About our Grantmaking

As the Greater New Haven’s largest philanthropy, The Community Foundation is steward not only for the community’s charitable endowment, but also for its aspirations for a brighter future.

The Foundation fulfills these aspirations both by making grants that respond to the community’s top priorities, and by undertaking initiatives in collaboration with other philanthropic leaders in the community.

Grants are made possible through the generosity of thousands of donors over three generations who have created funds or given to any one of the more than 800 funds managed by The Foundation.

• Unrestricted and preference funds distribute millions each year through the responsive new grants process to address the immediate needs of the community. These funds are also used to support Foundation initiatives that address current issues and seize opportunities for the benefit of the community.
• Donor advised, designated and organization funds name specific non-profits as beneficiaries and are not open to a competitive application process.
• Scholarship funds make distributions to educational institutions on behalf of the students who are awarded scholarships. Eligibilty criteria for each scholarship varies.
  
  Click here to read The Community Foundation's Guiding Principles  for Nonprofit Leadership, Evaluation and Sound Management.