The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut announced recent grant awards of $2.2 million to advance greater equities in its six focus areas: early childhood care and education; youth development and empowerment; access to affordable, safe, and inclusive housing; access to high quality and affordable health care; women’s and girls’ empowerment; and environmental resilience.Community Foundation Continues to Address Inequities through Grantmaking
The Foundation continues to see an increase in demand for programs that address housing and food insecurity this year. A core grant to the New London Community Meal Center is one such case. A grant of $25,000 in flexible funds will support their budget where they need it most: staffing, fresh food and other areas.
“The Foundation's increased support of core grants over the past several years has enabled our nonprofit partners to address critical needs as they arise. We recognize that they have the greatest understanding of the communities and people they serve. With this flexibility in funding to increase their capacity, the Community Foundation is helping to ensure our nonprofits have the ability to respond as issues present themselves,” stated Foundation President and CEO, Maryam Elahi.
Highlights of the 2023 funding includes: $20,000 to Connecticut League of Conservation Voters for the Eastern Connecticut Environmental Justice Mobilization to engage and educate on critical environmental issues; $18,000 to Expressiones Cultural Center for ArtVenture, a bilingual program that combines social justice and art for youth; and $12,000 to Discovering Amistad for Amistad Youth Voices for Change to engage Norwich high school students in a leadership program.
“We have also seen an uptick in applications for collaboration between statewide advocacy and local service providers to address racial equity in eastern Connecticut,” noted Jennifer O’Brien, Program Director at the Community Foundation. “Those partnerships are key in addressing the systems-change work that continues to be a priority for the Foundation.”
Please visit our website for a complete list of grantees.
About the Community Foundation
Serving 42 towns and comprised of over 600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s vision is a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all. We collaborate with partners to put philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of our community in Eastern Connecticut. The Community Foundation manages a permanent community endowment and has awarded more than $90 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983. To learn more, visit cfect.org.
