Small Grants Program
Small grants are available to nonprofit organizations with operating budgets of $10,000 to $1.5 million (in the most recently completed fiscal year) and have a base of operations and doing work in the 15-town area of Greater New Haven* served by The Community Foundation. Organizations with budgets of $50,000 or less are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 plus an opportunity for capacity building. Organizations with budgets of $50,000 or more are eligible for up to $10,000.
*Nonprofits based in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour or Shelton must apply to the Valley Community Foundation.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must meet The Foundation's minimum eligibility requirements.
Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or any applicable statute of the Internal Revenue code or have a fiscal agent with the appropriate tax status.
Applicants must have a base of operations within the Community Foundation's fifteen-town* region
Applicants must be serving people within the Community Foundation's fifteen-towns*.
Applicants must have had active programming continuously for the previous twelve months.
In the most recently completed fiscal year, the operating budget (revenue and expense) must be between $10,000 and $1.5M.
Regional and statewide organizations based in Greater New Haven can only apply for Program Support.
An organization cannot apply if it has a current Responsive grant that ends later than December 31, 2025.
Applicants who received a grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven in the previous four years must be up to date with all reporting requirements.
Small grants can be received only once in a period of two calendar years.
Organizations can apply for either a Small Grant OR a Multi-Year Grant – not both.
Funding Request Types
- Program Support - A grant for a new or existing specific project.
- Capacity Building Support - A grant for short-term financial assistance to build the infrastructure of an organization for long term success. Requests for capacity building include but are not limited to: board development; strategic planning; evaluation; and capital expenditures including equipment, building renovations or relocation.
- General Operating Support - A grant made to further the general mission and work of an organization, rather than for a specific purpose or program. General Operating Support gives nonprofits flexibility to direct their spending where it is needed most and allows greater focus on achieving an organization’s mission.
Timing
First Round
January 5 - March 2
Second Round
The second round opens on August 3. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding is no longer available.
Review Process
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding is no longer available. The application review process takes approximately 8 - 10 weeks.
Grant sizes and awards are dependent on the available resources. Organizations with budgets of $50,000 or less are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 plus an opportunity for capacity building. Organizations with budgets of $50,000 or more are eligible for up to $10,000. The average awards range from $3,000 to $7,500.
Application
Please check back on 1/5/2026 for updates.
