CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative

The CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative (Collaborative) is a project of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) for which CCP serves as fiscal sponsor. Founded in 2011, the Collaborative is more than just a group of people who want to make a difference for young children and their families. We're a community that's dedicated to creating an early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities, and the workforce in Connecticut.
 
We've already made some big strides—but there is so much more to do. Through our early efforts, we've helped establish an Office of Early Childhood at the state level that integrated functions of different state agencies serving young children and their families. We are now focused on addressing the big challenges in the early childhood field laid bare by COVID. This includes continuing to strengthen the voices of grassroots stakeholders and engaging with a wider array of state partners to build and sustain a more comprehensive early childhood system throughout Connecticut.
 
We believe that it's critical to have a strong early childhood system because it helps build healthy communities and families. Our goal is to bring the collective voice and resources of philanthropy to support this mission. We encourage funders to join our effort. The Collaborative is open to all funders who want to contribute collaboratively to this critical work.

Mission

To bring the collective voice and resources of philanthropy to build and sustain a comprehensive early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities and the workforce in Connecticut.

Vision

A comprehensive system that is effective, efficient and high-quality that leads to improved outcomes for all children, families, communities and the workforce in Connecticut.

Values

• Alignment of infrastructure, state to local
• Community engagement, citizen involvement
• Cross-sector collaboration
• Public/private partnership
• Address equity issues, social and racial, growing gap between rich, not rich
• Data-informed work and decision-making rooted in fact and in story
• Diversity and needs of individual members of the collaborative 

Work Plan

Click here to see CT ECFC's 2024 Work Plan. 

 

Member List

The Collaborative comprises 22 funders from around the state who bring many years of experience in supporting and operating programs that serve the needs of children and families.

Anonymous Donor American Savings Foundation* The Connecticut Project  The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut Connecticut Community Foundation Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund Fairfield County's Community Foundation The Fund for Greater Hartford The Grossman Family Foundation Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation McCall Kulak Family Foundation* Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation Ritter Family Foundation Social Impact Partners United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut United Way of Connecticut United Way of Coastal and Western CT Viking Global Foundation William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund

*Associate Members

 

Co-chairs and Staff

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			Ashley Gaudiano (she/her/hers)  Senior Vice President, Community Impact United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut	Dr. William (Billy) Johnson Director of Educational Strategy William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund	Mary Peniston Executive Director Early Childhood Funder Collaborative

We encourage funders to join our effort. The Collaborative is open to all funders.

For more information, contact Mary Peniston, Collaborative Executive Director.

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