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. Photos: 2016 Philanthropy Luncheon and Conference, Trumbull, CT.
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FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS >>
RFP Announced: Connecticut Working Cities Challenge >>
Governor Malloy Honors Community Foundations in CT >>
Giving Circle Participants Urged to Participate in Survey >>
$210K Grant for Coordinated Access to Reduce Homelessness Among Children and Youth >>
Report Highlights Progress in Advancing Health Equity for All Residents >>
College Coaching Initiative Nearly Doubles Graduation Rates >>
Initial Evaluation of Bridgeport School's SEL Favorable >>
PHILANTHROPY NEWS LINKS >>
GRANTS and RFPS >>
EVENTS and OTHER OPPORTUNITIES >>
THE POWER OF GOOD PEOPLE >>
JOBS IN PHILANTHROPY >>
ABOUT CCP and the CONNECTICUT PHILANTHROPY DIGEST >>
FEATURED PHILANTHROPY NEWS
RFP Announced: Connecticut Working Cities Challenge
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and partners are excited to announce the eligibility criteria for the Connecticut Working Cities Challenge, the grant competition that is designed to support cross-sector, collaborative leadership and ambitious work to improve the lives of low-income people in small and mid-size cities in Connecticut.
The Letter of Intent deadline is December 1, 2016. Connecticut Working Cities Challenge – Application Process >>
The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) is the fiduciary for matching support from local funders. So far, 20 members of CCP have joined the partnership, committing $1,078,000 towards the $1.2M match goal. Please contact Dee Goodrich, CCP director of member engagement, if your organization is interested in contributing to the Connecticut Working Cities Challenge matching support. For more information about the Connecticut Working Cities Challenge, contact David Radcliffe, CT Working Cities Challenge Director, 617-784-0863.
Governor Malloy Honors Community Foundations in CT
The Governor's Patron of the Arts Awards honor companies, individuals, and organizations for their generosity and support of the arts and reaffirms the value of philanthropy for the arts in Connecticut. On November 1, at a ceremony at the Governor's residence, Paula Van Ness, president and CEO of Connecticut Community Foundation, accepted the Patron of the Arts Award from the Governor on behalf of nine community foundations in Connecticut. Community foundation honorees include: The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Connecticut Community Foundation, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, New Canaan Community Foundation and Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. View photos from the event >>
Giving Circle Participants Urged to Participate in Survey
The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Forum) is updating their last systematic scan of giving circle activity in the US with a new survey. This new research will examine the changing structure, composition and operations of giving circles and will be useful to thousands of giving circles, donors and hosts across the nation and abroad.
The Forum defines giving circles as groups of individuals, who collectively donate money and sometimes time, to support multiple organizations or projects. Members have a say in how funding is given and who is supported.
The survey need only be completed by one person knowledgeable about the structure, composition, and operations of the giving circle. Those working with multiple giving circles, should complete the survey for each giving circle.
The Giving Circle Survey deadline is December 1, 2016. Take the survey >>
Upon completion of the survey, each giving circle will be entered into a drawing to win a donation to the charity of the giving circle’s choice. Two giving circles will be randomly selected for a donation of $250 each. Summary results will be shared with all respondents. This survey is part of a larger study to understand the landscape, donor impact and host impact of giving circles. For questions, contact Angela Eikenberry, aeikenberry@unomaha.edu, Jason Franklin, frankjas@gvsu.edu, or Julia Carboni, jlcarbon@syr.edu.
$210K Grant for Coordinated Access to Reduce Homelessness Among Children and Youth
To help end homelessness among youth/young adults and families with children, the Partnership for Strong Communities has been awarded a three-year $210,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The project utilizes the Coordinated Access Network (CAN), which works to streamline and standardize the services of homeless providers, ensuring one point of access for those in need. The CAN system is being adapted for the two target populations of the project, homeless youth/young adults and families with children. The grant will go toward work with the Greater Hartford Region’s CAN to design and implement a statewide model.
The Greater Hartford CAN’s key partners include Journey Home, the Department of Housing, the Department of Children and Families, and various other state and local service providers working to meet the needs of homeless youth and families. The Partnership leads the Campaign’s collective impact efforts, helping to coordinate the CAN system, with the ultimate goal of ending youth and family homelessness in the region by the end of 2020. Read more >>
Tool Measures Health Equity; Report Highlights Progress in Advancing Health Equity
To measure Access Health CT’s progress toward reaching diverse communities in its efforts to insure all eligible individuals, the Texas Health Institute, a nonprofit health care research group, with support from the Connecticut Health Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, created and administered a Marketplace Health Equity Assessment Tool (M-HEAT). The M-HEAT integrates public and self-reported data from health insurance marketplaces with the experiences and perceptions from community stakeholders and advocates. The results, provided in the new report Advancing Health Equity in the Health Insurance Marketplace, identify Access Health CT’s promising actions as well as opportunities to build on significant initial progress to reach, enroll, and retain coverage for all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, spoken language, or gender identity. Read the Executive Summary >>
College Coaching Initiative Nearly Doubles Graduation Rates
Norwalk Community College students who participated in Family Economic Security Program academic and financial coaching services, were almost twice as likely to graduate than other students and six times more likely to subsequently enroll in a four-year institution, according to research published by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls.
Participants in the Family Economic Security Program, an initiative created Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls and supported by Citi Community Development – including academic and financial coaching and career development – resulted in graduate rates of 50 percent compared to 32 percent for all Norwalk Community College students. Moreover, 55 percent of students who received services enrolled in a four-year college after graduation compared to nine percent of the general student population.
As a result of this research, the Fund for Women & Girls also announced the commissioning of a new study, The Evolution, Expansion and Evaluation of The Family Economic Security Program, on the impact of similar coaching services provided by the organization for students of Housatonic Community College (HCC) since last year. Read more >>
Initial Evaluation of Bridgeport School's SEL Favorable
Yale School of Medicine has published an evaluation report on the district-wide Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Initiative in Bridgeport. Underwritten by the Tauck Family Foundation, Social and Emotional Learning in the Bridgeport Public Schools: An Initial Report to the Community, reports on the implementation of the RULER Approach, a social and emotional learning program developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Report highlights include: students reporting more self-control (behavioral self-regulation) had higher grades, fewer absences, and lower odds of having a suspension or expulsion; students who perceived more student-teacher trust had higher grades and lower odds of
having a suspension or expulsion; findings suggest that enhancing school climate and social and emotional learning skills may be beneficial for Bridgeport students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. Read the report >>
American Savings Foundation
Grants to Benefit Variety of City Programs, Services >>
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Foundation Announces Grants for Community Engagement and Affordable Housing Workshops >>
The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation
Major North Woods Land Buy Has Ties to Subway’s Founder >>
Cigna Foundation
Connecticut Community Foundation
Oxford Historical Society Establishes New Fund >>
Connecticut Health Foundation
CT Hospital Association Gets Grant Improve Health Equity >>
Dominion
Dominion Awards $1 Million for Educational Programs Exploring Energy >>
Dominion Gives More Than $1 Million to Charitable Groups Meeting Critical Community Needs >>
ESPN
Farmington Bank; Webster Bank
Banks Build Relationships, Trust With Financial Literacy >>
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Fund for Women & Girls' Summit Helps Middle School Girls Thrive Through Leadership and Service >>
The Fund for Greater Hartford
The Fund for Greater Hartford Embarks Upon a Strategic Planning Process >>
Guilford Foundation
Youth Advisory Group Grants $10K >>
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Foundation Pledges $1M to Help Nonprofits Hit By State Cuts >>
Vernon Public Schools Receives Grant to Enhance School, Family and Community Partnerships >>
New and Improved Online Scholarship Directory Launched >>
Main Street Community Foundation
Residents Blazing a Trail to Help Local Men and Boys >>
Newman's Own Foundation
Foundation Provides Over $1.5 Million to Nutrition Focused Nonprofits >>
Charity That Begins with Spaghetti Sauce >>
Paul Newman Who? Salad Dressing Company Adjusts to Reach Millennials >>
Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
Draper Foundation Fund Provides $566K in Support of Area Nonprofits >>
Improvements and Ingenuities in Northwest Corner Philanthropy >>
SI Financial Group Foundation
Grant Helps Mystic Area Shelter's Homeless Prevention Project >>
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
United Way Volunteers Participate in World's Largest Shared Reading Day >>
Valley Community Foundation
Foundation Awards $595K to Valley Nonprofits >>
Non-Member News Links
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
7 Boys & Girls Clubs in Connecticut Receive Triple Play Grants for Healthy Lifestyles >>
AT&T
$5K Grant to Support Educational Garden Project >>
Joe and Kay Calvanese Foundation
Local Family Has History of Generous Donations >>
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
Billionaire Creates Network of Mental Health Clinics for Veterans >>
Connex Credit Union
Credit Union helps fund “Miracles” With $2K Donation to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center >>
Cordani Family Foundation
First County Bank
Foundation Grants $25K to Westport Nonprofits >>
Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
Hartford One of Eight Partners for Places Grant Recipients >>
Gowrie Group
Gowrie Group Launches $30K Matching Challenge to Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries >>
Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation
Saint Bernard School Receives Funds for Technology Projects >>
Mary Kay Foundation
Domestic Violence Shelter Receives $20K Grant >>
Ryan T. Lee Foundation; AT&T Foundation
$10K Grant to Fund Four Scholarships for Berlin Students >>
Christian J. and Eva W. Trefz
Trefz Family Gift Creates First Global Health Endowed Chair in Connecticut >>
Verizon Wireless
Children's Center on Family Violence Receives $50K Grant >>
GRANTS and RFPS
Travelers Foundation
DECEMBER 5: Application deadline: Travelers Excellence in Community Resilience Award >>
NewAlliance Foundation
DECEMBER 1: Application deadline - Grants for Arts, Community Development, Health and Human Services, and Youth and Education >>
United Way of Western Connecticut
DECEMBER 12: RFP application deadline - Early childhood education and afterschool programming >>
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
DECEMBER 31: Application deadlines - Final Round of Competitive Grants >>
Branford Community Foundation
DECEMBER 31: Application deadline: Competitive Grant Cycle >>
The Fund for Greater Hartford
JANUARY 3: 2017 grant cycle opens: Trauma-Informed Practice Fund; Letter of Intent; Transition Grant >>
The Rockfall Foundation
FEBUARY 1: Application deadline: Virginia R. Rollefson Environmental Leadership Scholarship >>
People’s United Community Foundation
FEBRUARY 1: Grant application deadline: For areas of focus - Community Development; Youth Development; Affordable Housing >>
Non-Member Grants and RFPs
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts
DECEMBER 15: Application deadline: Connecticut Arts Endowment Fund >>
Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Places
JANUARY 30: Application deadline: Partners for Places Round 10 Grant Cycle >>
Barr Foundation
DECEMBER 12: Informational RFP Webinar (signup for notification) >>
FEBRUARY 15: RFP application deadline: A Vision for New England Schools and Programs for Students Off Track to Graduate from High School >>
EVENTS and OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Get Financially Fit! Participants Can Still Sign Up for Budget Coaching >>
November 28: Application deadline
Participants in the United Way Volunteer Budget Coach (VBC) program set and meet financial goals during a four-month period. This no-cost program coaches participants to track expenses to create and follow a budget; identify ways to tackle expenses and prioritize spending; and make an action plan to pay bills on time, reduce debt and save.
VBC is one example of United Way and its partners and volunteers being champions for working families. This includes the newly revealed ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families who live above the federal poverty line, yet struggle to pay bills, put food on the table and make ends meet every day. Household incomes with a minimum of $20,000 and up to $111,000 are eligible for coaching.
VBC is supported through individual and corporate contributions to United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut's Community Investments along with Prudential and Citizens Bank, and Women's Business Development Council and Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF).
Board Chair Roundtable to Discuss Future of Nonprofit Boards >>
NOVEMBER 29: 8:30-10:00 am, Wisdom House, Litchfield, CT
What does a recent national survey of nonprofit board chairs tell us about the future of nonprofit boards? Learn about the results of the survey and join in a discussion on what it may mean for your organization. Presenter: Anne Yurasek, Principal at FIOS Partners, has been an organizational development consultant and trainer for over twelve years in the nonprofit and private sector. This event is a partnership between Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation and Connecticut Community Foundation.
Vote for NMEF Youth Organizing Award >>
Through NOVEMBER 30: Open voting
Putting students at the center of their learning means giving them a voice, not only in decisions about their individual learning, but in shaping the future of learning for all students. That’s why Nellie Mae Education Foundation is celebrating the achievements of seven amazing New England youth organizing groups (including one from Connecticut), who are all in the running for the 2016 Youth Organizing Award.
Managing Your Online Fundraising Campaign >>
DECEMBER 1: 9:00 - 11:00 am, Wilton Library, Wilton, CT
In this first of a three-part nonprofit training series, learn the crucial steps in setting up your Giving Day campaign and key essentials to building your fundraising team. This session will also feature a panel of Giving Day success stories. The series is for nonprofits participating in Fairfield County's Giving Day powered by Fairfield County's Community Foundation.
Youth Justice Reform in a Trump Administration Post-Election Debrief Call
DECEMBER 1: 1:00 - 2:00 PM: Webinar for Funders
Join the Youth Transition Funders Group (YTFG) to discuss the post-election climate for justice reform, both nationally and in your state. Hear the perspectives of two national advocates, including Marc Levin, Policy Director of Right on Crime and Director of the Center for Effective Justice, a prominant conservative leader for justice reform, and Marcy Mistrett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Youth Justice and Co-Chair of the Act4JJ Campaign, the national coalition advocating for reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. YTFG wants to hear from funders - what are your initial thoughts and concerns about how the election results will impact your work and your grantees? Call-in Number: 712-770-4005; Access Code: 302442
Farmington Bank Hosts Video Competition >>
DECEMBER 1: Entry and Video submission deadline
Farmington Bank is hosting a video competition for Connecticut and Massachusetts teenage students, about the importance of savings. Farmington Bank will select one winning video from each state to be showcased on their website and YouTube page. Plus, each winner will be awarded a $100 Visa® gift card. The winning videos selected by Farmington Bank will then be submitted to the national competition called Lights, Camera, Save! Video Contest, organized by the American Bankers Association Foundation.
Fairfield and Hartford Leadership Development Roundtable (LDR) >>
DECEMBER 2: Application deadline
The ZOOM Foundation's Leadership Development Roundtable (LDR) is an intensive program designed to accelerate the development of emerging leaders working to effect social change in Connecticut. LDR is entering its tenth year, having supported more than 195 rising leaders to grow their leadership skills and networks. LDR is recruiting for LDR-Fairfield and LDR-Hartford cohorts, with sessions slated to begin in January 2017. LDR is supported by Connecticut Community Foundation, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Lone Pine Foundation, and William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund.
Connecticut Bar Foundation Student Essay Contest >>
FEBRUARY 24: Submission deadline
The Connecticut Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the Seventeenth Annual James W. Cooper Fellows Quintin Johnstone Essay Contest. The 2016-2017 essay topic is “Taking a Knee or Taking a Stand." The contest winner will receive $2,000 and the two runners-up will receive $1,000. The contest is open to high school students, vocational-technical school students, students enrolled in a high school diploma credit program under the age of 21, and high school age home-schooled students.
THE POWER OF GOOD PEOPLE
University of Hartford's Walter Harrison is Appointed to Newman's Own Advisory Board
Newman's Own announced that Walter Harrison has been appointed to the Newman's Own Advisory Board. Harrison is currently President of the University of Hartford in West Hartford, where he has served since 1998, marking nearly a third of the University's history. Under his leadership, the University's academic quality, finances, and fundraising have all improved. New academic programs were added under his tenure, and major additions and renovations were made to the University's signature academic facilities. He was also responsible for building a strong and vibrant relationship with the greater Hartford community.
"We are delighted to have a person of Walt Harrison's distinction, diverse accomplishments, and widely admired leadership on behalf of the common good join the Newman's Own family," said Robert Forrester, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation and Executive Chairman of Newman's Own, Inc. "As a trusted advisor, he will bring great value to our commitment to donate 100% of Newman's Own profits to charity with insight and integrity." Read more >>
Lauren Stillwell Patterson is New Leader at New Canaan Community Foundation
The New Canaan Community Foundation welcomes Lauren Stillwell Patterson as their new president & CEO. Board Chairman, Leo Karl III commented, “Lauren brings a wealth of experience, talent and enthusiasm for community philanthropy to our Foundation. Lauren will help bring out the very best in our community and I personally look forward to working with her in that mission.”
Lauren has worked in community philanthropy for the last nine years. She was most recently Director of Programs at Washington (DC) Area Women’s Foundation, a public foundation dedicated to ensuring that economically vulnerable women and girls have the resources they need to thrive. She also led the foundation’s Early Care and Education Funders Collaborative, and served on the Steering Committee of the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative. Previous to her time at the Women’s Foundation, Lauren managed grantmaking and donor engagement at The Community Foundation for Montgomery County. Read more >>
Nancy Humphreys of Lakeville Joins Berkshire Taconic Board
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that Nancy Humphreys of Lakeville has joined its board of directors. Nancy has over 35 years of banking experience concentrating on liquidity and treasury management. She currently serves as a director of the Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, a board member of the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association and a trustee of the Salisbury Association. For the past five years, Humphreys has been a member of Berkshire Taconic’s audit committee. Read more >>
Three Join the Knox Foundation Board
John Cabral, Chris Williams and Jackie Mandyke have joined the Board of The Betty Knox Foundation.
Jonathan Cabral, an officer with the CT Housing Finance Authority, previously worked at Webster Bank. Jonathan serves on the boards of Mutual Housing and the Hartford Preservation Alliance.
A founding member of HYPE (Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs), Chris Williams is in the claim department legal division at Travelers, and previously worked at Day Pitney.
Jackie Mandyke is the managing director for the iQuilt Partnership. She was previously in executive roles at CT Department of Economic Development (DECD) and Department of Consumer Protection, and in community relations at Trinity College. Jackie serves on the board of the Connecticut’s Women’s Council and Hartford Hospital’s Board of Incorporators.
Meyers Receives Award from CT Voices for Children
Judith Meyers, president and CEO of Connecticut Children's Fund and it's subsidiary, the Child Health and Education Institute of Connecticut, received the Priscilla Canny Research Award from Connecticut Voices for Children at the 2016 First for Kids Awards ceremony this month. Meyers, along with award recipients Myra Jones Taylor and Sarah Eagan, were recognized for their work on behalf of children in Connecticut. Read more >>
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy
Alliance Announces Barbara Gallagher as Nation Director of Philanthropy >>
Valley United Way
Sharon Gibson Ellis is Valley United Way's New President >>
Jillian Carroll is Named Director of Resource Development >>
ABOUT CCP and CONNECTICUT PHILANTHROPY DIGEST
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.
The Connecticut Philanthropy Digest (Digest) is brought to you by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy. Edited by Laurie Allen, Communications Manager. The Digest is a summary of recent activities by Connecticut foundations and grantmakers, and is compiled and distributed monthly to media outlets, local legislators and grantmakers in order to raise the profile of philanthropy throughout Connecticut. News about Connecticut funders may be submitted to CCP for consideration. 2016 Publication Dates: November 22; December 19. Submission Deadlines: Close of business one week before the publication date.