Deadline: 20-Feb-2025
The Connecticut Community Foundation has launched the Strengthening Nonprofits Grant Program.
Nonprofits need certain organizational resiliencies to be able to meet their missions, including strong leadership, financial management, technology, fund development and communications. Providing funding to help organizations invest in these vital building blocks creates a strong operational infrastructure that builds efficiencies, improves program delivery and increases impact.
Approaches
- The approach focuses on:
- Funding key organizational development initiatives that lead to stronger, more adaptable organizations.
- Empowering nonprofits to seek assistance that they deem to be the right fit and are both culturally-competent and culturally responsive for their organizational needs.
- Prioritizing organizations who are addressing disparities within the communities.
- Rejecting “readiness” myths which often further inequities in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
Efforts they support
- Training and professional development opportunities to help staff or board build on the assets they have and add new skillsets.
- One-on-one coaching support with an expert in the field or professional consultant.
- Organizational development projects including strategic planning, financial management systems, evaluation, fundraising, programming or communications.
- Work that increases the inclusive representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals in leadership positions on boards and nonprofit staff.
Funding Information
- The average amount is between $5,000 and $15,000.
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.