Less than half of minority fourth graders in Bridgeport, Danbury, Norwalk and Stamford are proficient in reading. Nearly half of female-headed households with young children live in poverty. One out of ten residents lacks health insurance. Program budgets for the arts are under attack. Our region’s 900,000 residents disturb ecosystems and encroach on open space.

In fiscal 2007, thanks to the generosity of people like you, we awarded over $1.2 million in grants from Discretionary and Field of Interest funds to nonprofits serving Fairfield County. These grants are awarded through a competitive process to local nonprofits with programs addressing these priority areas: 

1. Education and Youth Development
2. Economic Opportunity (including affordable housing, workforce development, and immigrant success)
3. Health and Human Services
4. Arts and Culture/Arts Education
5. Environment/Environmental Education 
6. Nonprofit Capacity Building

In addition to awarding grants, we launch countywide initiatives that bring together donors, nonprofit leaders, policy makers and experts to work together in tackling regional problems like affordable housing, the achievement gap, immigrant assimilation and economic security for low-income working women.

When you support this community leadership work, you're shaping the future of Fairfield County for years to come.