Deadline: 27-Jan-2025
Applications are now open for the Quinnipiac River Fund to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River and New Haven Harbor and their watersheds.
Contamination of the Quinnipiac River was once so great that it prompted the first pollution control measure in Connecticut and the eventual creation of the first sewage treatment plant in the State. It was also the subject of a lawsuit against the Upjohn Company concerning wastewater discharges from Upjohn’s plant in North Haven. The lawsuit resulted in a settlement in 1990 that created the Quinnipiac River Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, making the River the first in the state of Connecticut to have an endowment at a community foundation that generates income to protect it and its surrounding environment.
Goals
- The mission of the Quinnipiac River Fund is to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River and New Haven Harbor and their watersheds. The committee considers projects for grant funding that work toward this goal. Examples include:
- Studying the pollution of the waterbodies.
- Studying the ecology of the waterbodies.
- Researching methods of reducing pollution, or otherwise improving the environmental health of the waterbodies.
- Addressing means of reducing both non-point and point sources of pollution to the waterbodies.
- Researching the permitting process, researching particular permits, and making recommendations as to findings.
- Providing public education about the waterbodies.
- Purchasing land in the watersheds for conservation, pollution reduction, and/or improving public access.
- Environmental advocacy (note: funding cannot be used for litigation).
- Habitat restoration.
- Removing tree limbs and other debris that block the passage on the river of canoes and kayaks.
Funding Information
- Each year the Fund distributes more than $100,000 to organizations that work toward improving the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River, New Haven Harbor and the surrounding watersheds.
- There is a wide range in the dollar amounts of grants awarded. You should determine the amount of funding you need for your project and submit an application for that amount.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be a tax-exempt organization
- All applicants must be defined as tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) or any applicable statute of the Internal Revenue code. While grants are occasionally made to governmental agencies, local nonprofits receive priority. Requests will be considered from nonprofit groups and community organizations that do not have tax-exemption status, provided that they have a fiscal agent with the appropriate tax status. Projects that involve partnerships among multiple agencies require one agency with the appropriate tax status and financial management capacity to assume the role of lead organization.
- You must provide services within our 20 town area:
- Ansonia
- Bethany
- Branford
- Cheshire
- Derby
- East Haven
- North Branford
- North Haven
- West Haven
- Oxford
- New Haven
- Guilford
- Hamden
- Madison
- Milford
- Seymour
- Shelton
- Wallingford
- Orange
- Woodbridge
- You must adhere to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of:
- age
- sex
- religion
- national origin
- sexual preference
- in all aspects of organizational operations including hiring, leadership and service provision.
- Projects that do not generally receive consideration
- religious activities
- endowment campaigns
- lobbying
- travel
- previously incurred debts
- funding deficits
- Grants available for capital campaigns are limited
- Requests for capital projects (building, equipment, vehicles, and other depreciable items) will be evaluated as to their ability to enable the organization to more significantly serve its constituency. Typically, The Foundation awards only one large capital grant per year.
- Most grants are made for one to three years. The Foundation doesn’t provide permanent funding for projects. Most grants are made with continuing support contingent upon availability of support and progress towards stated outcomes. There are times, however, when requests for longer-term funding are considered and supported, in accordance with The Community Foundation’s strategic goal to put community assets on solid ground.
For more information, visit The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.