Northwest CT Community Foundation

06/04/2026

It was so nice to see so many nonprofit friends and partners today!

06/04/2026

Your opinion can help shape Northwest CT! 🗳️
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCCFperc

06/02/2026

Exploring Litchfield's History, Stories and Lore 🎆

Litchfield Historical Society welcomes more than 12,000 visitors annually to explore the evolution of the town of Litchfield through exhibits, artifacts, archives, and hands-on displays. Visitors explore the diverse history of the town, including the center village, Bantam, East Litchfield, Milton, Northfield, and pre-1850s Morris.

A grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Khurshed Bhumgara Fund supported a program series commemorating the 200th anniversary of the publication of the "Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave," the first enslaved fugitive narrative in American history.

A recent grant from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Miriam Mason Cable Trust Fund supported the fabrication and promotion of Legends and Lore: Reconsidering Perspectives of the American Revolution.

The exhibit explores how actions taken during the American Revolution created local legends, often changing as they passed through generations, shaping our understanding of the fight for independence. "History is a pathway to communication, community identity, and an engaged citizenry," said Jessica D. Jenkins of Litchfield Historical Society.

"We are beyond grateful for the support of the Northwest CT Community Foundation."

https://vid.us/nxxjpz

Litchfield Historical Society Museum.mp4

06/01/2026

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

Northwest CT Community Foundation is inviting community members to share their thoughts through a brief survey that takes no more than a few minutes to complete.

Your feedback will help guide how we continue connecting people who care with causes that matter across Northwest CT.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCCFperc

05/19/2026

NONPROFITS - FREE EVENT: Join us for "Grow Your Donor Pool and Secure Your Share of the $170,672,336 Being Donated Locally"

Bruce Paul, the founder of The Donor Pool Builder, a hyper-local donor research initiative designed to help nonprofits better understand giving behavior in their own communities will present Grow Your Donor Pool.

Get a closer look at what Northwest CT donors are thinking — what motivates them to give, what may keep them from supporting a new organization, and what kinds of messages, outreach, and communication channels are most likely to inspire action. Bruce will share insights that can help organizations better understand donor awareness, identify opportunities to grow support, and think more strategically about how to connect with people who are most likely to care about their mission.

By combining market intelligence, donor insights, and practical fundraising perspective, Bruce helps nonprofit organizations identify new opportunities to grow support, strengthen donor engagement, and make more informed outreach decisions.

This presentation is offered in-person or virtually.
Attend In Person

June 4, 2026
Warner Theatre
Nancy Marine Studio
68 Main St.
Torrington CT

9:00a.m. check-in and refreshments
9:30a.m.-11:00a.m. Presentation

Register: https://www.yournccf.org/information-for/educational-events

05/19/2026

NCCF Women & Girls Fund Grants $28,500 to Support Women and Girls in Northwest CT

The Northwest CT Community Foundation (NCCF) Women & Girls Fund is proud to announce awards of $28,500 to local organizations working to support women and girls throughout Northwest CT.

These grants will help strengthen childcare access, educational opportunity, workforce development, food access and youth programming, improving the quality of life for women and girls across the region.

“Through these grants, we are investing not only in programs, but in futures. When we support women and girls, we strengthen families, uplift communities, and help build a more equitable and vibrant Northwest Connecticut,” said Fran Stoffer, Chair of the NCCF Women & Girls Fund.

Grants are awarded through a competitive application process reviewed by members of the Women & Girls Fund Executive Committee, which evaluated partners in alignment with the Fund’s mission and potential for measurable community impact.

Grant recipients were recognized during Creating Her Future, a celebration held at Five Points Arts Center in Torrington on Thursday evening, April 30, 2026, celebrating the power, potential, and promise of women and girls in Northwest CT. The event brought together donors, grantees, volunteers, community members, and local leaders for an evening of connection and celebration.

Guests enjoyed networking, light refreshments, a silent art auction featuring donated works of art, a review of the Fund’s 2025 accomplishments, and remarks from guest speaker Alicia Brown, former attorney and fiber artist, who shared “Becoming, Not Arriving: Taking the Long Way Around.”

The evening also included the presentation of the Women Supporting Women Award to The Honorable Anne C. Dranginis, a respected trailblazer for women whose distinguished career reflects a deep commitment to service, leadership, and opportunity.

The Women & Girls Fund is grateful to its donors, art donors, volunteers, attendees, grantees and event sponsors—Northwest Community Bank, M&T Bank, Thomaston Savings Bank, and Torrington Savings Bank—for helping make the evening possible.

Comprehensive List of Grants:

EdAdvance: $2,500 to support the cost of paid early childhood internships for two high school students from the College & Career Accelerator Education Pathway program.

NW CT YMCA: $2,500 to partially support wages for early childhood classroom support for six months through the Supporting Early Childhood Staff to Strengthen Quality and Inclusion program.

Housatonic Child Care Center: $3,000 to support tuition-free childcare for approximately five weeks for three staff members who have children in the care of Housatonic Child Care Center.

CT State Northwestern: $2,500 to support gap pay for teachers undergoing their student teaching practicums, providing wages at $20/hour.

CT State Northwestern: $5,000 to provide financial assistance for students pursuing certificate or degree programs in Allied Health or Nursing who reside within the 20-town service area of the Northwest CT Community Foundation. Funding may cover tuition, books, technology, fees, or other expenses. This grant is made in honor of Nancy Nolin and Elizabeth Selby from the Northwest CT Community Foundation Nolin Selby Fund.

Canaan Child Care Center: $2,500 to support childcare stipends for parents who face temporary income interruptions.

EXTRAS: $1,500 to support tuition assistance for families demonstrating financial hardship who do not qualify for government assistance.

NW CT Food Hub, fiscally sponsored by Partners for Sustainable Healthy Communities: $5,000 to support a pilot program providing fresh, locally grown produce to licensed home daycare providers in Torrington and Winsted.

LiveGirl: $4,000 total, with $2,000 funded by Northwest Community Bank Foundation to provide continued support for programming in the Region 20 and Region 7 middle schools.

Through grantmaking, scholarships, and community support, the Women & Girls Fund invests in programs that help women and girls across Northwest CT build confidence, pursue education, strengthen financial literacy, and achieve greater self-sufficiency.

To learn more about the Women & Girls Fund or to support its mission, visitwww.yournccf.org/womenandgirls

05/13/2026

The Northwest CT Community Foundation’s Women & Girls Fund recently honored The Honorable Anne C. Dranginis with the 2026 Women Supporting Women Award during Creating Her Future, an event celebrating women, girls, leadership, and community impact in Northwest CT.

Judge Dranginis was recognized for her trailblazing career, longstanding commitment to public service, and the example she has set for generations of women and girls.

The event also celebrated 2026 grants to local nonprofit partners working to help women and girls build confidence, pursue education, strengthen financial literacy, and achieve greater self-sufficiency.

Read the full story: https://www.yournccf.org/about-nccf/media-relations

05/11/2026

Live in Northwest CT? Your participation matters!

At NCCF, we want to ensure that local philanthropy works for you and Northwest CT. Add your voice to decisions that will have lasting impact on our communities, shaping the future of your town, identifying its most pressing needs and priorities, and helping to create a blueprint for where NCCF grants can do the most good.

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

05/07/2026

Local Nonprofits Receive Spring Boost: $283,200 from NCCF

Northwest CT Community Foundation (NCCF) has granted $283,200 to area nonprofit organizations in its first grant cycle of the year. NCCF awards discretionary grants to local nonprofits three times a year: early spring, late June, and November.

Noteworthy among the recent awards:

• Kent Library Association received $75,000 to support a major renovation and expansion of the Kent Memorial Library. (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund, and the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

“The Kent Memorial Library is honored to receive such a generous gift from NCCF,” said Sarah Marshall, Director of Kent Memorial Library. “We are now one step closer to realizing our fundraising goals for this long-awaited expansion and renovation. Supporting libraries is supporting communities, and Kent is lucky to have help from our friends at Northwest CT Community Foundation.”

• Friendly Hands Food Bank received $25,800 to support general operating expenses, including utilities, water, and sewer tax. (from the Lucia Tuttle Fritz Fund, the Margaret C. Tupper Fund, the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund, and the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)

“NCCF is one of the only grantors that allows for utilities and overhead expenses, which is unheard of when applying for much-needed funding,” said Karen Thomas, Executive Director of Friendly Hands Food Bank. “We are blessed that NCCF recognizes the struggles of local nonprofits and appreciate their diligence in making these funds available.”

The following is a comprehensive list of grants:

Artgarage received $3,000 to support the cost of maintaining expanded free after-school art enrichment programming from 3 to 4 days to meet demand. (from the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund, and the Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund)

Barkhamsted Historical Society received $8,000 to support the cost of a variety of programs and events in the town of Barkhamsted during 2026, celebrating the U.S. 250th anniversary. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)

Best Buddies Connecticut received $5,000 to support the Best Buddies Friendship and Leadership Development program, which creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and social inclusion for students with disabilities in Northwest CT. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)

Camp Workcoeman received $4,500 to support the purchase of 175 new cots (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, and the Milewski & Masisak Families Fund)

Chore Service received $20,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Karen M. O’Connor Fund, and an anonymous fund)

Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington received $10,000 to support the cost of a consultant to perform a full financial analysis of the organization's revenue and operating/benefit expenses to ensure long-term strength and sustainability in light of recent federal funding uncertainties. (from the Karen M. O’Connor Fund)

Cornwall Child Center received $9,000 to support a kitchen renovation. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)

David M. Hunt Library received $1,500 to support the creation of a poetry enrichment program for middle school students and younger students at Lee H. Kellogg School. (from the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)

David M. Hunt Library on behalf of the NW CT Library Digital Navigation Collaborative received $3,850 to support the cost of a subscription to NorthStar Digital Literacy for the public libraries in Canaan/Falls Village, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)

Falls Village Day Care Center received $12,200 to support the purchase of secure storage sheds to improve facility safety and emergency preparedness. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)

Friendly Hands Food Bank received $25,800 to support general operating expenses, including utilities, water, and sewer tax. (from the Lucia Tuttle Fritz Fund, the Margaret C. Tupper Fund, the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund, and the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)

Housatonic Child Care Center received $10,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)

Housatonic Youth Service Bureau received $5,000 to support the Student Assistance Program, comprehensive mental health programs for youth and families. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Kent Affordable Housing received $10,000 to support Phase 2 pre-development costs for 13 new affordable apartments on town-donated land. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Kent Library Association received $75,000 to support a major renovation and expansion of the Kent Memorial Library. (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund, and the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Litchfield Historical Society received $2,500 to support the fabrication and promotion of “Legends and Lore: Reconsidering Perspectives of the American Revolution,” part of the planned U.S. 250th anniversary celebration. (from the Miriam Mason Cable Trust Fund)

McCall Behavioral Health Network received $4,000 to support two 10-week Insight In-School Prevention group cycles at Explorations Charter School in Winsted. (from the Brian J. O’Neil Memorial Fund, and the Fund for Children and Families)

Music Mountain received $5,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

North Canaan Education Foundation received $7,200 to support increased staffing requirements mandated for licensed child care providers. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, and the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)

Northwest Connecticut Arts Council received $3,000 to support an Automation Lab pilot program to identify high-burden administrative tasks at a local nonprofit, test solutions, and document ways to free staff time for mission-driven work. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)

Northwest Conservation District received $3,500 to support the addition of more pollinator plants in the blueberry garden and continued agricultural education programming at the Beardsley Library in Winsted. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)

Northwestern CT YMCA received $3,000 to support Leaders Club, a youth leadership program open to youth ages 12-17 from Torrington, Winsted, and surrounding communities. (from the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund)

Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts received $6,150 to support Phase 1 development costs for a new jazz/ballet repertoire piece for stage and presentation in schools. (from an anonymous fund, and the Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund)

Oliver Wolcott Library received $2,600 to support an early numeracy program as a complement to early literacy programming for 100 families, along with a screening of “Hopeville” with a panel discussion to highlight the literacy crisis. (from the Feliciano & Lydia Turri Zaccheo Fund)

Operation Fuel received $10,000 to support energy grants to low and moderate income families struggling to pay utility and oil bills. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund, and the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund)

River Rocks New Hartford by fiscal sponsor Connecticut Main Street Center received $1,000 to support River Rocks, a Celebration of the Farmington River on June 20, 2026. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund)

Susan B. Anthony Project received $10,000 to support a strategic plan for the next three years in response to significant federal funding cuts and shifting federal funding priorities. (from the Abraham & Joann Temkin Memorial Fund)

Sustainable CT received $5,000 to support placement of a college student at Northwest Hills Council of Governments to provide hands-on assistance to municipalities implementing Sustainable CT actions. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund, and the Stephen J. Getz Memorial Fund for Community Service)

Torrington Area Families for Autism received $15,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)

Town of Barkhamsted received $2,400 to support rebuilding 24 community garden beds. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)

For more information visit yournccf.org

05/05/2026

We're Hiring! ⭐

Part-time Office Manager/Receptionist

NCCF is seeking a vibrant, self-motivated, forward-looking and organized individual who is proficient in Word, and Excel, has experience operating in the Microsoft 365 environment – or is willing to learn – and is ready, willing and able to adapt to using database and software packages utilized by NCCF.

The Office Manager serves as the central administrative and operational support for NCCF, reporting to the President and CEO.

Learn more and apply: https://www.yournccf.org/about-nccf/join-us