Local Endowment to Strengthen Nonprofit Sector with Capacity Building Workshops and Grant Opportunities in 2013 Topics/Deadlines vary

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
70 Audubon Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Main: 203-777-2386
Direct: 203-777-7090
Fax: 203-776-3872
Twitter:
@cfgnh
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.

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