
GRANTS & RFPS >>
EVENTS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES >>
PEOPLE >>
JOBS IN PHILANTHROPY >>
ABOUT CCP >>

FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS

CCP Philanthropy Conference Recap

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's (CCP) May 13th Philanthropy Luncheon & Conference at the Trumbull Marriott brought together 250+ representatives of foundations, corporate philanthropy, community foundations and other philanthropic organizations, as well as partners and leaders from across the state. The event featured six conference sessions for funders; multiple networking opportunies; a keynote from internationally acclaimed speaker Ambassador James Joseph; the announcement of new CCP board and staff leadership; and the introduction of a new CCP publication.

Ambassador Joseph's Keynote
It was the honor of CCP to have Ambassador James Joseph deliver the keynote address, "Building Community by Design: Philanthropy and the New Normal." The 250 philanthropists and partners present were deeply moved by the Ambassador’s extraordinarily rich and poignant message of justice and community. We are honored to share his words with you and hope you will save them and return to read them again over time. They may serve as a measure of your work in your community and the larger world. All Luncheon attendees received two books: a signed copy of Ambassador Joseph's newest book, Saved for A Purpose, thanks to the generosity of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and a gift from the Newman’s Own Foundation, Find Me Unafraid, signed by the heroic authors, Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner. Read the keynote >>

CCP Leadership Announced
Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) announced both board and staff leadership changes. Judith Meyers, president and CEO of Children’s Fund of Connecticut (Farmington), is the new board chair and Michael Johnston, CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford (West Hartford), is the new board vice chair. Christine Traczyk, executive director of Farmington Bank Community Foundation (Farmington), and Robert Haggett, executive vice president of Newman’s Own Foundation (Westport), will continue their roles as board secretary and treasurer, respectively. CCP also welcomed new board member R. David Addams, executive director of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund (Hamden).
     Immediate Past CCP Board Chair Sue Murphy, executive director of Liberty Bank Foundation (Rocky Hill), and Emily Tow Jackson, executive director of The Tow Foundation (Norwalk), were recognized for completing their board service.
     CCP also announced that David Davison has accepted the position of interim president while a national search is being conducted to replace Maggie Gunther Osborn who is leaving CCP at the end of June to assume the post of chief strategy officer for the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Forum) in Washington, DC. Read more and access bios and photos >>

CCP Case Study Released
CCP presented their new publication, Co-Creation: Viewing Partnerships Through A New Lens, during one of the Conference sessions. Co-Creation, written by Patricia Bowie, is the case study about the Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, a project of CCP. The case study examines co-creation, an emerging systems change collaboration model which grew out of a funder-and-state partnership. This unique partnership led to the creation by executive order of a new and independent Office of Early Childhood, which was formally approved by the Connecticut State Legislature in 2013. The new case study is significant, as there is much written about funder partnerships and collaboration success stories, but little discussion on different kinds of collaborative ventures and the lessons learned by philanthropy. Download the case study >>

Access the 2016 Philanthropy Luncheon and Conference photos and session materials >>

The Philanthropy Luncheon & Conference was made possible in part with funding from Lead Sponsor Nellie Mae Education Foundation and the Connecticut Health Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Liberty Bank Foundation, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Webster Bank, Bank of America, BlumShapiro, Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut, eBenefits Group Northeast, and The Walker Group.


$2.6M Raised by 2 Giving Day Efforts in Connecticut

Two giving day efforts brought $2.6 million to nonprofits in Connecticut. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven hosted The Great Give® serving Greater New Haven and the Valley, and the Connecticut Community Foundation hosted Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills. Despite technical difficulties of the national online platform on May 3rd, both giving days raised record amounts.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven will distribute approximately $1.4 million to area nonprofits thanks to more than 8,130 donors who made over 11,600 gifts during The Great Give® 2016, on May 3-5. It was the Foundation's sixth annual online giving event on giveGreater.org®.
     “Ultimately, what made the event so successful was the way in which our local philanthropic community of donors and nonprofits rallied to surmount the technology obstacles that had been placed in our way,” said William W. Ginsberg, President and CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. “It was inspiring to see and to be a part of. I am so proud of our community and of The Foundation’s staff.”
     To incent giving, more than $190,000 was ultimately provided in pro-rated matching funds and prizes by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Valley Community Foundation (VCF), Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Liberty Bank Foundation and others. Photo: Courtesy of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven:  Read more >>

The fourth annual Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills, the Connecticut Community Foundation's online giving campaign, raised more than $1.2 million in three days for over 200 nonprofits serving 21 towns in the region. Thousands of donors made more than 6,900 gifts during the give-a-thon— more than in any of the three prior Give Local campaigns.
     Spearheaded by the Connecticut Community Foundation and lead sponsor Ion Bank Foundation, Give Local rallied individuals, businesses, and community groups to raise as much money and awareness as possible for local nonprofits. Collectively, they contributed more than $125,000 in bonus funds and over $50,000 in competitive cash prizes that were awarded to nonprofits during the event.
     “The outpouring of giving has inspired the entire region and reinforced our mission to boost the vitally important work of local nonprofits. Many are experiencing cuts to their services due to our state’s budget challenges, and they need our financial support more than ever. The timing and bounty of Give Local dollars could not have been better,” said Paula Van Ness, President and CEO of Connecticut Community Foundation.
 Read more >>


Cigna Helps Northeast Hartford Public Health

The Cigna Foundation has awarded a World of Difference grant to Community Solutions of Hartford, for its Northeast Hartford Community Partnership. The grant will support their Community Health Worker pilot in North Hartford which is focused on improving the well-being of at least 500 chronically ill North Hartford residents. The project aims to improve neighborhood public health for a community suffering from the poorest health outcomes and the most diminished life expectancy in the larger Hartford area. Read more >>
     The grant is one of eight with total funding of $2 million that the Cigna Foundation has committed over two years for nonprofit partners providing Community Health Navigation. This approach starts with traditional goals and metrics – such as decreasing the use of emergency rooms for non-emergency services – and then identifying the need for non-medical necessities such as food, safe housing and transportation. The Cigna Foundation’s emphasis on Community Health Navigation responds to The Commonwealth Fund’s 2015 Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which looks at how low-income people and racial and ethnic minorities fare in their ability to access care, the quality of their care, and their likelihood of living a long and healthy life.
     “The Cigna Foundation recognizes that the future health care system must integrate with social services to address needs beyond the traditional scope of medical care. Through our nonprofit partners, we’re providing trusted sources to help individuals access the full range of services they need to enjoy better health,” said David Figliuzzi, Cigna Foundation executive director. Read more >>


Funders Combat Homelessness with Support for New Housing

Ellen Perkins Simpson, Friendship Service Center; Jason Howey, Okay Industries; Sue Murphy,  Liberty Bank Foundation; Kathryn Luria, Webster Bank; Maria Falvo, American Savings Foundation; and Mayor Of New Britain, Erin Stewart.With a $250,000 challenge grant from the American Savings Foundation, the Friendship Service Center was able to raise an equal amount from private funders for the remaining funds to construct 11 units of permanent supportive housing on North Street in the city of New Britain. Funders include Webster Bank, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, the Liberty Bank Foundation, Hospital of Central Connecticut, and numerous individual donors. The City of New Britain has committed $258,829 in HUD HOME funding to support the project, and arranged for the acquisition of the land it will occupy. The primary funding for the housing units comes from a $2.145 million Competitive Housing Assistance for Multifamily Properties (CHAMP) grant from the Connecticut Department of Housing.
     “This is an awesome new opportunity to assist with permanent supportive housing those the Friendship Center has had the privilege of serving for almost 50 years,” said Ellen Perkins Simpson, executive director of the Friendship
Service Center. “Thanks to the wonderful support from the state, the city, the American Savings Foundation, and many others, these homes will offer hope to those still living on the streets and for our ultimate goal of ending homelessness.”
     “The board of directors of the American Savings Foundation saw this challenge grant as an opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of support for this project in the greater New Britain community,” said Maria Falvo, President and CEO of the American Savings Foundation. “The tremendous response from 20 organizations and individual donors who came together to meet this challenge helped make the proposal for state funding so strong.” Read more >>
     Photo: Courtesy of Friendship Service Center: Ellen Perkins Simpson, Friendship Service Center; Jason Howey, Okay Industries; Sue Murphy, Liberty Bank Foundation; Kathryn Luria, Webster Bank; Maria Falvo, American Savings Foundation; and Mayor of New Britain, Erin Stewart.

PHILANTHROPY NEWS Links

CCP Member News Links

AVANGRID

More than $600K Awarded to Nonprofits by UI and Foundation >>

Comcast

Comcast Volunteers "Make Change Happen," Beautifying Eight Sites Across Connecticut >>

Robotics and Leadership: Observations from the 2016 FIRST Robotics Championship >>

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Foundation Collaborating to End Homelessness >>

Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Foundation Hands Out $967K to Local Nonprofits >>

Norwich Youth to Benefit from $150K in Grants >>

Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

Funding for Early Childhood Development, Arts Headline Community Foundation’s First Grants of 2016 >>

Agency Gets Surprise Gift After Being Featured on TV >>

Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut

Foundation Awards More Than $108K in Spring Grants to 30 Area Nonprofits >>

Connecticut Community Foundation

Grants Help Wider Community; Foundation Focuses on Health in Donations to 10 Groups >>

Connecticut Humanities

CT Humanities Gives Gives $16K to Four Non-profits in Bristol, Hartford, Norwalk and West Hartford >>

14 Heritage Organizations to Share More than $20K in StEPs-CT Grants >>

EverSource

United Way Recognizes EverSource with Corporate Spirit Award >>

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Windsor Locks Public Schools Receives Grant to Create Individualized Learning Opportunities for Students >>

Summer Programs For Youth Awarded $790K By Hartford Foundation >>

Hartford Foundation Growth Responds to Community Needs >>

Greater Hartford Arts Council Receives $500K Grant >>

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

Foundation Awards $202,950 in Grants to Help Older Adults Eat Better and Stay Connected >>

Main Street Community Foundation

Grant Funds Activities Coordinator for Safe Harbor >>

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

Foundation Announces Nominees for $100K Grant, Public Encouraged to Vote >>

New Canaan Community Foundation

Foundation Donates Over $660K to Local Nonprofits >>

Newman's Own Foundation

Purpose-Driven at Every Level: An Interview with Robert Forrester >>

Petit Family Foundation

$17K Gift Will Help Goodwin College Nursing Students with Lifesaving Training >>

Museum Receives Grant for Summer Science Camp for Hartford Girls >>

Travelers and Travelers Foundation

Hartford Habitat’s Women Build 2016 to be Sponsored by Travelers >>

United Technologies Corporation

Building Robots, Shaping the Future: UTC Celebrates 21 Years of FIRST Robotics Sponsorship >>

United Way of Greater New Haven

$5K Donation Marks Fabulous Finish for Neighbor to Neighbor Campaign >>

Webster Bank

Webster Bank Awards $80K to Nonprofits as Part of 80th Anniversary >>


Non-Member News Links

Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation

With ‘Give Central’ headquarters, Cohens Build Philanthropic HQ in Stamford >>

Greenwich Philanthropist to Embark on ‘Giving Tour’ >>

A Billionaire Donor Hits the Road to See "Forgotten" America. Here's What She Learned >>

Community Foundation of Middlesex County

Foundation Grant to Aid Middlesex County Residents Battling Cancer >>

First Niagara Foundation

Foundation Provides $200K to Mentoring Programs >>

$5K Donation Marks Fabulous Finish for Neighbor to Neighbor Campaign >>

GE

GE’s Continued Support a Relief to Local Nonprofits >>

Greater Hartford Arts Council

Arts Council Receives $500K Grant from Hartford Foundation >>

Guilford Savings Bank

Valley Shore YMCA Receives $5K General Operating Grant >>

Impact Fairfield County

Inspirica Wins Inaugural $100k Grant for Innovative Early Childhood and Parenting Program >>

KBE Building Corporation

KBE Goes the Extra Mile >>

Middletown Rotary

Reach Out and Read Recieves Grant to Foster Early Literacy Skills >>

Middlesex United Way

United Way Recognizes EverSource with Corporate Spirit Award >>

Million Dollar Roundtable Foundation

Acheive Hartford! Receives Grant to Support Parent Voice in Student Centered Learning >>

National Endowment for the Arts

Westport Playhouse Gets $25K Federal Grant to Support It's Community Engagement Initiative for "The Invisible Hand" >>

Ocean State Job Lot

Truckload Donation Goes to Connecticut Food Bank >>

Tariq Farid Foundation

Tariq Farid Inducted Into Junior Achievement of Southwest New England Business Hall of Fame >>

UnitedHealthCare Children's Foundation

Families Can Apply for Health Care Grants >>

GRANTS & RFPS

Aetna Foundation

Tuesday, May 31: Application deadline - Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge >>

Bank of America

Friday, June 3: Application deadline - 2016 Bank of America Art Conservation Project >>

The Fund for Greater Hartford

Wednesday, June 15: Application deadline - Grants in education, the arts, community development, health and social services to benefit children, youth and families >>

William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund

Wednesday, June 15: Application deadline - Exploratory Grants: Achieve Equity in Education by Inspiring All to End Racism and Poverty >>

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Wednesday, June 15: Application deadline - Sharon Center School Millennium Fund >>

Thursday, June 30: Application deadline - Tabor Foundation Fund >>

Branford Community Foundation

Thursday, June 30: Application Deadline - Competitive Grants Promoting the Quality of Life in Branford >>

NewAlliance Foundation

Friday, July 1: Application deadline - Grants for Arts, Community Development, Health and Human Services or Youth and Education >>

Connecticut Health Foundation

Application deadline: 90 days before event - Event Sponsorship >>

EVENTS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Free Concert For Asylum Hill Community

Wednesday, June 1 (rain date: Friday, June 3), 12:00 - 1:00 pm, The Hartford’s Liam E. McGee Memorial Park, 140 Garden Street, Hartford
This is the second of The Hartford's two outdoor community concerts for employees, Asylum Hill neighbors, local students and the public. Attendees are invited to enjoy the park setting and music by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Piacere String Quartet with guest singer Janelle Robinson. In an effort to foster neighborhood connections, The Hartford partners with stakeholders to offer activities, such as the free concerts, the Asylum Hill Fresh Express shuttle to the Farmers’ Market at Billings Forge, and walking tours of Asylum Hill.


Power of the Purse >>

Tuesday, June 7, 11:00 am - 1:30 pm - Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford
Power of the Purse Luncheon and Silent Auction is United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut Women's Leadership Council's (WLC) signature fundraiser. Event proceeds support the two Family Financial Centers in Hartford. The centers provide financial literacy classes, one-on-one financial coaching, free tax preparation and a matched savings account program to help lower-income women and families become financially secure. Annually, Power of the Purse attracts 1,200 women, and a few good men, who live and work in the Greater Hartford area. It's a great opportunity to hear from inspiring women helped by the WLC and network while bidding on purses, trips and many more auction items. This year's featured speaker is Liz Murray from the made-for-TV film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story released in 2003 and author of New York Times Bestseller, Breaking Night.


Public Meeting - Catalyst Fund Seeks Community-Minded Citizens >>

Thursday, June 9,  The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain
If you are interested in playing a vital role in tackling local issues and shaping the Berlin, Plainville, New Britain and/or Southington of the future, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Catalyst Fund is inviting the public to a no-obligation presentation on June 9 for existing and prospective new members. At the meeting, Catalyst Fund members and those interested in joining will learn about the issue and launch the process of crafting a Request for Proposal. The meeting is free and there is no obligation to join. Refreshments and a light supper will be served. Those wishing to attend should contact Kimberly Duncan by June 2 at 860-229-6018, ext. 300, or kduncan@cfgnb.org.


The Heart of Philanthropy >>

Thursday, June 9 - Saturday, June11, The Highland Lodge, Greensboro, Vermont
This Circle of Trust® Retreat for philanthropists and grantmakers explores personal well-being and potential obstacles to wholeness. Obstacles can include overwork, relationship challenges, depletion, frustration, and everyday stresses. Facilitators will create a safe space for self-reflection and shared exploration.


Community Food Funders (CFF) Annual Gathering >>

Wednesday, June 15, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Colors Restaurant, New York, NY
Join funders who are working to transform our regional food system at the CFF Annual Gathering for an evening of food and drink, networking, and updates from the field. Whether your focus is on nutrition or hunger, food chain workers or farmland preservation, emergency food or food waste, we all have a part to play in creating the just food system that everyone deserves. We encourage your participation whether you’re a long-time CFF member or just entering the field of food systems change. This year’s special guest is Danny Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, who will be talking with us about his initiative to address disparities in restaurant pay by eliminating tipping, as well as other food system issues.


Student Success Training: A Learning Community for Scholarship Professionals >>

Wednesday, June 22, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sheraton Hartford South, Rocky Hill
This one-day workshop, hosted by National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) with support from the American Savings Foundation and a generous grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, will have broad appeal to scholarship and financial aid professionals, and other funders. Contact meetings@scholarshipproviders.org with any questions about this regional meeting.


Emerging Leaders Society Community Conversation >>

Wednesday, June 22, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, 30 Laurel Street, Hartford
Join United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut's Emerging Leaders Society (ELS) for an interactive discussion as local, young professionals come together and share their experiences, values and the solutions they believe will impact lasting change in our community. For questions or additional information, please contact ELS Manager, Rebekah Castagno at rcastagno@unitedwayinc.org.

PEOPLE & Other Announcements

For 75 years, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has provided critical grant funding to the area’s non-profit community, helped shape the conversation about issues impacting our community’s quality of life, and played a vital role in making Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington the best they can be. With its diamond anniversary at hand, the Foundation is announcing a series of collaborations and promotional initiatives marking the landmark anniversary. The plans include a promotional partnership with the new hometown baseball team, the New Britain Bees and sponsorship support of a variety of signature community events in the Foundation’s four towns.
     “Our goal in celebrating this anniversary is to engage the community and be true to our mission, and we believe these promotional plans do just that,” said Jim Williamson, president of the Community Foundation. Read more >>


Among the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County’s inaugural Arts & Culture Empowerment (ACE) awardees were Bank of America , a leading supporter of the arts and sponsor of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Giving Day, which raised more than $1 million in 24 hours for local nonprofits, with 24 percent of those funds raised by arts & cultural organizations; and Richard J. Wenning, executive director of BeFoundation in Fairfield, a family foundation devoted to dramatic improvement in the education of underserved children in Connecticut and co-founder of SpreadMusicNow which is dedicated to ensuring there is adequate funding for music education. The ACE Awards are designed to recognize “those who have made a significant contribution to the community through arts and culture, or who have enriched the arts and culture sector through volunteerism or patronage.” Read more >>


United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut has announced Jennifer Gifford as the organization’s new vice president of community resources. Additionally, United Way announced the promotion of Maura Cook to the position of community engagement director.
     Jennifer Gifford is a career-long United Way professional, beginning with her graduate fieldwork at then-United Way of Massachusetts Bay. She joined United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut after graduation from Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, serving in multiple positions throughout the organization, including director of community investment, director of planning and assessment, and, most recently, director of community engagement. Read more >>


The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's Progreso Latino Fund has featured Alicia Caraballo in their Celebrating Latino Leaders series. Alicia, a retired principal and educator, is the vice chair of the New Haven Board of Education. Read more >>

 


Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), has appointed John E. Walter as its new CEO and president. Walter will lead the organization and is the successor to the co-founder and president Barbara Netter. Walter is the former CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society whose legacy at the Society included dramatically expanding research to focus on partnerships with biotech and academia. He is also credited with increasing the Society’s funding to more than $320 million annually. At ACGT, Walter will continue to support scientific cancer gene/cell and immunotherapy research which has recently proven to be some of the most exciting advances in treating cancer. Read more >>

ABOUT CCP

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.
     News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to CCP for consideration. The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Communications Manager.
     2016 Publication Dates: May 26; June 23; July 21; August 18; September 22; October 20; November 17; December 15. Submission Deadlines: Close of business one week before the publication date.