Competitive Grant Making Process 2023
The mission of the Branford Community Foundation is to connect people who care with causes that matter, for the purpose of preserving and promoting the quality of life in Branford, Connecticut, now and for generations to come.
We fulfill our mission by building and maintaining a charitable endowment and making prudent grants that serve to address the ever-changing needs of the Branford community. Through the gracious giving of donors who are committed to our mission, we fund worthy programs that promote the quality of life in Branford.
Timetable for Competitive Grants – The 2023 competitive grant application will be available on January 25, 2023. The deadline to submit a completed application to the Branford Community Foundation (BCF) for consideration for competitive funding is March 10, 2023.
Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an information session held via zoom on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 10:00am. RSVP to Jennifer Mullett, Program Director, at jmullett@branfordcommunityfoundation.org. A zoom link will be provided. Organizations unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to contact Jennifer Mullett by email or by phone (203) 444-4898 with questions about the grant guidelines or application process prior to submitting a grant.
Grant Review Process
The Community Investment Committee (CIC) of the Branford Community Foundation is charged with reviewing the applications and making recommendations for funding to the Board of Directors. CIC may request more information from applicants during the grant review process. Grant award decisions will be announced by May 31, 2023.
Important Information
What the Branford Community Foundation Funds
The Branford Community Foundation looks to fund organizations and projects that strengthen and improve Branford in the following focus areas:
2023 Guiding Principles in Reviewing Grant Applications
The Board of Directors has prioritized the following issues for our 2023 competitive grant making process:
Additional Information
BCF holds several “field of interest” funds, including funds dedicated to basic needs, animals, environment, cultural arts, and music. During the application review process, the CIC works to match applications with corresponding fields of interest funds and donor intent.
BCF seeks grants that enhance the quality of life in Branford. Grant applications should address a need within the focus area and demonstrate impact on the organization, project, community, or persons served.
In 2022, BCF awarded 19 grants through its competitive grant making process. These grants mostly ranged from $1000 to $10,00 with an average award being around $4,300.
Applications should include some of the following elements:
Branford Community Foundation will not award grants to:
Your responsibilities if you are awarded a grant:
Additional Funding Opportunities
Emergent Needs Grants: BCF understand that projects and emergencies arise that cannot be accommodated by an annual grant cycle. We reserve a small pool of funding for these types of grant applications, and applicants must clarify why the application was not submitted through the Competitive Grant process. Contact Jennifer Mullett, Program Director, for information.
Sponsorships: BCF is proud to partner with GSB to support organizations serving the Branford community through sponsorship of qualifying events. Sponsorships are a single event (i.e gala, road race, etc) or a series of individual events held by an organization over a given time period, to increase visibility or for fundraising. If you are unsure if your event qualifies for sponsorship, please contact Jennifer Mullett, Program Director.
Scholarships: Scholarship awards for graduating seniors from Branford High School are reviewed and recommended by the Branford High School Guidance office. Questions about scholarships may be addressed to (203) 315-6730.
Photo by Bill O’Brien