Connecticut Arts Grants

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Phase 41, created in 1983, aims to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies to assist individuals facing economic emergencies. Funded through the Department of Homeland Security, EFSP provides federal grants to organizations helping the hungry and homeless. The grants are intended to support feeding, sheltering (including transitional sheltering), and rent/mortgage and utility assistance efforts. Local Recipient Organizations (LROs) are selected by local boards based on the highest need and best use of funds. The program period is from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024.

The Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids (CTG4CTK) Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to various educational and childcare entities within Connecticut to foster the development of farm-to-school programs. Administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, this grant aligns with a broader mission to enhance the state's economy, improve child health, and enrich the educational experiences of students through connections with local agriculture. The program's core objective is to build capacity for long-term Farm to School Programs, emphasizing the integration of local foods into child nutrition programs and promoting hands-on learning about nutrition and farm-to-school connections. The target beneficiaries of the CTG4CTK Grant include local or regional boards of education, regional educational service centers, cooperative arrangements, child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and any organization or entity involved in developing farm-to-school programs, including Connecticut farmers. The impact goals are multi-faceted: increasing the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, enabling educators to use experiential learning to teach about nutrition and agricultural connections, sustaining relationships with local farmers and producers, enriching students' educational experiences, improving the health of children in the state, and boosting the state's economy. The grant program prioritizes applicants located in alliance districts or those providing school readiness programs. Another key focus is to fund applicants who can demonstrate a broad commitment from various stakeholders, including school administrators, school nutrition professionals, educators, and community members. Applicants are specifically requested to detail the support for their projects and how input was gathered during the idea formulation. This emphasis ensures that funded programs have strong community backing and are well-conceived. The CTG4CTK Grant offers several tracks, including Farm to School (K-12) Local Procurement Assistance, Farm to School (K-12) Experiential Learning, Producer Capacity Building, Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE), and a one-time Shipping Container Growing Grant. While the general grant size ranges from $10,000 to $100,000, the maximum award for Tracks 1, 2, and 4 is $75,000, with a higher cap of $250,000 for the Shipping Container Growing grant. The project period for all grants is 24 months. The expected outcomes include a greater integration of local foods, enhanced nutritional education, strengthened local agricultural ties, and overall improvements in child well-being and the state's economic vitality.

The Town of Avon's Support for Community Events Grant Program aims to provide financial aid to local non-profit organizations that sponsor community events. The core purpose is to support local festivals, special events, or community programs designed to offer recreational and cultural opportunities for residents, while also generally promoting the Town of Avon. This aligns with a mission to enrich the quality of life for residents and enhance the town's attractiveness as a place to live and visit. The program seeks to foster community engagement and celebrate the town's heritage through these events. The target beneficiaries are local non-profit organizations that host community events within the Town of Avon, ultimately benefiting the residents who participate in these recreational and cultural activities. The impact goals include promoting the attractiveness of the town, celebrating its heritage, increasing recreational opportunities, and enriching the overall quality of life for its residents. The program focuses on supporting events that contribute to these broader community benefits rather than an applicant's regular operational costs. Priorities for funding include events that specifically highlight the town's appeal as a destination, celebrate its history and its people, expand recreational options, and improve the general well-being of the community. Special consideration is given to grant requests that fund items or services crucial for public health, safety, and welfare during events, such as emergency medical services, refuse collection, portable restrooms, lighting, security, and transportation. This demonstrates a focus on practical support that ensures the success and safety of community gatherings. Expected outcomes include a more vibrant community life through diverse cultural and recreational events, increased town visibility and appeal, and stronger community bonds. The measurable results, though not explicitly detailed as quantitative metrics in the provided text, would likely be assessed through the number and variety of events supported, the reach of those events within the community, and the extent to which they fulfill the stated goals of promoting the town and enriching resident experiences. The program operates under a theory of change where financial support for well-organized, community-focused events directly leads to a more engaged populace and a more desirable town environment. Eligibility criteria further define the program's strategic priorities. Applicants must be IRS tax-exempt under a 501c category, and grants will not be awarded to organizations with a primary political or religious purpose, ensuring a secular and broadly beneficial focus. The event itself must align with the program's goals, not be financially dependent on the grant, and must occur within Avon's limits. Additionally, recipients are required to provide recognition to the Town of Avon as a sponsor, demonstrating a reciprocal relationship and promoting the town's involvement in community enrichment. This strategic framework ensures that funding is directed towards initiatives that genuinely serve the public interest and align with the town's vision for community development.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and public entities in the Berkshire Taconic region to promote and sustain small, community-based agricultural initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-driven projects in East Hartford that promote civic engagement and benefit residents inclusively, with grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 available to eligible nonprofit organizations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Connecticut that serve Trumbull residents, focusing on projects that address the ongoing public health and economic challenges related to COVID-19.

The Town of Avon offers the Support for Community Events Grant Program to provide financial aid to local festivals, special events, and community programs that deliver recreational or cultural opportunities and promote the town. The program gives special attention to events that enhance the attractiveness of Avon as a place to visit or live, celebrate local heritage, and enrich quality of life. Grant awards are capped at 25 percent of the event budget or 7,500 dollars, whichever is less. The funding window covers events occurring between July 1, 2024 and October 31, 2024. Preference is given to purchases or services that protect public health, safety, and welfare, such as emergency medical services, sanitation, lighting, security, and transportation. Eligible applicants must be tax exempt organizations under a 501(c) category and events must be held within town limits. Events must be free and open to the public, not financially dependent on town support, and not organized as for profit ventures. Funds may not support regular operating costs, and only one grant will be awarded per event. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Additional information is available from the Town of Avon.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in specific eastern U.S. states for projects that focus on human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality.

This grant provides funding to distressed municipalities and registered non-profits in Connecticut to develop or improve urban green spaces and community gardens for public enjoyment and environmental education.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Connecticut for innovative programs and urgent needs, with grants ranging from $250 to $10,000.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from local 501(c)(3), 170(c)(1), and other qualified non-profit organizations operating in the communities served by Jewett City Savings Bank. Established in 2004, the Foundation's core mission is to support and benefit community, charitable, educational, and other benevolent purposes. This grant program is aligned with the Foundation's strategic objective to invest in the well-being and development of its service areas, fostering a stronger community fabric. The target beneficiaries for these grants are non-profit organizations that deliver essential services within the Jewett City Savings Bank's service footprint. The Foundation's impact goals are focused on addressing critical community needs, as evidenced by its 2023 giving, which prioritized health, social, and emergency services, as well as support for food pantries, libraries, and arts and culture. The Foundation aims to empower these organizations to continue their vital work and expand their reach. The Foundation's priorities and focuses are clearly demonstrated by its past funding patterns. It actively seeks to support initiatives that provide direct community benefits in areas such as health, social welfare, emergency relief, education (through libraries), and cultural enrichment. These areas reflect the Foundation's commitment to a holistic approach to community development, ensuring a broad range of needs are met. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results for individual grants are not detailed in the provided description, the Foundation's overall track record suggests a commitment to tangible impact. In 2023, it provided over 70 grants totaling $96,211, demonstrating a significant investment in local non-profits. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated over $1.2 million, indicating a sustained and substantial commitment to its philanthropic goals. Applicants would likely be expected to articulate their own measurable outcomes in their proposals. The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation's strategic priorities are centered on community support and benefit, utilizing a theory of change that posits direct financial assistance to established non-profits will result in improved services and a higher quality of life for residents in its service communities. By supporting a diverse range of organizations, from those providing basic necessities like food to those enriching lives through arts and culture, the Foundation aims to contribute to a resilient and thriving local environment.

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program aims to advance sustainable agriculture practices by enhancing the knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers. This directly aligns with the foundation's mission to support sustainable agriculture through education and professional development. The grant focuses on empowering professionals who work with farmers, enabling them to teach, advise, or assist in the adoption of sustainable methods. The program seeks to create a ripple effect, where trained service providers then apply their learned expertise to help farmers improve their agricultural practices, fostering a more sustainable food system within the Northeast region. The primary beneficiaries of this program are agricultural service providers, including those in non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, Cooperative Extension, and other entities that serve the farming community. Additionally, the program extends its reach to other service providers such as real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys, who can indirectly influence farmers. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape in the Northeast by equipping these professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge. Expected outcomes include increased adoption of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices by farmers, improved ecological and economic resilience to climate change, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The program prioritizes a wide array of topics, encompassing marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge. A significant focus is placed on climate-smart agriculture practices, which are intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change. This includes practices such as reduced and no-till farming, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. The program's strategic priorities are clearly aligned with addressing contemporary agricultural challenges through education and practical application. Northeast SARE actively encourages projects from, or in collaboration with, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Furthermore, it encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusivity in agricultural development. The theory of change behind these priorities is that by supporting a diverse range of voices and institutions, the program can foster more innovative and equitable solutions for sustainable agriculture, leading to broader and more effective adoption of sustainable practices across the region. The expected measurable results include an increase in the number of service providers trained in sustainable agriculture, a documented increase in farmers adopting climate-smart practices, and the successful implementation of projects that demonstrate improved ecological, social, and economic resilience. Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000, with project lengths usually spanning 2 to 3 years, and a maximum allowed duration of 3.5 years. The program's geographical focus is exclusively on the Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., ensuring targeted and localized impact within this specific area.

The Greater Worcester Community Foundation's 2024 Community Grant Program is designed to be responsive and flexible, utilizing trust-based philanthropic principles to support projects in Arts & Creativity, Basic Needs, and Economic Opportunity. This approach aims to reduce applicant burden, foster interactive engagement, and facilitate diverse storytelling, aligning with the Foundation's mission to strengthen the community by investing in critical areas that enhance the quality of life for Worcester County residents. The program seeks to build and support a diverse arts and culture ecosystem, ensure all residents have food and shelter, and create economic opportunities through English Language Learning and Job Training & Financial Literacy programs. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are primarily residents of Worcester County. The Foundation seeks to impact these residents by addressing pressing community needs through creative and innovative solutions. For Arts & Creativity, the goal is to foster a strong and inclusive arts and culture environment. In Basic Needs, the focus is on ensuring fundamental necessities like food and shelter are accessible to all. Economic Opportunity initiatives aim to empower individuals through education and skill-building, ultimately enhancing financial stability and independence within the community. The program's priorities and focus areas are distinctly defined. Arts & Creativity projects are aimed at developing a diverse and strong arts and culture ecosystem where all feel a sense of belonging. Basic Needs initiatives are dedicated to guaranteeing that all community residents have access to food and shelter. Economic Opportunity programs concentrate on English Language Learning, Job Training, and Financial Literacy to uplift individuals and families. The Foundation emphasizes organizational commitment to equity, community voice, and systems disruption, underscoring its strategic priorities to address root causes and promote systemic change. Expected outcomes include projects that demonstrate feasibility within the $2,500-$25,000 grant range, create significant access and barrier reduction for Worcester County residents, and offer creative or innovative solutions to identified community needs. Projects are also expected to have measurable and manageable goals and outcomes aligned with the specified focus areas. The Foundation's theory of change appears to be centered on empowering community-serving organizations that are sound financially and operationally, fostering authentic partnerships, and driving meaningful, unduplicated services to achieve sustainable positive change for Worcester County residents.

The Miami Foundation's Arts Access Catalyst Grant Program aims to bridge disparities in arts education across the Miami-Dade region, leveraging data from artlook® Miami to inform its strategy. This initiative directly aligns with the Foundation's mission to foster stronger arts partnerships within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) ecosystem. The program's theory of change is rooted in the belief that by investing in organizations that prioritize access, equity, collaboration, and data-driven approaches, they can significantly enhance arts education opportunities for young people, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes and community well-being. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are Miami-Dade County young people, with a particular focus on those facing marginalization due to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, mixed-abilities, or other lines of difference. The program's impact goals are to increase access to arts education opportunities, advance equity within the arts landscape, and promote collaborative efforts between arts organizations and M-DCPS schools. By supporting projects that engage youth in the arts and demonstrate clear strategies for increasing access, the Foundation seeks to create a more inclusive and vibrant arts education environment. For this grant cycle, the Foundation prioritizes organizations focused on artist residencies and professional development, dance and theater, and addressing school needs. Key priorities include a strong emphasis on access to arts education, advancing equity, and fostering collaboration. The Foundation also stresses the importance of using data directly from artlook Miami to guide and inform projects, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and responsive to actual community needs. Additionally, grassroots organizations with annual budgets under $750,000 are prioritized, recognizing their potential for deep community engagement and the need for support in navigating school partnerships. Expected outcomes include a measurable increase in youth participation in arts education programs, stronger partnerships between arts organizations and M-DCPS schools, and a more equitable distribution of arts opportunities across Miami-Dade County. The grant provides $20,000 distributed over a two-year cycle, with the Foundation reviewing grantees' progress to ensure ongoing alignment and optimal use of funds before confirming second-year funding. The grant period spans from August 2024 to June 2025 for Year 1, and July 2025 to June 2026 for Year 2, allowing for sustained impact and the development of long-term initiatives.

The Farm Transition Grant (FTG) is a competitive matching grant program designed to support Connecticut farmers and agricultural cooperatives in advancing their operations. Administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, the program funds projects aimed at diversification, transitioning to value-added production, and market development for locally grown products. The grant requires measurable outcomes that demonstrate significant progress beyond the applicant’s current status. For the 2025 grant cycle, applications are open from November 1, 2024, to January 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM, with awards announced by February 21, 2025. Projects are expected to begin in March or April 2025, depending on the size of the award. The FTG offers four funding categories tailored to meet different agricultural needs. The New Farmer Micro Grant provides up to $5,000 for individuals with 1–3 years of production history, requiring a 25% cash match. The Infrastructure Investment Grant allocates up to $25,000 for farmers with at least three years of production history to expand or diversify operations, with a 50% match required. The Research and Development Grant funds up to $25,000 for exploring new products, services, or markets, requiring a 40% match. Finally, the Innovation and Diversification Grant offers up to $49,999 for implementing new products or services that expand business operations, with a 25% match requirement. Each applicant may submit only one project per grant cycle. Eligible applicants must be for-profit farm businesses in Connecticut. Nonprofit organizations are excluded but may apply to other programs offered by the Department of Agriculture. Applications must include a comprehensive description of the project, demonstrate alignment with grant goals, and comply with the specified match requirements. Certain costs, such as land acquisition, routine business expenses, and previously incurred expenses, are ineligible for funding or as matches. To assist applicants, the Department of Agriculture will host a Farm Transition Grant Overview Webinar and virtual office hours on December 12, 2024, and January 6, 2025, providing opportunities for applicants to ask questions and refine their submissions. Completed applications must be submitted electronically through the grant’s online platform, accompanied by required documentation, such as budget details, quotes, and landlord consent forms if the project is on leased land. The Farm Transition Grant prioritizes projects that promote sustainability, innovation, and market expansion, with a special focus on supporting historically underserved farmers and veterans. For additional information, applicants can contact Alison Grabarz at [email protected] or visit the program’s website. This grant provides a valuable opportunity for Connecticut farmers to advance their operations and contribute to the state’s agricultural growth.

This grant provides financial support to established livestock farmers in select New England counties to implement regenerative agriculture practices that enhance soil health, water quality, and pollinator habitats.

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation Grant invites applications from public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the United States. The Foundation's core mission is to inspire philanthropy and community service, supporting organizations that address complex problems or assist people in need. This specific grant program aligns with their commitment by focusing on critical community support, particularly during the holiday season, by funding initiatives that provide meals to vulnerable individuals and families. The grants available range from $10,000 to $100,000, with a key funding constraint that requests over $25,000 will not be considered for this particular call. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are individuals and families in need within the New York City metropolitan area, specifically targeting those requiring meal assistance during Thanksgiving 2024. The impact goal is to alleviate food insecurity during this critical time by ensuring access to Thanksgiving meals. Eligible activities must occur on or around Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024) and conclude by December 6, 2024, emphasizing immediate and direct relief. The program prioritizes organizations operating in New York City (five boroughs), Westchester County, NY, or Fairfield County, CT, ensuring geographic focus on communities served by the Foundation. The main focus of this grant is strictly on the purchase of foods related to Thanksgiving meals. This specificity highlights the Foundation's strategic priority to address immediate, tangible needs within communities. While the grant does not explicitly detail a "theory of change," its direct approach to funding meal provisions implies a straightforward theory: providing resources for food directly leads to reduced food insecurity and increased well-being for beneficiaries during a significant holiday. The Foundation also requires that it not be the sole funder, encouraging shared responsibility and broader community engagement in addressing these needs. Expected outcomes include a demonstrated impact on underserved communities through the provision of Thanksgiving meals. Measurable results would likely involve the number of individuals and families served, the quantity of meals provided, and the effective utilization of funds for food purchases. Proposals will be evaluated based on their alignment with eligibility criteria, operational feasibility, documented impact on underserved communities, the financial health of the organization, and the appropriateness of activities in relation to the Foundation's mission. These evaluation criteria underscore the Foundation's strategic intent to support well-managed projects that deliver concrete, positive outcomes.

The Grow grant program, offered by the Grassroots Fund, is designed to support groups with existing project implementation experience in their communities. The program aligns with the Grassroots Fund's broad interpretation of "environment," funding a wide range of activities focused on local, grassroots work. The mission is to deepen community work by fostering vision development, increasing participation, identifying new stakeholders, and incorporating diverse voices and lived experiences into decision-making processes. Target beneficiaries for the Grow grant program are community-based, local initiatives, specifically those operating in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. The program emphasizes supporting groups that represent a broad range of community voices and are not currently being reached by other funders. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen community-led efforts and ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive and reflective of various perspectives. The program prioritizes volunteer-driven groups or those with no more than two full-time paid staff (80 hours/week combined) and an approximate annual operating budget under $100,000. These priorities underscore the fund's strategic focus on supporting smaller, community-rooted organizations that may have limited access to other funding sources. The Grassroots Fund's theory of change appears to be centered on empowering local groups to drive community development and foster more equitable and participatory processes. Expected outcomes include communities with further developed visions, reduced barriers to participation, engagement of new stakeholders, and increased integration of diverse voices and lived experiences in core decision-making. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond these outcomes, the emphasis on "deepening their work" and "bringing more voices" suggests qualitative and potentially quantitative shifts in community engagement and project effectiveness. The grant size ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, providing crucial financial support to these initiatives. It's important to note that the fund does not support individuals, national or international work, lobbying, partisan political activity, land/building acquisition, studies without follow-up, publication of books/reports, micro/re-granting programs, or retroactive expenses. This clear outline of what is not supported further defines the strategic priorities of the Grassroots Fund, ensuring that grants are directed towards community-level, action-oriented initiatives that align with their mission of fostering grassroots environmental and social change.

This program provides financial assistance to licensed child care providers in Connecticut for urgent repairs needed to ensure safe operations.

This program provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations for hosting community events that promote cultural and recreational opportunities for residents of Avon, Connecticut.