Press Releases

 

  • Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant opportunity for nonprofits that reach under-resourced populations and highlight unmet needs in Fairfield County. The Impact Fairfield County Grant will provide restricted funds to develop new programs; enhance, expand or strengthen existing programs; and/or improve organizational capacity that advances the nonprofit organization's core mission. These transformative grants are to support high impact initiatives, not to cover general operating expenses. Impact FFC will award one or two grants of $100,000 each, and the winner(s) will be determined by a vote of its membership on May 7, 2025. 

    To apply for an Impact Fairfield County Grant, organizations must be: 

    • Classified as a “public charity” with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code 

    • Operating in, serving residents of, and fully expending funds in Fairfield County, CT 

    • Targeting under resourced populations

    • In possession of three years of independently prepared, audited financial statements

    • A new awardee -- not a recipient of an Impact FFC $100,000 Grant for at least 3 years 

    Applying starts with a Letter of Inquiry, which will be accepted online beginning October 15, 2024 and will be due November 12, 2024. Organizations may only submit one application each grant cycle. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an Applicant Information Session to be held on September 17, 2024, from 10:30am – 11:30am at Pequot Library in Southport, CT. RSVP is required on our website. Due to space constraints, we request that only one representative per organization attend. In addition, on October 10, 2024, Impact Fairfield County will be hosting an optional virtual Proposal Brainstorming Workshop. Nonprofits will be able to gain advice on potential proposal ideas from experienced Impact FFC members. Details and registration to be announced via our website by mid-September.

    You will be notified by January 17, 2025 if you have been selected to submit a Full Proposal. Full proposals will be due by February 6, 2025. 

    All applicants are encouraged to review the Eligibility Criteria and Frequently Asked Questions on our website to determine whether both the organization and the project meet the criteria for an Impact Fairfield County Grant. 

  • NORWALK, CT and STAMFORD, CT, June 19, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the largest women’s organizations in the county, presented $100,000 checks to their 2024 Grant Winners, Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”) in Norwalk and the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”) in Stamford.

    In Norwalk, Co-Founders & Presidents of FITB, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer accepted the check presented by Impact FFC Co-Presidents, Jenny San Jose and Kristen Rosenbaum. CT Senator Bob Duff, CT Representative Tracey Mara and representatives from Congressman Jim Himes and Senator Richard Blumenthal’s offices also spoke. With this grant, FITB will expand its “Fresh Food on the Move” mobile food pantry program to seven events per year, providing over 175,000 pounds of fresh food to community members and bringing local agencies and services onsite to make them easier for families to access.

    “As I’ve said many times, food insecurity is a solvable problem. There is no reason for it, but we have it and thanks to Filling in the Blanks, we’re making such a difference for so many families. I’ve seen it first hand - in Norwalk, at the Mobile Food Pantries - where FITB is making sure that our kids and families across Fairfield County do not go hungry. I’m thrilled that Impact Fairfield County's grant is going to such a worthy organization, and having this large group of women from Impact FFC come together to support the biggest needs in our community is truly incredible,” said CT Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader.

    In Stamford, BGCS CEO Craig Baker accepted the grant check on behalf of BGCS, along with team members and BGCS after-school youth participants. The 2023 and 2024 Youth of the Years also spoke about the difference that BGCS has made in their lives. With the Impact FFC grant, BGCS will integrate youth mental health support into their after-school services. This initiative will impact all 3,000 youth that BGCS serves and will provide counseling to 300 children and teens per year, most of whom have experienced trauma or have been exposed to chronic stress or violence.

    “The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford plays an integral role in the Stamford community,” said Mayor Caroline Simmons. “I am thrilled to see their efforts recognized by Impact Fairfield County, which will allow them to further serve our city’s youth by incorporating mental health support into their growing programs.”

    Congressman Jim Himes added, “The outstanding teams at Filling in the Blanks (FITB) and the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (BGCS) are making Connecticut proud with their efforts to alleviate food insecurity and enhance support for youth mental health initiatives, respectively, across our community. I’m delighted that Impact Fairfield County chose to support these local organizations with generous $100,000 grants, empowering FITB to provide nutritious meals to even more families in need of assistance and BGCS to offer clinical counseling and social-emotional support to more underserved children and teens.”

    Impact FFC celebrated its ninth year of giving, providing over $2.1 million in funding to local nonprofits since its start.  “All of this year’s grant applicants were quite remarkable, and we are proud to support the extraordinary efforts of FITB and BGCS as they continue to make such an impact in Fairfield County,” said Impact FFC Co-President Kristen Rosenbaum.

  • DARIEN, CT, May 14, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC), the area’s premier women’s collective giving organization, awarded two $100,000 Grants to Fairfield County nonprofits: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (“BGCS”)and Filling in the Blanks (“FITB”). Each grantee will also receive an additional $10,500 in unrestricted funding. In addition, Impact FFC awarded three $20,000 unrestricted general operating grants to the other finalists: Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, OPTIMUS Health Care,and Teaching Matters. This year’s finalists’ applications requested support for early literacy programming, transportation for a human services agency, after-school youth counseling, maternal health navigation, and mobile food pantry services.

    The winners of the $100,000 Grants were selected by a vote of Impact FFC’s 281-women membership at their Grant Awards Celebration in Darien on May 8th. The vote followed a rigorous application process which narrowed down an initial pool of nearly 60 nonprofit applicants to five finalist organizations who presented at the Grant Awards Celebration. After undertaking a comprehensive review of the applications and conducting thorough site visits, members selected the five finalists, and ultimately the two winners, based on criteria including the organization’s demonstrated impact, the population served, and the long-term sustainability of the project. Kellyann Day, CEO of New Reach and Reverend Sara Smith, CEO of nOURish BRIDGEPORT, also presented updates on their 2022 Impact FFC Grant Award initiatives. Last year, New Reach saw a 98% eviction prevention rate and nOURish BRIDGEPORT distributed 14 tons of fresh produce throughout Bridgeport and other areas of Fairfield County.

    Impact FFC’s 2024 Grant winners:

    • The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford’s mission is to enable all youth to reach their full potential. The average household income of the families served is $25,000; half live in single-parent households; 95% are individuals of color; half are English Language Learners. 550+ children and teens attend BGCS daily, participating in a wide range of programs that support their academic, emotional, and social development. The Impact FFC Grant will support the transformation of BGCS’ after-school services by integrating youth mental health gatekeeper and social-emotional development frameworks. BGCS will equip staff through the Recognize, Refer, and Respond model and Mental Health First Aid. Staff will learn to identify signs of distress, to de-escalate, and make referrals. Fostering a culture of emotional intelligence and empathy through Yale University’s RULER model, this initiative will impact all 3,000 youth that BGCS serves and provide clinical counseling to 300 children and teens per year.

    “We are a safety net for the 550 children and teens that come to us each and every day. With Impact FFC’s grant, we’ll be able to reduce the stigma of mental health and dramatically increase support at the intersection of the most underserved youth in our trusted space where they spend so much of their day,” said Craig Baker, CEO of The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford.

    • Filling in the Blanks, based in Norwalk, CT, is fighting childhood hunger by providing over 8,000 children in need with meals on the weekends, delivering over 3 million meals in their 11 year history. After learning that families were sharing the meals provided for the children, FITB launched the "Fresh Food on the Move" mobile food pantry program, which conducts two monthly distributions in Norwalk and Stamford, CT. This initiative serves 900 families a month, offering grade-A quality fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, grains, and dairy, empowering families to cook nutritious meals at home and eat together. “Fresh Food on the Move” creates a supportive environment similar to a farmers’ market, partnering with local agencies and providing services ranging from hygiene products, winter coats, books, flu vaccines, health insurance, housing and employment opportunities, and financial literacy at the events, in addition to the food pantry. With support from the Impact FFC Grant, FITB will fund seven mobile food pantry events, providing over 175,000 pounds of fresh food to community members.

    “Our mobile pantry is more than just food - it’s a community hub providing essential services with dignity and compassion and helping to reduce stress from their lives. With the addition of these seven events, we’ll be able to provide increased consistency, trust and compassion for our families, transforming the lives of so many who struggle with food insecurity and other challenges” said Shawnee Knight & Tina Kramer, Co-Founders, Presidents of Filling in the Blanks.

    With Impact FFC’s membership representing 19 towns across Fairfield County, Impact FFC continues to push the boundaries of where and how Impact FFC can make a difference, across the spectrum of age groups and supporting a variety of initiatives ranging from education and skill training, to healthcare, to basic needs.

    In its ninth year of investing to transform the lives of Fairfield County’s neediest, Impact FFC has provided over $2.1 million in total grant funding. “With this year’s grants, we will be supporting initiatives designed to better meet the health, wellness and basic needs of our community members. We look forward to seeing these organizations use their grants to impact so many,” said Impact FFC Co-President Jenny San Jose.

    Next year’s grant cycle will represent Impact FFC’s tenth year of giving, which will be celebrated throughout the year.

  • GREENWICH, CT, April 17, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the County’s leading female giving organizations, is pleased to announce its five finalists for this year’s Impact FFC Grants. The finalists include: Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Filling in the Blanks, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, OPTIMUS Health Care and Teaching Matters. With its record-breaking membership this year, Impact FFC will donate $280,000 to the nonprofits.

    The finalists were selected from nearly 60 applicants and a lengthy review process which included written applications and in-person visits. To be considered for a grant, each applicant must demonstrate strong leadership, impactful results, financial stability, a primary focus on needs within Fairfield County and the transformative nature of the proposed use of funding. The finalists will present their proposed project at the Grant Awards Celebration on May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT. The Impact FFC membership will then vote to determine the two winners who will receive over $100,000 in an Impact FFC Grant. The three runner-ups will receive an operating grant.  

    “We’re thrilled to be able to present our largest amount of funding to Impact FFC grantees this year, due to the dedication and passion of our growing membership.,” said Impact FFC Co-President Kristen Rosenbaum. “We’re excited to celebrate another successful year of transformative philanthropy with our finalists, corporate partners and membership on May 8th.” 

  • GREENWICH, CT, April 5, 2024 – In its 9th year of giving, Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”), one of the County’s leading female giving organizations, recorded their highest number of members since inception with 280 women joining for the 2023-2024 grant cycle. Impact FFC is also pleased to announce its Corporate Partners from five Fairfield County-based companies.  

    The corporate sponsors include The Ashforth Company, Stamford Health, Chilton Trust Company, Clear Harbor Asset Management, and Fred. These companies have demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy and developing their female leadership, and their support will enable Impact FFC to further its transformational work.  

    Impact FFC launched its Corporate Partnership Program in 2021, offering a select number of Fairfield County businesses the opportunity to invest in their female workforces by sponsoring employees to become members of Impact FFC, a diverse group of women making impactful change within the community.  

    Corporate Partners have the ability to sponsor up to 10 female employees to join Impact FCC for one year. These employees become full members of Impact FFC, and as such are invited to learn about social issues in the local community at a deeper level, give back at volunteer events, network with 250+ other members, and develop skills in project assessment, financial analysis, and social impact strategy. 

    “Stamford Health is proud to support Impact Fairfield County and the work they do to assist many of Fairfield County’s non-profits,” said Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health. “Our leaders who are part of the Corporate Partnership Program are excited to gain insight and contribute to the vast network of community organizations who, like Stamford Health, care for the residents of the communities we serve.”  

    “The Ashforth Company is pleased to continue to support the mission of Impact Fairfield County, who are doing critical work to make a difference in our community, while allowing members of our organization to take the time to join in this effort, building their leadership skills and giving back to the community,” said Ryan Harvey, CEO & President of The Ashforth Company.  

     “Our Corporate Partners share our mission of uniting women in philanthropy, and are an integral part of Impact FFC, providing both engaged members of our Grant Review Committees as well as generous financial support to allow Impact FFC to further drive transformative change within Fairfield County,” said Impact FFC Co-President Jenny San Jose.  

     Impact FFC’s Grant Awards Celebration is scheduled for May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT.  Finalists for the grants will be announced in late April, with a total of $280,000 to be awarded. 

  • STAMFORD, CT, February 23, 2024 – Impact Fairfield County (“Impact FFC”) recently held its second Impactful Conversation of the 2023-2024 grant year on the topic of “Empowering Through Education”, addressing the work being done to break the cycle of interpersonal violence within Fairfield County. The dynamic panel discussion at The Ashforth Company’s Stamford Square office featured Impact FFC Grantee, The Center for Empowerment and Education (“CEE”), and former Generation Impact grantee, The Domestic Violence Crisis Center (“DVCC”). 

    Moderated by Maryellen Frank, Co-Chair of Events for Impact FFC, Cara During, Director of Community Impact for CEE, and Ann Rodwell-Lawton, COO of DVCC, discussed the importance of honest and open conversations around interpersonal violence, abuse, consent, trafficking, digital safety and more.  

    By providing crisis intervention and education to Upper Fairfield County, CEE is working with educators, advocates and students to “help identify what is not just a normal part of growing up,” said During. She continued, “We are much farther along than we were decades ago, but there is still so much shame and stigma around these topics. We’re working to build rapport with students and the community, so that we can have open and honest conversations about relationships, respect, boundaries, as well as teaching about laws and guidelines and providing safety planning and tools.” 

    With its 2023 Impact FFC Grant, CEE is working to build a state of the art database to be able to identify important trends within the community, adjust and prioritize educational topics as well as building new connections to CEE’s services. 

    Based in Norwalk and Stamford and serving Lower Fairfield County, DVCC provides counseling and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and their children. DVCC is seeing an increased need for focus on more complex situations than in the past. “With survivor defined advocacy, DVCC is able to serve our constituents in a more meaningful and impactful way, meeting them where they need help the most,” said Rodwell-Lawton.  

    Connecticut is one of the first states to roll-out the Lethality Assessment Program (“LAP”), aimed at preventing domestic homicides. DVCC and CEE are key partners in this program, aiding in the first 24 hours of an incident, connecting law enforcement to conduct a screening for intimate partner risk and connecting victims with core advocates and resources.  In addition to LAP, DVCC will be advocating for several bills that will be brought to the CT legislation this Spring, surrounding maternal health and victim relief from coerced debt, both major issues for victims of domestic abuse. “Reaching out to your local leaders is one way to assist in this journey,” said Rodwell-Lawton.  

    Other important discussion points included human trafficking, and educating on the invisible aspects of abuse, which is different than what is portrayed on tv, as there are many emotional, financial, and digital forms which can cause severe trauma, anxiety and other issues for the victims.  “Removing the blame from victims is also key”, said During, “as we work to teach victims that they are not at fault, despite what their abuser might tell them.” 

    “The panel discussion was highly engaging and informative. By shining a light on dedicated organizations such as CEE and DVCC, we hope to be a part of the journey in getting more people to discuss these topics home, in school, and at work, and to ultimately make it easier for people to connect with trusted resources within our community,” said Impact FFC Co-President, Kristen Rosenbaum. 

    Impact FFC’s 2023-2024 grant year is underway, with the Grant Awards Celebration scheduled for May 8th, 2024 at the Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT.  

  • STAMFORD, CT, November 13, 2022 – Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) launched its ninth year of grantmaking at an inspiring fall kickoff event attended by over 100 women from across Fairfield County. Impact FFC is a collective women’s giving organization that provides large, transformational grants to nonprofits across Fairfield County. Since its inception, Impact Fairfield County has awarded over $1.8 million to local organizations. Membership in Impact FFC is open for the current grant year through December 31, 2023. 

    On November 8th, current and prospective members joined Impact FFC leadership at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center to connect with other women, to learn about how to get involved with Impact FFC, and to hear from Impact FFC’s 2022 $100,000 grant winners, The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) and Catholic Academy of Bridgeport (CAB).  

    Cara During, Director of Community Impact for CEE, updated the audience on the initiatives that the Impact grant has allowed CEE to do in just a few short months. CEE, which serves Northern Fairfield County, seeks to break the cycle of interpersonal violence through empowerment, education and support services.  The Impact grant is helping the organization reach its goal of providing programming to 100% of northern Fairfield County schools while also increasing its outreach and training for professionals in our community. In addition to adding two more Danbury schools to its roster, CEE has provided bilingual educators for the first time, reaching communities that are desperately underserved, launched an outreach campaign for local businesses and has improved its data and reporting capabilities. “Because of the Impact grant, we are making our vision of safer communities a reality,” said During.  

    Sister Elizabeth Doyle, Principal of CAB’s St. Raphael campus, shared exciting news that the Happy Hollow Outdoor Learning Center is on target to open in May 2024. Located in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Bridgeport (“The Hollow”), St. Raphael educates over 240 students who spend up to 10 hours per day at school, due to safety reasons. With the Impact FFC Grant, the school will provide a safe, educational environment beyond the classroom. Students will benefit from a nature-rich design with opaque security fencing and age-appropriate climbing structures as well as an outdoor classroom for science and nature exploration. Said Doyle, “The Impact grant was a gift that allowed us to move from a dream to imminent reality. This center will have an impact on students this year and for many years to come.” 

    Jenny San Jose and Kristen Rosenbaum, Co-Presidents of Impact FFC, shared just a few of the ways in which Impact FFC’s $1.8 million has made an impact in Fairfield County, including: 

    • Built an indoor hydroponic farm to feed fresh vegetables to hungry families in Bridgeport 

    • Expanded kindergarten readiness to hundreds of children entering the Stamford public school system 

    • Opened a dental clinic serving toddlers, teenagers, parents and senior citizens in Bridgeport 

    • Developed language acquisition skills through music instruction for English language learners in Stamford and Norwalk  

    • Trained nurses at Greenwich and Stamford hospitals in administering rape kits to sexual assault victims in a trauma-informed and timely way 

    Attendees also heard from member Lizzy Scheinfeld, who chronicled her journey from joining Impact FFC to becoming involved with 2022 grant winner, nOURish BRIDGEPORT, as a result of learning more about their work. “We are making a difference for our neighbors, and in turn for ourselves. That is the true impact of our work,” said Scheinfeld. Impact FFC shares more stories like Scheinfeld’s in their newsletters about this “Ripple Effect.''  

    “We came today to celebrate the transformational work that the Impact grants have provided our local non-profits to achieve and to kick off our next giving cycle. We look forward to a strong and rewarding 2024 grant season with the help of our amazing leadership, our engaged and informed members and the generous support of our corporate sponsors, The Ashforth Company and Clear Harbor Management,” said San Jose.