Local Endowment to Strengthen Nonprofit Sector with Capacity Building Workshops and Grant Opportunities in 2013 Topics/Deadlines vary
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Local Endowment to Strengthen Nonprofit Sector with Capacity Building Workshops and Grant Opportunities in 2013
Topics/Deadlines vary
New Haven, CT (January 17, 2013) – As part of its ongoing commitment to support and strengthen nonprofits serving the Greater New Haven region, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is once again offering a series of workshops and several competitive funding opportunities to nonprofits that serve its 20-town region. Workshop topics, grant deadlines and detailed eligibility criteria for each grant process is available at www.cfgnh.org or by calling 203-777-2386.
Training Workshops and Online Resources for Nonprofits
In
2013, a series of monthly workshops are planned by The Community
Foundation covering a range of topics designed to strengthen the
infrastructure of local nonprofits to maximize their effectiveness in
delivering important services to the people residing in Greater New
Haven. The first three topics and dates are: Retaining Donors (January
23), Building Organizational Culture (February 14), and Purposeful
Boards/Powerful Fundraising (March 5). Additional workshops are being
developed for the remainder of the year such as: Grantwriting 201,
Engaging Volunteers that Make a Difference, Secrets of a Effective Board
Chair, You CAN use Results Based Accountability, Effective Social Media
Marketing, Conducting Performance Evaluations, Financial Summit for
Treasurers, CFOs and CEOs, Evaluation and Data Collection and
Communication Techniques that Work.
In
addition to providing capacity building workshops, The Community
Foundation provides financial and administrative support for online
resources created to increase the visibility of and support for local
nonprofits:
giveGreater.org® (www.giveGreater.org) is The Community Foundation for
Greater New Haven’s strategy to provide comprehensive information about
local nonprofits. It provides one searchable database for people to
find, learn about and give to nonprofits serving Greater New Haven and
to engage the community around the issues and opportunities that impact
the region. It also helps nonprofits increase their visibility and
receive on-line donations. giveGreater.org has distributed over $1.3
million in new and matching funds as a result of direct online donations
and several fundraising campaigns; another campaign is scheduled for
October 2013. Nonprofits interested in creating a profile on the site to
participate in this year’s campaign are urged to contact Stephanie
Chung at schung@cfgnh.org or call 203-777-7077.
Through GNHCommunity (www.GNHCommunity.org), nonprofits can post events, news releases, photos and videos, share information or start a discussion/group to bring people together on a topic or theme that moves their work forward. Using social media, Community Foundation staff and other members send nonprofit posts to approximately 3000 individuals, businesses and media contacts that have expressed interest in knowing more about their work.
The Community Foundation’s website (www.cfgnh.org)
also contains information about issues and opportunities that impact
Greater New Haven. The information is organized in eight categories
which include data, resources, research, and articles as well as stories
about the work local nonprofits are doing to make a stronger community.
It also a contains a Nonprofit Management Resource Center where
nonprofit executives and staff can learn about best practices, tips and
tools for organizational operations and links to resources on a variety
of topics.
Guiding Principles, Eligibility Criteria and Opportunities for Competitive Grants
Grants
awarded through The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s
competitive grant processes are based on The Community Foundation’s
commitment to support nonprofit organizations in the Greater New Haven
region that strive towards providing the highest quality services and
advance ideas, innovations and techniques that improve the quality of
life for area residents. It is important that nonprofits continually
improve their services and programs by applying what they learn through
self-reflection, assessment, evaluation and use of data, knowledge
building, risk taking, and the use of sound and prudent financial
management practices. It is the belief of The Community Foundation that
the best use of the community’s endowment is to invest in nonprofits
that 1) display leadership in addressing issues and seizing
opportunities in the community, 2) regularly perform evaluation of their
services and 3) practice sound programmatic and organizational
management.
The
following eligibility criteria applies to all competitive grant
opportunities at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven;
distributions from permanent unrestricted and preference funds,
Community Foundation initiatives and several donor advised funds make
grants under this category possible:
• Organizations
must be defined as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) or
any applicable statute of the Internal Revenue code.
• They
must provide services within The Community Foundation’s local service
area comprising: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East
Haven, North Branford, North Haven, West Haven, Oxford, New Haven,
Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford,
Orange and Woodbridge.
• Applicants must also adhere to a policy of non-discrimination
• The
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven does not make grants or
loans to individuals, nor does it provide permanent funding for
projects.
For
more information, including greater detail on each competitive grant
process (highlighted below) and 2013 grant application deadlines, visit
The Community Foundation’s website at www.cfgnh.org/grants.
Responsive Grants
The
Responsive New Grants process is intended to be a source of flexible
funding and is open to all requests from nonprofits serving the 20-town
region of The Community Foundation for projects and organizational
support that meet the eligibility criteria. Grants awarded in this
category range from over $5,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars,
depending on available funds and terms of grant. Any nonprofit that
creates positive sustainable impact in the areas of: arts and culture,
basic needs, civic vitality, economic success, quality education, the
environment, health and wellness and children and youth is encouraged to
apply. In 2012, more than $2 million in single and multi-year grants
was awarded through the Responsive Grant process; deadline to apply is
by 5:00 pm on April 1, 2013.
Grants of $5,000 and Under
Nonprofits
serving The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20-town region
with an operating budget of $2 million or less are eligible to receive a
grant through the Grants $5,000 and Under process, provided that they
meet certain eligibility criteria. These grants are often most valuable
to smaller or new nonprofits. Approximately $100,000 is awarded each
year through this grants program; applications are accepted year-round.
Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program
The
Neighborhood Leadership Grant Program, formerly known as The
Neighborhood Small Grant Program, supports resident leaders; helps
residents organize to create positive change in the community; connects
residents and resident-led groups across neighborhoods so they can learn
from one another and take action on common concerns; and brings new
partners to the work of resident-centered community. Eligible
grantseekers can be awarded a grant up to $3,000 and participate in
Leadership Workshops designed to help residents of New Haven contribute
to positive change in their neighborhood. Approximately $40,000 is
awarded each year through this grant program; deadline to apply is by
12:00 pm on Feb. 4, 2013.
Scholarships
Scholarships
at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven are distributed
throughout the year from approximately 100 funds; grants are awarded to
individual students and paid directly to the school. The majority of
Foundation scholarship funds are designated to be awarded to students
attending specific schools; applications and deadline dates vary.
Scholarship seekers are encouraged to talk to their Guidance counselors
about funding opportunities. Four scholarships are managed directly by
The Community Foundation's Education Sub-committee, which is made up of
Community Foundation Board members, staff and community volunteers. The
Sub-committee determines scholarship recipients in the Spring of each
year. Through its funds, The Community Foundation distributes nearly
$500,000 annually in scholarships. Visit www.cfgnh.org/scholarships to access online applications, deadline dates and other helpful resources.
In addition to individual scholarship funds, The Community Foundation for
Greater New Haven administers and funds New Haven Promise, a
scholarship and support program funded by Yale University, Yale-New
Haven Hospital and Wells Fargo and created to promote college education
as an aspiration for all New Haven public school (NHPS) students; assist
graduating students from NHPS to pursue education after high school;
and enhance the growth, stability, and economic development of the City
of New Haven. To earn a Promise Scholarship, students must live in New
Haven, attend New Haven public schools, and in high school earn a 3.0
GPA, have 90% attendance and demonstrate good behavior by not being
expelled and by completing 40 hours of community service. The tuition
benefit is scaled based on continuous and concurrent number of years
student is a resident of New Haven and attends New Haven public schools.
New Haven Promise applications must be filled out before March 31 of
the eligible student’s senior year. For more information, visit www.newhavenpromise.org.
Event Sponsorships
Sponsorship
grants are awarded only for events of nonprofits serving The Community
Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20-town region. Grants are available
up to $2,500 per event; sponsorship applications are accepted
year-round. It is strongly recommended that nonprofits submit a
sponsorship request at least 60 days in advance of the event. The
Community Foundation awards approximately $100,000 in sponsorships
annually. Visit www.cfgnh.org/sponsorships to apply.
Area of Interest Grants
The
Community Fund for Women & Girls is a donor advised fund of The
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven that provides social and
economic advancement for women and girls through strategic philanthropy,
grants, advocacy and collaboration. The Fund is governed by an Advisory
Board and awards approximately $100,000 in grants annually.
Consideration is given to grant proposals that: 1) Advance the status of
women and girls in the core areas of economic security, health,
violence and political participation; 2) Meet special needs of women and
girls and the diverse populations of women in our region; 3) Encourage
the advancement and full participation of women and girls in the
community and in philanthropy. There are two grant types available from
this fund. Program Grants are awarded up to $5,000; Strategic Investment
Grants are awarded one per year in the amount of $10,000 and intended
to significantly address the Fund's mission and core areas listed above
through positive systemic change. More than $100,000 was awarded in
grants from The Community Fund for Women in Girls in 2012; the deadline
to apply is February 8, 2013 by 5:00 PM. For more information and to
apply, visit www.fundforwomenandgirls.org.
Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, millions of dollars each year are distributed from an endowment of approximately $365 million and comprising more than 900 named funds at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. In addition to its grantmaking, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by taking measures to improve student achievement, reduce New Haven’s infant mortality rate, promote local philanthropy through www.giveGreater.org and encourage community awareness at www.cfgnh.org/learn. For more information, visit www.cfgnh.org or www.facebook.com/cfgnh. .
Contact:
Tricia Caldwell
Communications Manager
Tricia Caldwell
Communications Manager
70 Audubon Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Main: 203-777-2386
Direct: 203-777-7090
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cfgnh
Start the new year remembering Connecticut’s service men and women; visit the West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center.
Start the new year remembering Connecticut’s service men and women; visit the West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center.
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