Grassroots Leadership

The Grassroots Leaders Grant offered by the Connecticut Community Foundation is tailored to empower local leadership and community-driven initiatives in the City of Waterbury, Connecticut. The Connecticut Community Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization serving Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills, and it plays a vital role in supporting programs that aim to build equitable and thriving communities. The Grassroots Leaders Grant is part of its broader community impact agenda and focuses explicitly on residents who are working to strengthen their neighborhoods through civic action, community collaboration, and local engagement. This grant program provides financial support to small, resident-led groups and individuals, particularly those with operating budgets under $100,000. The program prioritizes initiatives that focus on revitalizing neighborhoods, influencing local systems, and fostering leadership across Waterbury. Supported efforts often include increasing civic engagement, such as voter registration and community organizing, as well as programming for youth development, leadership training, and events designed to bring community members together. A hallmark of the program is its focus on equitable access to resources, collaborative effort, and long-term community impact rather than one-off events. Grants are awarded on a quarterly review schedule, with applications accepted on a rolling basis and formally reviewed during odd-numbered months. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $7,000 per project. The review committee consists of community residents who assess proposals based on ongoing impact, collaborative structure, and alignment with the program’s core goals. Priority is given to proposals that involve multi-generational collaboration and that bring in community partners. Projects must be non-partisan, particularly those related to civic engagement such as voter registration drives. The fund is open to groups working directly in the City of Waterbury and supports a wide range of project types including public art installations, workshops, community gardens, and material/resource distribution. An example of a previously awarded project includes R.A.C.C.E.’s Community Letter Writing Program, which brings residents together to send letters of encouragement to incarcerated youth from Waterbury, combining direct community outreach with facilitated discussions on juvenile justice. There is no formal pre-application requirement such as a Letter of Intent or concept paper. Applications are accessible via the Foundation’s website and reviewed in odd-numbered months throughout the year. While proposals are accepted at any time, applicants are advised to align their submission timing with the quarterly review schedule to ensure timely consideration. For any questions or assistance, interested applicants may contact Patrick McKenna, Assistant Director of Community Impact, at [email protected] or via phone at 203.753.1315. Given its quarterly review model and rolling acceptance, this grant can be considered recurring. It promotes long-term engagement by supporting projects that demonstrate sustainable community impact and encourages frequent participation by eligible groups. While no formal application PDF or downloadable form was listed, a general informational flyer is mentioned on the Foundation’s site.