Olga Sipolin Children’s Fund

The Olga Sipolin Children's Fund, established in 1998, is a private philanthropic entity dedicated to meeting the essential needs of underserved children, with a particular emphasis on their social welfare. The fund operates under the stewardship of Bank of America, which serves as its co-trustee. Rooted in a commitment to charitable giving, the fund prioritizes organizations that deliver direct services related to housing, clothing, food, and medical care for children facing economic hardship. This funding opportunity targets nonprofit organizations working in Connecticut across three primary domains: education, health, and human services. It is specifically designed to support initiatives that provide tangible benefits to children, especially those lacking access to fundamental services. While the fund is inclusive in its eligibility criteria, it maintains a focus on programs with a direct, measurable impact on children's well-being. The fund does not typically support capital projects and has a restriction on awarding grants for more than three consecutive years to the same organization. Grant awards from the Olga Sipolin Children's Fund are made for a one-year period. The application deadline is November 1 of each year, and successful applicants are typically notified of the funding decision within two to three months following the submission deadline. This schedule means that most recipients will receive notification by January or February. The fund does not operate on a rolling basis, and grants are awarded on an annual cycle. Prospective applicants are advised to review the foundation’s submission guidelines available through the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions’ Connecticut grantmaking portal. While the fund is listed among those administered by Bank of America’s Connecticut office, the application process has shifted to an online portal, and all submissions must be completed electronically unless otherwise specified. Additional details regarding required documents, reporting obligations, and frequently asked questions are available on the fund's official website and accompanying materials. All grantees must submit a post-grant evaluation report within one year of the application date, irrespective of whether the entirety of the awarded funds has been expended. The fund also accepts reports using the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy Common Report Form. For inquiries related to the application process, the designated contact email is ct.grantmaking@bofa.com. The primary contact listed for the Olga Sipolin Children's Fund is Amy R. Lynch, a Managing Director at Bank of America’s Philanthropic Client Services.

Avoid requesting support for capital projects; ensure child welfare is central and direct; do not exceed 3-year consecutive application limit.