The Connecticut Community Foundation
The Connecticut Community Foundation is a public charity based in Waterbury, Connecticut, established in 1923. It serves 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills, supporting nonprofits, programs benefiting local residents, scholarships, and efforts to improve systems and strengthen local organizations.
The Connecticut Community Foundation at a glance
In short: The Connecticut Community Foundation gave $8.6M across 240 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Connecticut. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,573,075
- +39.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 240
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,721
- +25.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $200,140,435
- +14.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (48 of 234, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- 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 Connecticut Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website describes an application process through its online system. First-time applicants must meet with the relevant program officer before applying. Eligibility and application details vary by grant area.
- Review Cycle
- The listed September 15, 2026 deadlines for Building Equitable Opportunity, Health and Environmental Justice, and several special funds have passed. The website lists Grassroots Leadership and Strengthening Nonprofits as rolling-deadline areas, with quarterly awards for Strengthening Nonprofits. It lists the Saunders Health Fund for Naugatuck with no fall round and a next application opening in January 2027.
- Deadline
- The listed September 15, 2026 deadlines for Building Equitable Opportunity, Health and Environmental Justice, and…
- Contact
Mailing address: 43 Field Street, Waterbury, CT 06702
Phone: (203) 753-1315
Website: https://conncf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
22 open opportunities from The Connecticut Community Foundation
Barbara and Frank Quadrato Veterinary Scholarship Grant
The Connecticut Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Building Equitable Opportunity Grant
The Connecticut Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Carl J. Niedzial Memorial Scholarship Grant
The Connecticut Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Connecticut Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Community School ($993K). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($484,609), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,051 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 933 grants of 1,051 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. In 2025, 96% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut; the listed shares for Texas, New York, Washington, D.C., and Florida were 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 240 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Connecticut Community Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 48 of 234 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.0M (2019) to $8.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 240 grants totaling $8.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Community School Waterbury, CT | Advised - Children's Community School Advised Fund. | $993,281 |
| Waterbury Development Corporation Waterbury, CT | Waterbury Promise Operational Expenses | $809,065 |
| Nest Waterbury, CT | General Operating Support Grants | $374,761 |
| Save Girls on Fyer Waterbury, CT | General Operating Support Grants | $268,163 |
| Waterbury Bridge to Success Partnership Inc Waterbury, CT | Prenatal sparkler - continuation request for expanded outreach and engagement for improve perinatal health outcomes | $259,633 |
| University of Connecticut - Storrs Storrs, CT | Scholarships | $220,071 |
| The Connecticut Women's Consortium Hamden, CT | For General Support | $200,000 |
| 6 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $484,609 |
| Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Inc Waterbury, CT | For support of the symphony's educational mission for children & young adults in greater waterbury | $168,799 |
| Bridgewater Land Trust Bridgewater, CT | General Operating Support Grant for General Operating Support | $122,440 |
Ready to take the next step with The Connecticut Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $200,140,435 | $15,175,996 | $13,510,473 | $8,573,075 | 240 | $5,682,253 |
| 2024 | $175,543,888 | $26,062,259 | $11,449,154 | $6,144,401 | 216 | $8,150,643 |
| 2023 | $150,828,054 | $14,938,642 | $10,017,142 | $4,577,494 | 201 | $4,656,923 |
| 2022 | $129,494,549 | $12,635,869 | $10,244,892 | $5,549,620 | 190 | $5,103,745 |
| 2021 | $154,014,275 | $11,174,882 | $9,127,431 | $4,990,845 | 204 | $4,504,274 |
| 2020 | $136,693,488 | $12,922,899 | $8,116,368 | $4,329,555 | 200 | $4,447,715 |
| 2019 | $121,215,805 | $11,363,510 | $7,532,611 | $3,971,900 | 163 | $5,583,862 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to foster an equitable and inclusive community in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills by inspiring generosity, supporting organizations, and cultivating effective leaders.
Its priority funding areas are Arts and Culture; Building Equitable Opportunity, including education, youth development, job training, financial literacy, and housing security; Grassroots Leadership; Health and Environmental Justice; Pathways for older adults; and Strengthening Nonprofits. Special funds include the Herbst Fund for Eye Research, Pride in the Hills Fund, Saunders Health Fund for Naugatuck, Southbury Community Trust, Waterbury Black Giving Circle, Whittemore Travel Scholarship Fund, and Women’s Giving Circle.
The foundation supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits and organizations with a fiscal sponsor serving communities in its 21-town region. Its filing describes support for programs and services in areas including arts, health, older adults, education, environment, social services, and women’s issues, as well as college scholarships, technical assistance, and leadership on community issues.
Examples of grantees’ work include Children’s Community School, whose mission is to lay the foundation for urban students’ educational success through curriculum, individual character development, and family involvement; Waterbury Development Corporation, which works to stimulate and support economic and housing development in Waterbury; and Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, which provides concerts and educational programs in the Greater Waterbury area and surrounding region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 240 grants totaling $8,573,075. The grants ranged from $5,022 to $993,281, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest listed awards included $993,281 to Children’s Community School for its advised fund; $809,065 to Waterbury Development Corporation for Waterbury Promise operational expenses; $374,761 to NEST for general operating support; and $268,163 to Save Girls on Fyer for general operating support. Other large awards included $259,633 to Waterbury Bridge to Success Partnership for a prenatal health initiative, $220,071 to the University of Connecticut–Storrs for scholarships, and $200,000 to the Connecticut Women’s Consortium for general support.
The foundation’s grantmaking pages direct applicants to register through its online application system; registration requires approval and may take up to two business days. First-time applicants must schedule an in-person meeting with the program officer for their area of interest at least three weeks before the grant deadline. The foundation considers applications from organizations with a fiscal sponsor; the sponsor must demonstrate fiscal and administrative capability, and applicants must submit a signed agreement. Organizations based outside the service region may apply when their project focuses on residents in the 21-town region. Statewide applicants are asked to detail local participation, outcomes, and impact and to establish community connections and partnerships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathy Bower as chair, Janie McDermott as vice chair, Avery Gaddis as secretary, and Jean Solomon as treasurer. Listed trustees are Kathleen Brochhausen, whose service is noted as ending in September 2025, Angela Chapman, Antonio Ciocca, Rebecca Eleck Bruce, Elizabeth Frew, and Subira Gordon.
The Connecticut Community Foundation is led by Kathy Taylor, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathy Taylor
President & CEO
Chair → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $208K (2025)
Kathy Bower
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Ryer
Director of Finance
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$123K (2019) → $151K (2025)
Josh Carey
Grants Management Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $117K (2025)
Cynthia Merrick
Director of Development
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $100K (2025)
Rebecca Eleck Bruce
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Subira Gordon
Trustee
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Saran White
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tomas Olivo
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne Parkmond
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Higgins
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Brochhausen
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Rempfer
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Ocasio
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Chapman
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Frew
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joann Reynolds-Balanda
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Antonio Ciocca
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Lindendman
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Minkler
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Avery Gaddis
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Solomon
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janie McDermott
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Brian Jones (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Julie Loughran (2019–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Michael Giardina (2019–2024) — Chair
- Former: Stephen Seward (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Deborah Foord (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Wanda Correa (2022–2024) — Vice President Community Impact
- Former: Tony Ciocca (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Barbara Bradbury-Pape (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Johnson (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Eric Polokoff (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kathleen McPadden (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Kathryn Kehoe (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Reginald Beamon (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Valerie Friedman (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Linda Halgunseth (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: David Pelletier (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Douglas Johnson (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Ellen Carter (2020) — Vice President of Program & Strategy
- Former: Brian Henebry (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Daniel Bedard (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Heidi Green (2019) — Director of Development
- Former: John Newton (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $208K, to Kathy Taylor (President & CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Connecticut Community Foundation
How much does The Connecticut Community Foundation give each year?
The Connecticut Community Foundation gave $8.6M across 240 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.1M across 216 grants.
What is The Connecticut Community Foundation's typical grant size?
The Connecticut Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $35,721, across 240 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Connecticut Community Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does The Connecticut Community Foundation give grants?
The Connecticut Community Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waterbury, CT (58 grants), Hartford, CT (17 grants), Litchfield, CT (12 grants) and New Milford, CT (12 grants).
Does The Connecticut Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 48% of The Connecticut Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (114 of 240) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (14 grants).
Who are The Connecticut Community Foundation's largest grantees?
The Connecticut Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Community School ($993,281), Waterbury Development Corporation ($809,065) and Nest ($374,761), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($484,609), which are not listed by name. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Connecticut Community Foundation?
The Connecticut Community Foundation reported $200.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.2M.
What does The Connecticut Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to foster an equitable and inclusive community in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills by inspiring generosity, supporting organizations, and cultivating effective leaders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Connecticut Community Foundation?
The foundation’s website describes an application process through its online system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Connecticut Community Foundation's EIN?
The Connecticut Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6038074. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Connecticut Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ion Bank Foundation Inc
Naugatuck, CT
Assets
$15.3M
Grants
419
Total Given
$1.0M
American Savings Foundation Inc
New Britain, CT
The foundation funds education, human services, and arts and culture, especially programs serving children, youth, and families, with a primary focus on New Britain and Waterbury and grants across 64 Connecticut towns. In 2025, its grants ranged from $238 to $150,000, with a median of $1,750; it also offers Community Grants of up to $5,000.
Assets
$107.0M
Grants
613
Total Given
$3.4M
Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation Inc
Thomaston, CT
The foundation supports arts and culture, community development, education and youth services, health and human services, and public safety, including qualifying programs run by religious organizations. It funds communities where Thomaston Savings Bank has a physical presence in Connecticut; awards typically average $2,000–$3,000, though amounts vary. It accepts applications through annual grant cycles.
Assets
$9.5M
Grants
281
Total Given
$814K
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Hartford, CT
The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation funds nonprofits, agencies, and scholarships, with priorities including equity, social and economic mobility, community wellbeing, civic engagement, and arts and culture. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $21,600, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.48 million, and it primarily serves 29 towns in Greater Hartford. It offers annual, priority-aligned grant opportunities; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
613
Total Given
$52.0M
Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc
Norwalk, CT
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation funds local nonprofits addressing education and careers, economic security, health equity, housing, civic engagement, and related community needs in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Awards vary widely: capacity-building grants are up to $10,000, Community Impact Grants are $10,000–$15,000, and reported 2025 grants had a median of $24,080. It accepts unsolicited applications for some programs, including rolling capacity-building and small-grant opportunities; Strategic Partner Grants are invitation-only.
Assets
$291.4M
Grants
448
Total Given
$25.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Connecticut Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-connecticut-community-foundation-morg_8cad7441f3374a6e91b17430519e364a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066038074_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Connecticut Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-connecticut-community-foundation-morg_8cad7441f3374a6e91b17430519e364a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Connecticut Community Foundation'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 Connecticut Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?