The Community Fund of Darien
The Community Fund of Darien is a public charity based in Darien, Connecticut. Founded in 1951, it provides grants and resources to improve lives and strengthen the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien, with support for local nonprofits addressing neighbors’ basic needs.
The Community Fund of Darien at a glance
In short: The Community Fund of Darien gave $790K across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $20K). 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $790,021
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,257
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,000
- Total assets
- $3,316,185
- +4.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (4 of 32, 2025)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Community Fund of Darien
- Contact
Mailing address: 30 Old Kings Highway South, Darien, CT 06820
Phone: (203) 655-8775
Website: https://communityfunddarien.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Community Fund of Darien funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Teen Talk ($50K). Together the top 10 received $353K.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($145,521), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
164 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 162 grants of 164 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says it serves Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien, Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is The Community Fund of Darien open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 32 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $512K (2022) to $794K (2024). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $790K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Teen Talk | Funding support for local programming re: wellness & mental health - presentation at middlesex middle school | $50,000 |
| Carver Center | Community Grant Award | $45,000 |
| Open Door Shelter | Community Grant Award | $45,000 |
| 8 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $145,521 |
| Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center | Community Grant Award | $35,000 |
| Person-to-Person | Community Grant Award | $35,000 |
| Building One Community | Community Grant Award | $32,000 |
| Inspirica | Community Grant Award | $30,000 |
| Domestic Violence Crisis Center | Community Grant Award | $28,000 |
| New Covenant Center | Community Grant Award | $28,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,316,185 | $1,298,661 | $1,359,304 | $790,021 | 39 | $91,037 |
| 2024 | $3,185,299 | $1,362,095 | $1,288,280 | $793,500 | 38 | $86,648 |
| 2023 | $2,831,636 | $1,216,342 | $1,182,399 | $615,000 | 28 | $104,190 |
| 2022 | $2,562,096 | $1,011,639 | $1,040,381 | $511,999 | 25 | $43,001 |
| 2021 | $2,839,312 | $1,180,298 | $1,096,080 | $595,350 | 34 | $27,586 |
| 2020 | $2,535,687 | $2,281,586 | $1,091,514 | $672,282 | 27 | $12,963 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its filing, the organization states that its mission is to “promote and support the efforts of various local charitable organizations and new community initiatives.” Its website identifies four key areas of impact: Basic Needs, Community Health, Workforce Development, and Youth Success. It describes its grantees as nonprofit health and human services organizations.
The organization’s filing describes work that includes community information and referral, community building, needs assessments, studies and reports, and agency relations. Its Thriving Youth program description includes needs assessment, strategic planning, community programs and educational materials, and coalition development.
Grantmaking
For filing year 2025, the organization reported 39 grants totaling $790,021. Grant amounts ranged from $4,521 to $50,000, with a median grant of $16,000. The largest listed grants included $50,000 to Teen Talk for local wellness and mental health programming, including a presentation at Middlesex Middle School; $45,000 each to Carver Center and Open Door Shelter; and $36,000 to an individual recipient Other listed awards included $35,000 each to Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center and Person-to-Person, $32,000 to Building One Community, and $30,000 to Inspirica.
The website reports that the Fund awarded $737,800 to 37 local nonprofits and initiatives in 2026. For that year’s review, it says it received 57 grant applications and that 87 volunteers contributed 1,500 hours. Its described review process includes application review, examination of financial statements, site visits with nonprofit leadership, and panel evaluations and recommendations. The filing says 2025 agency allocations were approved by the board before the fiscal year ended, were scheduled for payment in two installments in the following fiscal year, and required recipient agencies to submit program and financial reports. No application deadline or statement about unsolicited requests is provided.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The organization’s website lists Maggie Domont as executive director and Lisa Haas as grants director. It lists Melissa Williams as board president, Allegra Erickson as vice president, Brandi Maniscalco as chair of Community Initiatives, Colleen Thompson as chair of Governance, Rick DiLorenzo as treasurer, and Claire Johnson as secretary. Its board members include Robin Ackerman and Scott Bowen.
The Community Fund of Darien is led by Janet King, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 27 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Janet King
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $104K (2025)
Brandi Maniscalco
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Galante
Director
Director → First Vice President, 2022
First Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Fallon
Director
Vice President Community Initiatives → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Gehrke
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Gaze Talwalkar
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claire Johnson
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Dupont
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Treesh
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Gartland
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Gallagher
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Baurmeister
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Eblin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Hernandez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Pikiel
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Ackerman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ron Desoiza
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Bowen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Sheridan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandi Sufrin
Vice President Outreach
Director → Vice President Advancement, 2022
Vice President Advancement → Vice President Outreach, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susannah Lewis
Vice President Community Initiatives
Director → Vice President Community Initiatives, 2025
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Thompson
Vice President Governance
Director → Vice President Governance, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Williams
First Vice President
Director → First Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allegra Erickson
Vice President Community Grants
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Dilorenzo
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Berentson
Secretary
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: Ginger Morgan (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Tammy Sload (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Todd Halloran (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Adam Elgert (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Carolina Coppe (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Nick Paolazzi (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Ian Dilts (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Doug Ryder (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Heather Schuddeboom (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristine Miller (2020–2023) — Vice President Governance
- Former: Shelly Skoglund (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Andrew Vojt (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jenn Moller (2021–2023) — Vice President Community Investments
- Former: Lia Stewart (2023) — Director
- Former: Lillian Raben (2023) — Director
- Former: Cindy Banks (2020–2022) — Vice President Community Initiatives
- Former: Frank Huck (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Heather Raker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jake Hennemuth (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jen Fallon (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Sheree Frank (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Houchin (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Randy Giraldo (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Shedd Glassmeyer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Chris Gugelmann (2020) — Director
- Former: Debi McGahren (2020) — Director
- Former: Kirstie Howard (2020) — Vice President Grants
- Former: Mara Neafsey (2020) — Vice President Governance
- Former: Michelle Saldivar (2020) — Director
- Former: Warren Pullen (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $104K, to Janet King (Exec Director (Retired 11/1/24)).
Frequently asked questions about The Community Fund of Darien
How much does The Community Fund of Darien give each year?
The Community Fund of Darien gave $790K across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $794K across 38 grants.
What is The Community Fund of Darien's typical grant size?
The Community Fund of Darien's median grant in 2025 was $16,000, and its average grant was $20,257, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Community Fund of Darien that year got $8K on average.
Does The Community Fund of Darien give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on The Community Fund of Darien's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Grant Award" (36 grants).
Who are The Community Fund of Darien's largest grantees?
The Community Fund of Darien's largest 2025 grantees include Teen Talk ($50,000), Carver Center ($45,000) and Open Door Shelter ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($145,521), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Community Fund of Darien?
The Community Fund of Darien reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does The Community Fund of Darien fund?
In its filing, the organization states that its mission is to “promote and support the efforts of various local charitable organizations and new community initiatives.” Its website identifies four key areas of impact: Basic Needs, Community Health, Workforce Development, and Youth Success. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Community Fund of Darien?
The Community Fund of Darien has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check communityfunddarien.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The Community Fund of Darien make grants?
The organization says it serves Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien, Connecticut.
What is The Community Fund of Darien's EIN?
The Community Fund of Darien's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-0737286. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Community Fund of Darien's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Community Fund of Darien down — hundreds of funders to go?