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Whether your backyard is defined by a zip code, population group or a cause close to your heart, we help you make a difference in Fairfield County and beyond.
Fairfield County is the richest county in the richest state in the richest country in the world. Yet—unthinkably—over 52,000 of our families can't afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment.
Our schools struggle to address one of the nation's largest achievement gaps between Caucasian and African-American/Latino students. Our teenagers' use of alcohol, marijuana and inhalants exceeds national rates. Up to 38% of Fairfield County school children live in homes where English is not the primary language.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation was formed in 1992 when five smaller foundations merged. The Danbury, Greenwich, Stamford and Five Town (comprised of Westport, Wilton, Weston, Norwalk and Darien) foundations, and the Fairfield County Foundation (which was part of the New York Community Trust), merged to better serve their communities and Fairfield County.
Over 15 years, thanks to the generosity of fundholders and contributors, the Foundation has awarded more than $62 million in grants that have helped prepare preschoolers to thrive in kindergarten, kept the elderly in their homes, provided health care to the ill and uninsured, cultivated a new generation of artists, protected our environment and much more.
In January 2008, the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation and the Fairfield County Community Foundation merged. Today, our assets are approaching $150 million.
The Fairfield County Community Foundation promotes the growth of effective philanthropy to strengthen the communities of Fairfield County. We:
- Serve as a leader, catalyst and resource for philanthropy
- Create and manage charitable funds
- Identify and address community needs through initiatives, partnerships and strategic grantmaking.
In short, we help you make a difference in your own backyard.
We award grants to Fairfield County nonprofits from Discretionary, Field of Interest, Designated and Donor Advised funds established at the Foundation. In addition, Donor Advised fundholders may recommend grants to qualified charitable organizations anywhere in the United States.
To receive a grant from Discretionary and Field of Interest funds, local nonprofits go through a competitive process. We focus our competitive grantmaking on six priority areas:
- Education and Youth Development
- Economic Opportunity
- Health and Human Services
- Arts and Culture/Arts Education
- The Environment/Environmental Education
- Nonprofit Capacity Building
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