Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Fairfield County's Community Foundation is a public charity and community foundation based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Established in 1992 through the merger of five local foundations—the Five Town Foundation (Westport, Wilton, Weston, Norwalk, and Darien), Danbury Community Endowment, Fairfield County Cooperative Foundation, Greenwich Foundation for Public Giving, and Stamford Foundation—the organization later merged with The Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation in 2008. Now one of Connecticut's largest community foundations, it partners with local organizations, nonprofits, businesses, government, and philanthropists to address community challenges and create opportunities for equitable development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$282.0M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.5M
+3.5% YoY
Grant Count
445
-2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+6.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Fairfield County's Community Foundation partners with the community to create a county where every person has an equitable opportunity to thrive.
Core Values: The organization's work is guided by six core values: equity, inclusivity, collaboration, humility, respect, and courage.
Strategic Focus Areas:
- Youth Education & Career Development
- Income and Asset Building
- Women and Girls' Health Equity
- Housing Opportunity
- Civic Engagement
- Building Strong Nonprofits
- Advancing Equity
Grantmaking
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves 23 towns and cities in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with some grants extending to nonprofits in New York and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $282,030,622 (2024)
- Total assets: $267 million (2023)
- Annual giving: $24.5 million (2023)
- Total revenues: $20,262,842 (2024)
- Total expenses: $31,203,706 (2024)
Staffing:
- 35 employees (2024)
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since April 1991
- EIN: 06-1083893
- Operates a donor-advised fund
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $282,030,622 | $267,327,634 | $258,439,176 |
| Revenue | $20,262,842 | $21,897,687 | $46,758,216 |
| Expenses | $31,203,706 | $30,384,938 | $29,118,417 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $5,757,204 | $4,223,407 | $4,891,061 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Arts Education for Systems Change in Fairfield County
FAIRFIELD COUNTY'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Impact Fund
FAIRFIELD COUNTY'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Fairfield County Food Security Fund
FAIRFIELD COUNTY'S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Domus Kids Inc ($1,408,252), Optimus Health Care Inc ($683,603), American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Hq ($646,335).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DOMUS KIDS INC STAMFORD, CT | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,408,252 |
| OPTIMUS HEALTH CARE INC BRIDGEPORT, CT | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $683,603 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND HQ BOONE, IA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $646,335 |
| AYCO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION LATHAM, NY | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $573,901 |
| AMERICAN FORESTS WASHINGTON, DC | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $545,000 |
| MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING DES MOINES, IA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| WOMEN IN MUSIC NEW YORK, NY | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $475,000 |
| ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM RIDGEFIELD, CT | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $441,600 |
| HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION BRIDGEPORT, CT | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $375,000 |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC DETROIT, MI | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $364,431 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President & CEO: Mendi Blue Paca
- Communications Director: Krista Carnes
- Director, Community Philanthropy: Ryan Deal
- Project Director, PT Partners: Kate Kelly
- Grants Associate: Sharon Jones
- Center for Nonprofit Excellence Manager: Rebecca Cordero
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAYA REDDI | BOARD CHAIR | 3 | — |
| JOHNNA TORSONE | BOARD VICE CHAIR, THRU JUNE 2024 | 3 | — |
| CLAYTON H FOWLER | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 3 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER C WHITNEY | BOARD TREASURER | 3 | — |
| JONATHAN FRAADE | BOARD SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| JUSTIN BEAL | BOARD MEMBER, THRU JUNE 2024 | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY L BENNTT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TERRENCE CHENG | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AMANDA CASTELLANO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN EDWARDS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GERALD M FOX III | BOARD MEMBER, THRU JUNE 2024 | 1 | — |
| EDWIN FORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LAURA FARRELLY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE GARVEY | BOARD MEMBER, THRU JUNE 2024 | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN GONZALEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOEL GREEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MINDY HOUCK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOETTE KATZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATHARINE SACHS LUMBY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES MACCORMACK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NEIL MARCUS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHUCK PRESBURY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARIE ROCHA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK RISER | BOARD MEMBER, THRU JUNE 2024 | 1 | — |
| MAYA TICHIO | BOARD MEMBER, THRU JUNE 2024 | 1 | — |
| PRESTON TISDALE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NATHANIEL YORDON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MENDI BLUE | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $291,897 |
| WILLIAM ANDREWS | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $201,073 |
| ELAINE MINTZ | VP, STRATEGY & EXTERNAL RELATIONS | 40 | $186,414 |
| TARA BERLINGO | VP, PEOPLE & CULTURE | 40 | $161,735 |
| JOSEPH COLLIN | VP, PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $166,061 |
| LUTONYA RUSSELL-HUMES | VP, GRANTS & PROGRAMS | 40 | $156,086 |
| TANYA HILLS | DIRECTOR, LEARNING, EVALUATION & RESEARCH | 40 | $102,700 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**FY24 Strategic Grants:** More than $4.1 million awarded to 154 area nonprofits
More than $4.1 Million in Strategic Grants Awarded in FY24 to Area Nonprofits\**Fairfield County Food Security Fund:** Foundation brought together inaugural grantees at The Foundation House to support food security initiatives
Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc - Hinchilla**Organizational Rating:** Earned a Four-Star rating with a 100% score
Contact Information
Address: 40 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: (203) 750-3200
Website: fccfoundation.org
Grant Inquiries: Sharon Jones, Grants Associate | SJones@FCCFoundation.org | (203) 750-3200
Nonprofit Capacity Building: Rebecca Cordero, CNE Manager | RCordero@FCCFoundation.org | (203) 750-3238
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Fairfield County's Community Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Fairfield County's Community Foundation partners with the community to create a county where every person has an equitable opportunity to thrive. **Core Values:** The organization's work is guided by six core values: equity, inclusivity, collaboration, humility, respect, and courage. **Strategic Focus Areas:** • Youth Education & Career Development • Income and Asset Building • Women and Girls' Health Equity • Housing Opportunity • Civic Engagement • Building Strong Nonprofits • Ad…
How do I apply for a grant from Fairfield County's Community Foundation?
**Grant Types & Amounts:** • Strategic grants: $5,000–$50,000 • Donor-advised grants • Capacity building grants • Typical awards range from $5,109–$2,500,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** • FY24: $4.1 million awarded to 154 nonprofits through strategic grants • Annual giving: approximately $24.5 million (2023) • Over $420 million in total grants awarded since founding **Application Process:** • Strategic grantmaking occurs on a Fall cycle • Letters of inquiry accepted July 15–August 15 • Four-step…
Where does Fairfield County's Community Foundation make grants?
The foundation serves 23 towns and cities in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with some grants extending to nonprofits in New York and California.
What size grants does Fairfield County's Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Fairfield County's Community Foundation awarded 445 grants totaling $23.5M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Fairfield County's Community Foundation's EIN?
Fairfield County's Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1083893. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fairfield County's Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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