“Philanthropy isn't just putting a band-aid on something, it’s bringing betterment to someone’s life,” said Lauren Patterson, President & CEO of the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF). Since its founding in 1977, NCCF has taken that sentiment to heart in their commitment to improve the lives of people in lower Fairfield County by providing leadership on local issues, making impactful grants, and leading New Canaan’s charitable giving.
A signature part of NCCF’s grant investments is an annual process that engages community volunteers – this year more than 130 people – to vet local nonprofit applicants for funding. This year’s Grant Awards event celebrated the resulting $863,000 in grants to 91 nonprofit organizations.
The Foundation offers more than funding; they provide the human resources needed to tackle critical community issues. “We mobilize residents and volunteers, engage donors, and dedicate staff time to work together on the issue, and partner actively with nonprofit, government, and other civic leaders – all to have an outsized impact on the issue,” said Patterson.
In 2018 when the Foundation noticed an acute need for more mental health resources in New Canaan, they committed to tackling the issue. “The Foundation understands that unless we have a healthy community, we do not have a vibrant community,” said Dede Bartlett, a donor to the Foundation.
“It was the Foundation's brilliant strategy to bring all those pieces together,” said Bartlett. “They take the 30,000-foot view. It’s not just for today, it’s for tomorrow and the next tomorrow.”
NCCF's grants are designed to support high-quality and impactful programs and initiatives that touch every corner of community life. Approximately half of the dollars serve New Canaan based organizations, while the other half serves nearby, regional organizations within five key categories: Human Services; Arts, Culture, & Community Resources; Youth & Education; Health & Behavioral Health; and Seniors & Special Needs.
One such organization is Kids In Crisis, which provides critical services to children and families in need. “Thanks to NCCF’s support, children have found safety, healing, and hope at our Safehaven Children’s Shelter and have been supported through our TeenTalk program, which started at New Canaan High School and now reaches 18 schools across Fairfield County,” said Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of Kids In Crisis. “Together, we’re making a difference for young people and their families.”
NCCF is also providing unique ways for donors to give with Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) –charitable investment accounts that allows donors to contribute to a fund, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to charities over time. “While serving on the Board of the NCCF years ago, I learned that there was an opportunity to create a DAF where my husband and I could annually contribute money into an invested fund and subsequently decide what organizations would benefit. Our fund is generally used for organizations that focus on supporting children and educational initiatives,” said donors Wendy and Jim Hilboldt. “We feel fortunate that we can help sustain such an amazing program and make a difference in a child’s life.” NCCF houses many such DAFs, that can give anywhere across the country, but often choose to lean on the foundation’s expertise to inform their philanthropy.
There are a myriad of ways to get involved with the Foundation’s work. “Talk to us! Our staff and Board are resources on what’s going on in the community, issues that you may care about, and upcoming activities that may be of interest – like joining as a volunteer in our grant review process, or other opportunities with our partner nonprofits,” said Patterson.
“We mobilize residents and volunteers, engage donors, and dedicate staff time to work together on the issue and partner actively with nonprofit, government, and other civic leaders."