Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity
Apply now for the Grassroots Leadership Grant Program.
They recognize that healthy communities have civically-engaged residents, community organizers, and civic groups. Funding civic efforts requires responsiveness and flexibility and should be done by those closest to community issues. These grants are currently focused on resident leaders and organizers in Waterbury.
Approaches
- The approach focuses on
- Supporting equitable efforts to revitalize communities, influence local systems and foster youth leadership
- Supporting a robust and collaborative network of multi-generational residents in Waterbury who are working together toward a shared vision
- Expanding the availability of tools and resources that support organizing efforts and increase the connection between organizers in Waterbury with the rest of the region, state, and country
Efforts they support
- Nonpartisan voter registration and engagement efforts
- Campaigns that aim to increase marginalized voices at the neighborhood level or across the city of Waterbury
- Neighborhood and community-building activities, such as community conversations and celebrations that increase connection between people
- Community organizing and leadership training that support emerging resident leaders in achieving their goals
- Educational campaigns that promote increased engagement in local systems
Funding Information
- The average amount is between $5,000 and $15,000.
Possible Projects
- You and your local neighborhood association decide to host a block party for neighbors and residents to get to know each other and have a good time, for the purpose of community building. Funds can be used to create marketing materials, rent tents or hire a photographer to capture the event.
- You and other parents work together to support more equitable access to educational services and programs for students in Waterbury. Grassroots grant funds can be used to rent meeting space, buy refreshments or create mailings to invite or educate others about the work.
- You and your friends want to create a bipartisan website to share information about candidates in an upcoming local election, so the information is clear, accessible and provides ways to contact the candidates. Funds can be used to create the website, advertise or host candidate forums.
Eligibility Criteria
- They support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and organizations with a fiscal sponsor who support communities living in 21 towns within Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills.
- In order to apply for funding, an organization must:
- Be a not-for-profit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a municipal entity seeking a grant for public purposes. Organizations may also have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, if they do not have their own nonprofit status.
- Have a board, representative of the community, of which a majority is neither employees nor relatives of employees.
- Possess a Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds (or exemption, if appropriate) from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
- They encourage requests that:
- Provide services or support to the communities located within the 21-town service area
- Support system change and advocacy efforts
- Include support for core nonprofit operations such as staff time, overhead and evaluation
- Support organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
Ineligibility Criteria
- They do not fund:
- Requests for political or religious purposes
- Requests for capital expenditures on buildings not owned by a nonprofit
For more information, visit Connecticut Community Foundation.