Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Grants

The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is a regional philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, and Southington. Through strategic grantmaking, the foundation partners with nonprofit organizations to support programs and initiatives that demonstrate measurable community impact. The foundation operates as an investor, carefully evaluating proposals to ensure that available funds are used effectively to generate meaningful outcomes for individuals and communities. The grant program focuses on two primary types of investments: improving lives and conditions, and strengthening organizations. Funding supports a wide range of programmatic and operational needs, including service delivery, staff development, planning initiatives, and technology improvements. Projects must demonstrate clear, outcome-based benefits rather than simply describing activities. The foundation prioritizes proposals that show strong evidence of effectiveness, organizational capacity, and alignment with community needs, as well as those that leverage additional funding sources and partnerships. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or entities eligible to receive grants under IRS regulations. Grassroots organizations may also apply if they have a governing body and a qualified fiscal sponsor. All funded activities must serve residents within the foundation’s geographic focus area. Organizations headquartered outside the region must collaborate with local partners and include them in the application process. The foundation encourages collaboration among organizations to maximize regional impact. The application process begins with a mandatory Letter of Intent submitted through the foundation’s online grant portal. Applicants must first create a profile to access the system. The Letter of Intent provides a summary of the proposed project and is reviewed by foundation staff to determine whether the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. This initial step is required for all applicants and serves as a screening mechanism to ensure alignment with funding priorities. Letters of Intent are due twice annually, on January 1 and July 1. Applicants invited to proceed must then submit a full grant application by February 1 or August 1, respectively. While the foundation aims to adhere to these deadlines, late submissions may be accommodated at staff discretion. The review process includes evaluation of expected outcomes, likelihood of success, and the strategic use of funds. Additional information, site visits, or discussions may be requested during the review period. Final funding decisions are made by the Board of Directors, and applicants are notified by mail. Grant awards typically range from 5,000 to 25,000 dollars per year, with most grants awarded for a one-year period. Multi-year funding may be considered in certain cases. The foundation enforces a policy requiring a one-year break after three consecutive years of funding for the same project, unless exceptions apply. Evaluation criteria emphasize measurable results, sustainability, collaboration, and alignment with community priorities across sectors such as education, health, economic development, and arts and culture. For additional guidance, applicants may contact the Director of Grants and Initiatives prior to submission.

Focus on measurable outcomes not activities; demonstrate collaboration and sustainability; align proposal with community impact priorities