HARTFORD, CT -- Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP), the state's association of grantmakers, welcomes its new president, Karla Fortunato, who starts work on Monday, May 1, at the organization’s office in Hartford. Fortunato comes to CCP after 13 years at the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN), a national alliance of 60 philanthropic organizations based in the Washington, DC area. She moved with her husband and two young children to West Hartford in early April, and has spent time working with the board and staff at CCP so she can hit the ground running.
"Now is a critical moment for our members to work together in new ways to better support the nonprofits serving Connecticut communities," said Fortunato. "At a time of state budget deficits and federal cuts coming from Washington, smart, collective action by local funders will be imperative."
The members of CCP represent private foundations, corporate giving programs, and community foundations, collectively giving more than $858 million in grants and contributions annually. CCP brings its members together to network, learn, and collaborate, with the goal of increasing their impact. CCP’s Early Childhood Funders Collaborative is a great example of funders coming together with shared goals. Comprised of 14 funders from around the state, the collaborative is supporting efforts to build a comprehensive early childhood system that works for all families, communities, and the workforce in Connecticut.
"We have groups of funders focused on a range of issues and a range of places," said Fortunato. "Our role is to facilitate learning and collaboration within these groups, helping to generate new initiatives and make great things happen at the local and statewide levels."Fortunato, a Connecticut native, brings a wealth of experience from earlier work in Boston and Washington, DC, where she worked on variety of issues with non-profits and foundations to support healthier people, communities, and environments.
"Karla comes to Connecticut and CCP with a passion for philanthropy. We are confident she will increase CCP's impact in Connecticut on issues that matter to our members and to our state," said Judith Meyers, chair of CCP’s Board of Directors. "We wanted a leader who can be a voice for the power of collective philanthropy. And our members want support to increase the impact of their grantmaking as much as possible in their communities. Karla brings both pragmatism and vision to CCP that will help her advance work on both of these fronts."
CCP, known as the "voice of philanthropy," aims to inspire local philanthropy and broaden its power through learning and collaboration. Community leaders and government officials can turn to CCP and its new president for information on giving in the state, how philanthropic organizations work, and importantly, where there are opportunities to work across sectors for a stronger Connecticut.
"Grantmakers get more done when they can connect, learn, and collaborate with each other," said Fortunato. "I look forward to bringing together everyone who wants to make Connecticut a stronger and more just place to live and work."
Fortunato graduated magna cum laude from the Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Virginia and earned an MBA (also magna cum laude) from George Washington University. She grew up in Clinton, attending the local public schools. She and her husband are delighted to raise their children back on her native soil.
The 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 annually grant more than $858 million from assets of more than $7.6 billion. CCP is a member of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, the largest network serving philanthropy in America.
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Contact:
Judith Meyers
Chair
CCP Board of Directors
860-679-1520
Website: www.CTphilanthropy.org