Nonprofits

Cycle Grants are available three times per year. Support is available for programs, capital improvements, capacity building, and operating expenses.

NCCF has established a funding priority around Early Childhood Literacy. There are many ways all nonprofits can inspire reading and boost reading comprehension. NCCF would like to encourage thought leadership in this area and stimulate program development around this issue.
 

Application Grant Guidelines and a Quick Start Guide for how to apply using our online grants portal.

Apply: Online Grant Lifecycle Manager Portal ›

Next grant deadline: TBD

The NCCF Women & Girls Fund awards grants annually with the goal of helping women and girls develop economic self-sufficiency by means of education, financial literacy and social services.

The Women & Girls Fund is currently accepting LOIs by invitation only.

NCCF allocates a minimum of $60,000 to distribute to public charities and faith-based organizations in its 20-town service area for year-end critical-needs grants. More is often available based on needs. Grants are made possible through the NCCF Draper Foundation Fund, and the NCCF Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund.

Instructions and a Quick Start Guide for how to apply using our online grants portal.

Online Grant Lifecycle Manager Portal

The deadline for the 2024 Year End Critical Needs was October 15, 2024

 

The Youth Fund provides grants to youth-oriented nonprofit organizations based on recommendations from area high school students who participate in the Foundation’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) council.

The Fund supports organizations that serve youth, including bullying and substance abuse prevention programs.

The YIP Council invites grant applications in the Spring.

The Edwards Community Endowment Program (ECEP) is a matching-grants program designed to assist Northwest Connecticut nonprofits with the establishment of endowment funds or to increase established endowments. The project is made possible through a grant from the NCCF Marion Wm. and Alice Edwards Fund.

The purpose of Project is to assist nonprofits in establishing an endowment or adding to an existing NCCF fund. Selected non profits receive a $1 match for every $4 raised with a maximum $20,000 match per organization. All funds generated through the project are placed in a permanent named fund.

Eligibility

• Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations in the Foundation's 20-town service area that have been in existence for a minimum of three years
• Organizations that wish to: (i) establish their first organizational endowment, or (ii) raise additional capital to supplement an existing endowment, and (iii) have this endowment managed by the Foundation as a permanent, named fund for the benefit of the organization.

Guidelines & Application

ECEP applications for the program are accepted on a rolling basis. Organizations are selected for participation through a competitive application process. Each participating organization must raise a minimum of $16,000 in endowment gifts to be eligible for an initial match of $4,000.

Organizations unable to reach the $16,000 minimum goal during the allotted time do not receive matching funds; however, monies raised will be placed into a temporary fund at NCCF until the organization reaches a decision as to how and by whom the fund will be managed.

Cash and marketable securities can be counted toward the endowment project match. Funds from existing reserves, operational pledges, or any funds re-directed by a participating organization’s Board of Directors that are specifically earmarked for current operational uses do not qualify.

Money that has been earmarked by the donor for an endowment or established as an organizational endowment may be considered.

Deferred gifts, such as charitable remainder trusts and bequests, are excellent ways to grow endowment funds, but they may not be counted as pledges for the purpose of the Edwards Community Endowment Project.

Funding Criteria

The primary criterion used in evaluating applications is how the organization plans to supplement the endowment fund once it has been established. Special consideration is given to organizations that:

• Incorporate endowment-building strategies in overall development efforts
• Demonstrate involvement and leadership of board members in endowment fundraising
• Provide marketing plans that incorporate endowment-building and planned giving
• Demonstrate organizational stability and track record in raising various types of funds.

Organizations receiving grants from the Edwards Community Endowment Project are not eligible to reapply for participation in the project. Organizations whose applications are denied may reapply in subsequent years.

Pre-Application Meeting

Organizations interested in applying for participation in the Edwards Community Endowment Project should contact NCCF staff for more information about establishing an organizational endowment, investment and spending policies, administrative fees, and eligible gifts.

Applications are submitted through the Online Grant Lifecycle Manager Portal

The Building Healthier Communities Fund was established as part of an affiliation agreement between Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Hartford Healthcare Corporation to enhance the economic and community well-being of the Greater Torrington and Winsted areas through strategies that advance: Improvements to business growth, diversification, and retention; Expand educational and workforce development; Foster regionalism and economic strategic partnerships; Enhance or replace our aged infrastructure; and/or Improve population health and conditions of daily living across all life stages.

Currently Seeking
Proposals for grants are invitation only.

Grant range
Grant awards for the Building Healthy Communities Fund initiatives generally range from $5,000-$50,000.
Larger requests, if critical to the success of the project or program, may be considered.

NCCF manages many donor advised funds. These funds are established by donors to support specific charitable interests.

Some of these funds are established as a bequest to provide support for area nonprofits in perpetuity. Others support the community as needed and at the recommendation of an anonymous fund holder.

Grant applications for donor advised funds are managed on an invitation-only basis based on the wishes of the fund holders. Application invitations are non-transferable.