As community needs continue to rise and traditional philanthropy and civic engagement lag behind, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is called to meet this moment. Our new strategy embraces a future-focused, evergreen approach—designed not only to respond to today’s challenges but to remain relevant, adaptive and generative.

A circular diagram with three connected segments labeled HEAL (grey), LEARN (blue), and ACT (yellow), illustrating a continuous cycle of healing, learning, and action.

THREE COMMITMENTS

Together, we...

  1. Heal – supporting opportunities for individual and community healing, dialogue and restoration.
  2. Learn – investing in shared learning, civic education and knowledge-building to empower staff, residents and leaders.
  3. Act – convening and resourcing collective problem-solving, civic engagement and coordinated action.

Impact Areas

CFGNH will bring its leadership roles as a trusted advisor and steward, collaborator, grantmaker, convener, knowledge source and storyteller, and advocate to bear on advancing these impact areas. 

Civic Health

Two people sit smiling in orange chairs, each holding open illustrated books. Framed watercolor paintings hang on the wall behind them, and a small globe is visible to the left.
Local Impact Bringing History Alive June 12, 2026
A group of older adults stands in a wooded area. A woman in a white dress is reading from a booklet while others in hats and casual clothes listen attentively in a semicircle. Sunlight filters through the trees.
Local Impact Preserving the Land and Local History March 27, 2026
Five people stand at the front of a room, three men and two women, one woman speaking at a podium. Behind them is a blue backdrop with the Connecticut Secretary of State seal, and a screen displaying a presentation.
News Broadening Access to the Power of Civics October 28, 2025

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

A person with short red hair and glasses, wearing a bright pink top, smiles while sitting in an empty theater with red seats.
Local Impact A Place for Everyone at Branford's Legacy Theatre March 27, 2026
Five men wearing blue shirts and gloves stand around a table in a kitchen, peeling and chopping sweet potatoes together, as part of a group volunteer activity.
Local Impact A Compassionate Approach January 07, 2026
A man wearing a Giants cap, black jacket, and gloves smiles while sorting boxes of food at a distribution site with a truck in the background.
News New Haven Healthy Start Ramps Up Efforts in Response to Growing Needs December 22, 2025

Next Generation Community Leadership

Two women smiling and posing together in a clothing store, with folded sweaters, shirts, and jackets displayed on shelves and racks behind them.
Local Impact New Haven Promise Builds Talent Pipeline March 27, 2026
A young man and a woman sit on the floor by a glass wall of a squash court, talking. The man holds a red water bottle and wears a black Squash Haven shirt; both seem engaged in conversation.
Local Impact Helping Young People Achieve  March 27, 2026
Three young men stand between bookshelves in a library, smiling at the camera. A professional video camera on a tripod is set up in front of them, suggesting they are filming or working on a media project.
Local Impact Chauncey Fellow Makes Film in New Haven April 18, 2026

Economic Mobility

Five women stand together indoors, smiling at the camera. They are dressed in business or professional attire, and the setting appears to be a large event space or conference room.
Local Impact Pitch Night Competition Champions Women Founders March 06, 2026
Two women stand side by side, smiling at the camera. They wear polo shirts with logos and glasses. Behind them is a bulletin board with photos and a framed newspaper article on the wall.
Local Impact Seeding Self-Empowerment September 04, 2025
A woman with long dark hair stands smiling outside a brick building with a sign that reads ARISE Center. Yellow flowers and greenery are visible along the side of the building.
Local Impact Christian Community Action’s ARISE Center Helps Local Women Achieve Independence July 09, 2025

Nonprofit Effectiveness

A group of 18 adults, diverse in age and appearance, pose together indoors in a well-lit living room, smiling at the camera. Most are standing behind a white couch where several others are seated.
News Nonprofit Leaders Learn, Strengthen Connections at NELI March 28, 2024
The Great Give, May 7-8, 2025. $4.4M+ raised for 574 nonprofits. Colorful tree graphic in background.
News The Great Give 2025 raises record-breaking $4.4 Million for Greater New Haven nonprofits May 09, 2025