Community Impact Grants

Community Impact Grants is sponsored by Fairfield County's Community Foundation. Invests in solutions to advance equity in Fairfield County, focusing on projects that make systemic and structural change.

Our Grants - Fairfield County's Community Foundation Fairfield County's Community Foundation › Our Grants The Community Foundation makes strategic grants to local nonprofits to support their work of advancing equity in Fairfield County.

Investing in Solutions to Advance Equity Locally-based nonprofits and organizations working with a fiscal sponsor are invited to apply for funding for efforts that help make Fairfield County more equitable for everyone. Download Our Results Areas Our strategic grantmaking occurs in a Fall cycle. Community Impact grants are being accepted until December 30th.

Check out our basic eligibility requirements, if you are eligible, submit an application. How We Approach Grantmaking As we continue to move down a path of trust-based grantmaking, we strive to respond to the needs of the people and groups who know our community’s issues best and give grants to nonprofits that have promising ideas for making structural changes.

This means listening to what organizations need, making it easier to apply for grants, giving unrestricted grants that cover longer periods, and making reporting simpler. FAQs for Grant Applicants What are the basic eligibility requirements to apply for a strategic grant?

Additionally, if an organization has received a grant from the Community Foundation, the work that was supported by those funds must be completed, and a final report must be submitted to us before we may consider a new grant application. What kinds of grants can my organization apply for? New applicants are welcome to apply for a capacity-building or small grant.

Returning applicants and/or organizations with a proven track record in aligning with one or more of our key results areas may apply for funds for general operations. Learn more. What types of activities are NOT eligible for strategic grant funding?

The Community Foundation does not award grants for any of the following purposes: Persuading people to join/support a specific religion, political party, or candidate Capital campaigns or projects (e.g., major building repairs) Annual fundraising appeals Hosting a fundraising event Purchasing land as open space For-profit, parochial, charter, private, or individual public schools Helping one specific person What is required of grant recipients?

As a recipient of a grant from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, your nonprofit is required to follow the terms of the grant agreement, which includes reporting and publicity requirements. Organizations that get strategic grants must send us two reports: an interim report midway through the project and a final report at the end of the grant period. (If the grant is $10,000 or less, only a final report is needed.)

Usually, these reports are due on January 15 and July 15. Full details on required reporting will be shared in the grant agreement. Report forms are available through Sharon Jones, Grants Associate, at SJones@FCCFoundation.

org or call (203) 750-3200. My organization doesn’t qualify for a strategic grant. What other support is available?

For organizations that are still growing and do not yet qualify for larger grants, small grants of up to $5,000 may be available to support projects focused on equity in Fairfield County. Contact our Grants Associates at (203) 750-3200 to learn more about any current opportunities.

See Our 2025 Grantee Partners Our strategic grantmaking, which averages $2 to $3 million per year, supports organizations in building more equitable systems and structures to ensure all community members can thrive.

Advocacy & Civic Engagement……$47,000 The Campaign School at Yale Bridgeport Generation Now Community Health Care Workers of Connecticut (with United Way of Western and Coastal Connecticut as fiscal sponsor) Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc Danbury Youth Services, Inc Dovetail: SIP, Inc. (Subsidiary of Charter Oak Communities) Enrich Health (with Dwight Hall at Yale as fiscal sponsor) LifeBridge Community Services Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, Inc Planned Parenthood of Southern New England The Child and Family Guidance Center Inc. Women Against Mass Incarceration Association of Religious Communities Building Neighborhoods Together Central Connecticut Coast YMCA Connecticut Council for Philanthropy Connecticut Legal Services, Inc Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County Housing Development Fund, Inc. Newtown Youth and Family Services Southwestern CT Agency on Aging Income & Asset Building…… $331,000 Alliance for Community Empowerment Connecticut Voices for Children Local Initiatives Support Corporation(LISC) Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT) Women’s Business Development Council Women’s Mentoring Network, Inc Women & Girls…… $1,069,915 Aurora Women and Girls Foundation, Inc. Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders Inc Bridgeport Generation Now Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Bridgeport Pop Warner Football League Community Health Care Workers of Connecticut (with United Way of Western and Coastal Connecticut as fiscal sponsor) Connecticut Council for Philanthropy Connecticut Hospital Association Danbury Youth Services, Inc. Doulas 4 CT (with United Way of Western and Coastal Connecticut as fiscal sponsor) Greenwich Community Gardens Ministerial Health Fellowship Norwalk Film Festival Inc Optimus Health Care, Inc. Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT) Power Clean Recovery Corp Stamford Museum & Nature Center The Campaign School at Yale The Foodshed Network (with Greenwich Community Gardens as fiscal sponsor) United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford New Canaan and Darien United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut Women’s Mentoring Network, Inc Youth Education & Career Development…… $655,500 ACCESS Educational Services Arts For Learning Connecticut Boys & Girls Club of Stamford Bridgeport Arts & Cultural Council Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders Inc Bridgeport Fire Cadet Program (with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club as fiscal sponsor) Center for Children’s Advocacy Connecticut State Community College English Learner Support Services of Fairfield County Green Village Initiative, Inc Higher Education Literacy Professionals, Inc National Youth Employment Coalition Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County Norwalk Hospital Foundation Revolution Fitness Youth Boxing, Inc South End Community Center The Norwalk Art Space Inc Wakeman Boys & Girls Club Youth Business Initiative Additional Discretionary Grants…… $147,700 100 Black Men of Stamford American Red Cross Connecticut Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders Inc Friends of Newtown Community Center Hartford Foundation For Public Giving Housatonic Valley Association, Inc My Architecture Workshops Inc Partnership for Strong Communities Salt & Light Ministries Inc Ted Thomas Dance Foundation The Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut, Inc. United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut Women Against Mass Incarceration Have questions about our strategic grant process?

Contact Sharon Jones, Grants Associate, at SJones@FCCFoundation. org or call (203) 750-3200 .

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Scholarships & Eligibility Claim or Renew Your Scholarship Youth Education & Careers Black Maternal Health Initiative Business Collaborative for Education Equity Career Pathways for Youth Fairfield County Food Security Fund Youth Philanthropy Council Professional Advisors Council You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.