Connecticut Capacity Building Grants

This funding opportunity supports grassroots organizations in New England that are dedicated to anti-racist initiatives and social justice, helping them build movements and drive systemic change in their communities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Connecticut focused on historic preservation, helping them improve their operations, diversify funding, and enhance community engagement.

This program provides funding to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Connecticut to support economic development projects that benefit historically underserved communities, focusing on equity and inclusion.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in New Britain and Waterbury with essential capital needs to improve their services, while also allowing eligible organizations outside these areas to apply for smaller grants.

This funding opportunity supports small nonprofit organizations in Connecticut to strengthen their operations and enhance their capacity to serve communities through targeted initiatives in leadership, financial management, technology, and communications.

This program provides financial support to small nonprofit organizations in Greater New Haven to help them address COVID-19 impacts or advance racial equity through project support, capacity building, or general operating expenses.

The Catalyst Endowment Fund, managed by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, is offering a competitive funding opportunity centered on "Empowering Future Leaders and Community Builders through Youth Sports in Greater Hartford." This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to foster well-being and development within the community. The program aims to leverage the positive effects of youth sports, such as developing teamwork, leadership, and promoting physical and mental health, to create resilient, confident, and empowered individuals. The fund's focus on bridging access gaps to youth sports directly supports the foundation's strategic priority of creating sustainable support systems for the region's youth. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are youth in Greater Hartford, particularly those in underserved communities who face barriers to accessing sports programs. The overarching impact goal is to empower these young individuals, transforming them into future leaders and community builders. By focusing on sustainable support systems, the program seeks to create lasting positive change beyond the grant duration, addressing systemic inequalities in access to enriching activities. This aligns with a theory of change that posits that providing equitable opportunities in youth sports will lead to enhanced individual development and stronger, more engaged communities. The program's priorities and focus areas are clearly defined to achieve these goals. Infrastructure Development aims to improve existing sports facilities and equipment, ensuring long-term accessibility. Training and Capacity Building initiatives will equip coaches, volunteers, and staff with the skills to deliver high-quality programs, fostering a robust support network. Partnerships and Collaborations are encouraged to strengthen relationships with schools, community organizations, and local businesses, pooling resources and support. Finally, Health and Wellness Integration seeks to embed physical and mental health services within youth sports, promoting holistic well-being and sustained participation. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved accessibility to youth sports in underserved communities, an increased number of trained coaches and volunteers, stronger community partnerships supporting youth sports, and enhanced physical and mental well-being among participants. The program anticipates fostering increased participation in youth sports, leading to the development of critical life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Ultimately, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving expects these initiatives to contribute to a more equitable and vibrant Greater Hartford, producing a generation of empowered individuals who are prepared to lead and build their communities. The fund has $69,000 available to award, with one or more grants totaling this amount, contingent on the project's size, funding need, and the quality of the proposals submitted in response to the forthcoming Request for Proposal.

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.

This program provides funding to organizations in New England for projects that preserve and share the diverse histories of their communities through the conservation of buildings, landscapes, and collections.

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 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for the Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund (NEFRF), a program dedicated to restoring and sustaining healthy rivers, forests, and grasslands to provide habitat for diverse fish and wildlife populations. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to protect and restore native wildlife species and their habitats, leveraging public and private funding to achieve significant conservation outcomes. The NEFRF, formerly known as the New England Forests and Rivers Fund, represents a strategic investment in the ecological health of the Northeast region, fostering biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. The program's target beneficiaries include various fish and wildlife populations such as river herring, Atlantic salmon, brook trout, wood turtles, golden-winged warblers, New England cottontails, and bobolinks. Beyond wildlife, the program also aims to benefit agricultural producers, particularly those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by helping them design and implement conservation practices. The impact goals are centered on improving habitat quality and connectivity, enhancing forest conditions, and promoting hayfield management conducive to successful grassland bird breeding. NEFRF's priorities and focuses are outlined in NFWF’s Northeast Watersheds Business Plan (March 2023), specifically targeting strategies for Stream and Riparian Habitat, and Upland Forests and Grasslands. Key implementation strategies for 2024 include restoring stream and riparian habitats, improving forest management for age and structural diversity, and promoting hayfield management. A significant portion of funding, approximately $625,000, is set aside for projects that assist agricultural producers in adopting conservation practices beneficial to target species like northeast turtles and golden-winged warblers, while also increasing Farm Bill program participation. Additionally, the program encourages projects that involve community outreach, engagement, collaborative management, and the incorporation of traditional knowledge and community input. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved habitat for specific fish and wildlife species, enhanced age and structural diversity in forest blocks, successful grassland bird breeding, and increased participation of agricultural producers in conservation programs. Projects are expected to contribute to measurable conservation benefits through community input, co-design processes, and engagement with community-level partners (e.g., municipalities, NGOs, community organizations, community leaders) to ensure project design, implementation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability post-grant award. The grant duration is three years, with projects expected to start no later than six months after the award date. The NFWF's strategic priorities for the NEFRF reflect a theory of change that posits by investing in targeted habitat restoration, improved land management, and community engagement, ecological health will be restored and sustained, benefiting both wildlife and human communities. Funding is provided by a consortium of partners including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoetis Foundation, and Sylvamo, underscoring a collaborative approach to conservation. The program encourages a holistic view of conservation, integrating scientific best practices with local community needs and traditional knowledge to achieve robust and lasting environmental improvements across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and parts of New York.

Under the broader Program Enhancement Projects for Adult Education, Section 225 targets corrections education and education for other institutionalized individuals in Connecticut. This initiative seeks to provide educational services to those likely to leave correctional institutions within five years, aiming to enhance their literacy, employment, and reintegration prospects. It emphasizes the importance of basic skills and literacy for effective societal participation. Funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the project promotes collaboration to meet the educational needs of this specific population, with a commitment to multi-year funding that spans from fiscal year 2025 to 2028. Grant renewed every year. It will be a 4-year program ( last application probably around May 2027)

Under the broader Program Enhancement Projects for Adult Education, Section 243 focuses on Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE). This program supports English language learners in improving their literacy and understanding of American civics, aiming for better integration, employment, and educational opportunities. Eligible providers are encouraged to propose projects that combine IELCE educational services with integrated education and training (IET), reflecting the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act’s (WIOA) objectives. This funding opportunity, spanning fiscal years 2025 through 2028, promotes collaborations to fulfill the educational needs of English language learners in Connecticut. Grant renewed every year. It will be a 4-year program ( last application probably around May 2027)

The Ion Bank Foundation is currently accepting applications for its grant program, designed to support organizations and initiatives that contribute to the betterment of communities it serves. The foundation's mission is aligned with fostering community well-being through strategic investments in various key areas. This program offers both designated and competitive grants, with competitive grants specifically targeting direct costs for starting or improving programs, as well as capital needs. The foundation emphasizes that indirect/overhead expenses are permitted, with specific documentation required for overhead exceeding 10% of the request. The grant program targets a broad range of beneficiaries within Hartford County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County in Connecticut, and Morris County in New Jersey. The primary impact goal is to address demonstrated community needs and advance community plans. The foundation seeks to achieve this by funding projects that show potential for leveraging additional or sustaining support, clearly explain their project plan, and provide a realistic budget. The Ion Bank Foundation's strategic priorities include affordable housing and rehabilitation, community services (encompassing healthcare, education, job training, social services, childcare, and credit/financial services), economic development, and the revitalization or stabilization of distressed or underserved areas. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in these key areas, it can contribute to a more stable, healthy, and prosperous community environment. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful implementation of evidence-based programs, improved community services, enhanced economic opportunities, and the revitalization of targeted areas. The foundation looks for strong proposals that summarize an organization's track record, adopt evidence-based models, and demonstrate a clear project plan. Preference is given to requests with broad, visible community involvement and collaborative ventures, indicating a focus on collective impact and sustainable change. Eligibility for the grant program extends to non-profit organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, municipal entities seeking grants for public purposes, and religious organizations undertaking nonsectarian projects aligned with the foundation's priorities. Applicants must be located in, or serve communities within, Ion Bank's defined assessment area for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) purposes. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region to support capacity-building projects that enhance governance, diversity, and overall effectiveness in serving their communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Berkshire Taconic region for innovative projects that improve environmental quality and promote community health, with a focus on engaging at-risk and low-income youth.

This grant provides financial support for nonprofit organizations and community initiatives in Andover, helping to address local needs and enhance civic engagement.

This grant provides financial support for community arts and cultural projects in East Hartford, helping to fund activities like concerts, workshops, and public art installations.

This program provides financial support to small nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Haven area to strengthen their capacity, enhance community services, and promote sustainability.