Southbury Community Trust Fund Transferred to CCF
$1.6M Fund Added to CCF’s Endowment

WATERBURY, CT — October 25, 2010 — Assets totaling $1.6 million from the Southbury Community Trust Fund (SCTF) were recently transferred to the Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury by the Fairfield County Community Foundation. A local anonymous donor established SCTF in 1994 to support nonprofits that serve the Southbury community. Over the past 16 years, SCTF has awarded more than $400,000 in grants.

“SCTF and the Connecticut Community Foundation have awarded grants to many of the same organizations like Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, Southbury-Middlebury Youth & Family Services and Southbury Land Trust,” said SCTF Advisory Committee member Donald Kimber. “This alignment and coordination of resources will allow us to better help area nonprofits improve their effectiveness and achieve successful outcomes for our community.”

The transfer was made in recognition of SCTF’s geographic focus within the Connecticut Community Foundation’s 21-town service area and the Foundation’s administration of the fund’s grants since 2008.

“The Foundation has done an exceptional job for us over the last two years,” said Shirley Michaels, SCTF chairperson. “They understand the needs of the Southbury community. We look forward to the many benefits of bringing our grant making services together.”

The Connecticut Community Foundation first partnered with SCTF two years ago to complete a needs assessment of the Southbury community, revise grant guidelines to better address those needs, and to enhance grant-making services to nonprofits that serve the people of Southbury. CCF also managed SCTF grant rounds beginning that fall.

In 2009, SCTF started to focus its grant-making and capacity-building services in support of local nonprofits that offer youth development programs, address youth behavioral health needs, and provide social services for needy families with particular attention to food sufficiency. The fund also considers grants in the arts, community and economic development, education, the environment and health and human services.

An advisory committee of local community leaders recommends grant guidelines and awards grants made from the fund. Current advisory committee members include Chairperson, Shirley Michaels; Doris Platt; Donald Kimber; Mark Mitchell; and Atty. Michael Reardon.

“Having worked with the SCTF Advisory Committee over the past two years, we are pleased to further integrate SCTF with our foundation,” said Ingrid Manning, CEO, Connecticut Community Foundation. “We believe the result will be even greater coordination of benefits to Southbury residents.”

Recent SCTF grant recipients include Southbury-Middlebury Youth & Family Services, Litchfield Little Britches, Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition and Pomperaug High School’s GradNite.

Contributions to SCTF are welcome and may be made online or by contacting Ann Merriam Feinberg, director, Outreach and Development, Connecticut Community Foundation, 203-753-1315.

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a grant may contact Carol O’Donnell, associate CEO, Connecticut Community Foundation, 203-753-1315.