Featuring the work of local, regional and national philanthropy and highlighting the work of Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) members. October 2015 |
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FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS |
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 Black Philanthropy Is on the Move - Residents in Greater Hartford are coming together to support the needs of the Black community through the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving's newly created Black Giving Circle Fund which was established in June 2015. Through this giving circle, members are able to pool their financial contributions, learn together about a topic of interest or concern, and then collectively decide on a grantmaking recommendation to support meaningful and lasting solutions. More information >>
- The Prosperity Foundation (TPF), established in 2014 with seed money from the Kellogg Foundation through a grant to the The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, held their inaugural event last month. Through TPF, philanthropy will become both a path to grant making for organizations serving the community and a portal through which Connecticut's Black community and other interested parties can connect and collectively contribute to improving conditions and opportunities for the community. More information >>
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CT Among 18 to Receive 2nd-Year National Preschool Funding The good news is that Connecticut is one of 18 states that will receive second year funding awards under the Preschool Development Grant program to continue their work in expanding access to high-quality preschool for all children. The $11,689,109 second year award to Connecticut will enable another 712 children the strong start they need for success in school and in life. However, Congress has proposed cutting 3rd-year funding from the 2016 budget. "Congress has done its most basic job-for now-by not shutting down the government, but they've got a bigger job to do - and that's making smart investments in America's future. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have put forward a budget that would shut down preschool for 100,000 kids," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Read more >> |
Foundation to Invest $200 Million into Universal College and Career Readiness Graduating from high school is an important milestone but the Nellie Mae Education Foundation (Nellie Mae), believes it's not enough to ensure the future success of our children.
The Foundation has set into motion a plan that aims to reshape public education to reach an aggressive benchmark: at least 80% college and career readiness for every subgroup and New England as a whole by 2030. Over the next five years, Nellie Mae will increase its capacity and rapidly accelerate its work to meet this ambitious goal. The Foundation is investing $200 million dollars, a 60% increase above its current policy allowances, to dramatically improve educational results for New England's learners and communities.
"While we may be graduating more students, it's clear that graduation does not mean our students are adequately prepared for what must come next -- success in some form of post-secondary education," said Nick Donohue, President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. "The good news is that there is a path forward which includes the spread of student-centered learning and the remodeling of our public education system to support the delivery of these practices." Learn more >> |
New London Youth Win New School District Policy Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Perrin Family Foundation grantee partner Hearing Youth Voices (HYV), the New London Board of Education recently voted to enact a new district-wide attendance policy. The new policy emphasizes supports and interventions when students are absent instead of punitive responses which can push students out of school. This victory is the result of a two year campaign led by HYV youth leaders through their "We Want to Graduate" Campaign. Learn more >> |
Pilot "Free to Succeed" Expands Prison Ed Program for Women The Aurora Women and Girls Foundation and Farmington Bank Community Foundation have partnered to support "Free to Succeed," a pilot program designed to ensure that participating women, who begin taking college classes while still incarcerated, are able to complete an associate's degree upon release. By forging a collaborative initiative using the strengths of current programming, partnering nonprofits have created a holistic program providing accessible college-level courses, advising, arts engagement, and mentoring for female inmates at York Correctional Institution (YCI). Also provided are pivotal support services after their release to encourage enrollment in associate degree programs at Capital and Manchester community colleges. Read more >> |
Finding Help Just Got More User Friendly 2-1-1 Connecticut, the state's one-stop connection to local services such as utility assistance, food, housing, child care, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention and more, has launched a new website. The new site is designed to work on any device, and is built around a powerful search engine that makes it easier for users to find what they need. The 2-1-1 Connecticut search engine works with common language search terms, makes proactive search suggestions, and includes links to related topics and relevant 2-1-1 eLibrary articles on the results page. The new site is also location-aware, and uses location information from a user's device (if enabled) to show search results for agencies and programs serving that area. |
Unveiling of Unusual Artifact to be Filmed Thanks to Grant Support Connecticut Humanities awarded a $9,995 grant to The Barnum Museum for the public unveiling of a rare and unusual artifact, in storage for decades. The artifact will be revealed for the first time and thoroughly examined by a team of experts as it is filmed. The Barnum Museum has partnered with the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, to present the program during their current special exhibition, also funded in part by Connecticut Humanities. Experts from Yale University and The Barnum Museum's curator will be talking with the audience about what they discover. The program will take place on Saturday, November 7 in the Great Hall at the Yale Peabody Museum. Read more >> |
New Strategic Plan to Improve Life for Eastern CT Region The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has a new strategic plan that will improve the life of the region by encouraging more collaboration among nonprofits. Following an 18-month process, the foundation identified four key areas for community impact: youth empowerment, basic needs and rights, environmental preservation and animal welfare. "As a community foundation, we are uniquely positioned to serve as connective tissue for the region by attracting people who want to affect change, and by helping those charitable individuals to leave a lasting legacy," said Maryam Elahi, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. "Through our nonprofit partnerships, we can cultivate collective impact, creating a more powerful and vibrant force for good in the 42 towns of our region." Read more >> |
Renewed Mission, Look, to Help Foundation Connect with Donors, Community The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain (CFGNB) recently engaged in the lengthy process of redefining its mission and vision to more effectively connect with and inspire its donors and the communities it serves. The process also resulted in a new tagline: "The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain: Where Good Begins." "This concept - Where Good Begins - captures in three small words the very essence of what the Community Foundation is all about," said CFGNB President Jim Williamson. "When someone in our community wants to 'do good' and does not know where to turn, there is no better resource and partner than the Community Foundation in helping turn that initial urge and passion to make a difference into something real, tangible and everlasting." |
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PHILANTHROPY NEWS LINKS |
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CCP Members American Savings Foundation Bank of America Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Children's Fund of Connecticut Cigna Connecticut Community Foundation Connecticut Humanities Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut Dominion Fairfield County's Community Foundation The Grossman Family Foundation Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation Katherine Matthies Foundation Melville Charitable Trust; Two Anonymous Family Foundations Newman's Own Foundation UIL Holdings Corporation United Technologies Corporation |
Non-members The 1772 Foundation Cardinal Health Foundation Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Community Fund of Darien Tariq Farid Foundation First Niagara First County Bank Foundation Ford Motor Company Fund The Kiwanis Club of Weston Foundation William and Alice Mortensen Foundation RecycleCT Foundation Christian and Eva Trefz United Bank Foundation Connecticut United Way of Western Connecticut VH1 Save The Music Foundation |
EVENTS & TRAINING |
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Leadership Transition: Planning for Sustainability and Building Healthy Organizations Tuesday, October 27, 5:00 - 7:30 pm, The Graduate Club, New Haven |
The Event of the Year with Gloria Steinem Friday, October 30, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Omni Hotel, New Haven |
Symposium: The Mentoring of New Lawyers Friday, November 13, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm, State Legislative Office Building, Hartford |
Managing for Results: Strategies for Successful Outcomes Measurement Thursday, November 19, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport Citi Community Development, NPCC, CT Association of Nonprofits and Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of NY are co-sponsoring a free workshop to help build the capacity of community development nonprofits that serve low-to-moderate income individuals and families. Nonprofit staff will learn how outcomes measurement can focus their organization on what is important about their work and the difference it can make. Learn more and register >> |
Metro Hartford Progress Points Forums Access to Better Jobs: Where are the opportunities to find work at living wages in Metro Hartford? Friday, November 20, 7:30 - 9:00 am, Manchester Community College, Manchester Access to Better Schools: How will declining enrollment and school choice shape our region's schools? Friday, December 11, 7:30 - 0:00 am, Trinity College, Hartford |
Liberty Bank/Rotary Club Thanksgiving Dinner Drive
Collection through Saturday, November 21
Liberty Bank and 34 local Rotary Clubs are teaming up to make sure that everyone in central, eastern, and shoreline Connecticut can enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving meal. From now until November 21, Liberty's 48 branch offices will accept donations to local Rotary Clubs for the purpose of providing Thanksgiving food. Every dollar donated at a Liberty office will be matched with 25 cents from the Liberty Bank Foundation, up to a total of $45,000. On November 23, the Rotary Clubs will withdraw the funds and either purchase and deliver food for needy families, or donate the funds to a local human services agency that provides Thanksgiving food. Learn more >> |
Year-End Critical Needs Grants for NW CT Monday, October 26 - Application deadline The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut has allocated up to $40,000 to distribute to public charities and faith-based organizations in its 20-town service area for year-end critical-needs grants. The Foundation, through the Draper Foundation Fund and the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund, is accepting applications from local organizations serving some of the area's most economically distressed residents and providing the most basic of necessities: food, warm clothing, fuel assistance and shelter. Learn more >> |
Grants Available in Eastern Connecticut Sunday, November 1 - Letter of intent deadline |
Final Round of Grants for Litchfield County November 1; November 5 and December 31 - Application deadlines |
Two Grants for Regional Conservation Partnerships in New England Sunday, November 1 - Donated Land and Easement Grant Pre-proposal deadline Saturday, February 20, 2016 - Innovation Fund deadline The Jessie B. Cox Trust Charitable Trust Fund's second round grants are intended to increase the capacity of Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCP) in New England. Donated Land and Easement Grants will provide funds to RCPs to cover transaction costs associated with the donation of conservation easements and fee simple lands of ecological significance. 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 >> |
Grants for Environmental Projects & Internships Thursday, November 19 - Application deadline The Rockfall Foundation is entertaining applications for the 2015-16 Environmental Grant Cycle. Grants will be awarded for projects that contribute to the general environmental education of the public, promote environmental planning, contribute to the preservation of the Connecticut River watershed, or fund an internship with a non-profit organization for an environmental project. Proposals must have ties to Middlesex County in order to be considered. 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 >> |
 PEOPLE
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Donald K. Mayland of Lakeville has been named to the board of directors of The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut. Mr. Mayland is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Marine Study Program, Inc. Mr. Mayland serves on the boards of several local organizations, including the Town of Salisbury Board of Finance, the Market Place of Salisbury and Sharon Hospital, where he is a past board director and treasurer. He holds the title of Chairman of the Board and Board director at both Litchfield Bancorp and Connecticut Mutual Holding Company. Read more >> |
| Hartford Business Journal has reported that United Bank has promoted Adam J. Jeamel to eastern regional president, overseeing the Glastonbury lender's community engagement and staff volunteerism, in that corner. He will work closely with the United Bank Foundation (formerly Rockville Bank Foundation) to enhance its community-support programs and activities. Read more >> |
| Eight young professionals involved with the United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, were recently honored as 40 Under Forty recipients by Hartford Busness Journal. The united Way programs include United Way Readers Program, United Way Emerging Leaders Society (ELS) and Women's Leadership Council (WLC). Awardees are Michael M. Byrne Jr., UBS Realty Investors; Rebekah Castagno, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut; Jocelyn DeMaio, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.; Jacquelynn Garofano, United Technologies Research Center; Tara Gerber, Travelers Championship; Todd R. Regan, Robinson+Cole; Anthony Shannon, Shipman & Goodwin LLP; and Joesph Turbessi, Finished: What's Next?. Read more >> |
ABOUT CCP |
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 The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is an association of grantmakers committed to promoting and supporting effective philanthropy for the public good. Council membership is open to foundations (private, corporate, community), business and corporate giving programs, public charity grantmakers, bank trusts, donor-advised funds and individual philanthropists. Associate and Professional Membership in the Council is open to professionals and organizations serving the philanthropic sector. The Council benefits the larger grantmaking community, the nonprofit sector and the public in Connecticut. For more news about philanthropy in Connecticut, go to the Council's News Room, Connecticut Philanthropy Digest archives and our blog, CTPhilanthropyNotes.org. News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to the Council for consideration. The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Manager of Communications. |
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