Current Funds

Community Impact Fund

As a donor, if you are interested in supporting the needs of a wide variety of non-profit organizations serving our community, then directing your contribution to the Community Impact Fund may satisfy your philanthropic intent. Due to the generosity of many donors over the years, the Community Impact Fund has been able to award grants to non-profit organizations serving the many different needs in our community: education, youth, the arts, special needs, seniors, health and human services and community resources.

This fund has been serving the needs of our community since 1977. Grants from the Community Impact Fund are directed under the discretion of NCCF’s Board of Directors. Non-profit organizations are invited annually to apply for funding. NCCF’s Board of Directors and volunteer Distributions Panel thoroughly review each proposal including making on-site visits. Discretionary grants from this fund are awarded for start up ventures, new programs and critical needs. Over the past few years, NCCF has provide a limited number of grants for operating expenses to organizations that are not in the health and human services category. Health and Human Services organizations receive operating grants from the Neighbors United Program.

If you are interested in learning more about the grants from the Community Impact Fund, a full listing can be found under Publications and Applications on this site.

Neighbors United

As a donor if you are interested in suppoorting the operating needs of local health and human service programs then making a donation to the Neighbors United program may satisfy your philanthropic goal. Health and human service organizations are those organizations that provide services that protect the health of our residents and provide essential human services especially for those who are least able to help themselves. Organizations that have received grants from Neighbors United include homeless shelters, nursing programs, crisis intervention services and children's support services.

Donations to Neighbors United have an immediate and direct impact on our community. What is raised in the annual campaign is what NCCF has available to use to make grants.

Grant decisions are made after an extensive review of each applying organization. On-site visits of each organization are conducted by members of the NCCF Board of Directors and the volunteer Distributions Panel. If you are interested in learniing more about the grants made from Neighbor's United Program, there is a full isting under Publications and Applications.

Donor Advised Funds

If you have been contemplating establishing a private foundation or if you have been thinking about invloving your entire family in philanthropic decisions or if you want to maintain involvement in the grant-making from your gift, then your should consider the advantages of establishing a Donor Advised Fund.

This is the most popular charitable vehicle offered by community foundations. A donor can establish a fund and maintain ongoing involvement in the use of the gift. The donor may involve as many family members as he or she would like and name successor advisors, such as his or her children, giving them the opportunity to carry on the family’s tradition of philanthropy. Distributions from the fund are made to non-profit organizations based on the donor’s recommendations. The organizations must be non-proft and in the United States of Canada.

To learn more about donor advised funds and other fund options, please click on "Establish A Fund" on the left hand menu.

The donor’s original gift and those added to the fund are available to do good work forever, in our community and beyond.

Touch A Life Fund

As a donor - if you are interested in having your donations go to help your neighbors in need, then making a contribution to the Touch A Life Fund will meet this goal. The Touch A Life Fund was established in 1998 to provide emergency financial assistance to those in need in New Canaan. To date, over $100,000 from the Touch A Life Fund has assisted residents of all ages with their fuel and rent bills, food expenses, provided funds for camperships, tuitions, clothing, school supplies and many other essential items.

NCCF has formed a partnership with the Department of Human Services of New Canaan, Person to Person in Darien and the local churches and schools to create a network to help identify families in financial need. Referrals for emergency support come in to NCCF from these different sources.

Over the years, this Fund has changed the lives of so many people and continues to enrich the life of our community. In additiona to direct contgributions to the Fund, the Touch A Life Fund is supported by a benefit luncheon in February. RSVP's to the Luncheon may be made on this site or you may call the office.

Young Philanthropists Fund

If you are interested in promoting philanthropic learning and understanding among New Canaaan's high school aged population, then making a contribution to the Young Philanthropists Fund will meet your philanthropic goal. The Young Philanthropists Fund (YPF) was established in 2007 and made its first grant awards in 2008. The Fund is governed by a Steering Committee of high-school-aged residents. Students on the committee explore philanthropy, nonprofit organizations and community leadership.

They also experience a grant-making process, guided by NCCF staff and Board members and fund programs that address community needs. Between 2008 and 2010, YPF made a total of $15,644 in grants.

Sapienza Scholarship Fund

The Anne and Anthony Sapienza Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 through a bequest from New Canaan resident Anne Sapienza. The main goal of teh Fund it to provide scholarship assistance to New Canaan residents seeking to further their educations but who are unable to do so because of financial limitations. Scholarships are not limited to high school seniors applying to traditional four-year colleges. Adults seeking to further their education are also eligible to receive assistance, as are residents attending a community college or other qualified educational institutions.

Since the Fund's first scholarship grants were distributed, the Fund has given out 127 grants and $407,000 in financial assistance.

If assisting individuals in furthering their education is one or your philanthropic goals, then making a contribuion to the Sapienza Scholarship Fund will help you accomplish your goal.

Fund for Children and Youth

If you want your contribution to support the programs and initiatives related to the educational, social and recreational needs of our area’s younger residents, then making a contribution to the Fund for Children and Youth would satisfy your goal. The Fund for Children and Youth is a field of interest fund at NCCF. The fund was established in 1993 by an anonymous donor.

In 2008, The Fund for Children and Youth made a $3,215 grant to New Canaan High School Crew, a nationally recognized program for High School and Middle School rowers which fosters team spirit and achievement. The grant was awarded to assist in the purchase of a portable dock for regattas.

In 2009, NCCF awarded a grant from the Fund For Children and Youth to the Saxe Middle School PTC of $2916 for the renovation of the Saxe outdoor basketball court. The full amount of the NCCF grant for this project was $5000.

In 2010, this Fund made a grant of $2,700 out of a total $5,000 grant to New Canaan CARES to support youth, parent and community health programs.

Spirit of New Canaan Fund

As a donor if you are interested in preserving what makes New Canaan special and unique, then making a donation to the Spirit of New Canaan Fund will help you accomplish your philanthropic goal. The Spirit of New Canaan Fund was established in 2005 as a field of interest fund at NCCF. The purpose of the Fund is to support projects and initiatives in New Canaan that help maintain the unique spirit and character of the town.

In 2008, The Spirit of New Canaan Fund awarded the Volunteer Center of New Canaan $3,792 to assist in the establishment of a Non-Profit Resource Center at the New Canaan Library.

In 2009, $2664 of a $25,000 total grant was award from the Spirit of New Canaan Fund to Getabout for partial funding of a new mini-van.

In 2010, $2,500 of a total $6,000 grant was awarded from this fund to the Community Vegetable Garden located by the Food Pantry at St. Mark's Church. This grant was used to build a retaining wall and install a drainage system to protect the graden from erosion.

Local First Ib.l.a.s.t. Fund

Ib.l.a.s.t. (“I Buy Local and Shop in Town”), a buy local program connecting the businesses of New Canaan with the buying power of our community was launched in December 2008. Charitable support of the community is an important component of the Ib.l.a.s.t. effort. The founders of Ib.l.a.s.t., Barbara Davis and Carolyn Williams, direct 20% of all Ib.l.a.s.t. card sales sold directly through Ib.l.a.s.t., to the Local First I.b.l.a.s.t. Fund. This Fund supports local charities by making grants to non-profit organizations that initiate programs to attract visitors and retail prospects, as well as make New Canaan an enjoyable place to live.

Friend's of Spencer's Run Endowment Fund

If you visit Spencer's Run dog park with your dog, then you may want to help support the maintenance and special projects of the Run with a donation.

As a bit of background, Spencer’s Run officially opened on July 15, 2006 . It is 1.5 acres, fully fenced and located in Waveny Park, New Canaan. The Park is enjoyed by people and their dogs every day from dawn to dusk. It was initially created by private funding from the residents of New Canaan with additional support from interested residents in neighboring communities.

In the Spring of 2007, the New Canaan Park and Recreation Commission established the Friends of Spencer’s Run, a group of dedicated volunteers whose primary goal is to make Spencer’s Run an enjoyable place for everyone. These volunteers go to the park on a daily basis, filling the bag dispensers, policing the area and monitoring compliance with the rules. They serve as a communications link between Spencer’s Run participants, the Park and Recreation Commission and the New Canaan Animal Control Officer.

In the Fall of 2010, the Friends of Spencer's Run held a "Walk For the Run" fundraising event. Corporate Sponsors, donations and registration fees all helpde to make this event a huge success ofor Spencer's Run.

The Friends of Spencer’s Run Endowment Fund counts on ongoing support from private donors for future repairs, improvements and programs that make Spencer’s Run a success. You can help in two ways:

1. GIVE YOUR DOG A BONE!
If you haven’t already purchased a dog tag at Spencer’s Run — one of the adorable silver stainless bones that you see hanging from the fence — now is a great time! A $100 contribution, supplied with the names you want on the “bone” (up to 25 characters), will show your support!

You can send your contribution and “bone” information to Friends of Spencer’s Run Endowment Fund, NCCF, 111 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840, or you can make the contribution on this site. Be sure to give us the information you want engraved on your “bone” in the box with the name of the Fund.

Orders for “bones” received by:

Mar 1 will be installed on the fence by Mar 31
Jun 1 will be installed on the fence by Jun 30
Sept 1 will be installed on the fence by Sept 30
Dec 1 will be installed on the fence by Dec 31

2. Make a contribution. You can send in a contribution of any amount to Friends of Spencer’s Run Endowment Fund, NCCF, 111 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or make an online contribuition on this site.

Your donation to Friends of Spencer’s Run Endowment at any level, helps insure New Canaan’s off-leash park doesn’t go to the non-dogs! For more information about Spencer’s Run, please visit the dog park’s web site at http://www.spencersrun.org.

Town Players of New Canaan Endowment Fund

Team Jim Scholarship Award

The McKennan Family and friends have created the Team Jim Scholarship Award in memory of Jim McKennan, a new Canaan resident who passed away in January, 2008 after a two year battle with cancer. Jim McKennan had been a stand out soccer player at Harvard University and continued to use his great skills here in New Canaan. For many years Jim coached a number of youth soccer teams and also served as President of the Soccer Association for two years. Professionally, he worked in advertising as a major account copy writer. He was a well respected member of our community and a vital force in the Soccer Association.

This award was created as a permanent legacy to Jim and his gracious manner in which he approach all people and situations. Recipients for this award are selected by the Varsity Soccer coaches, the Director of Athletics and a member of the High School Administration. The award is presented to a graduating boy and a graduating girl who have played Varsity Soccer and embody Jim McKennan’s passion for the sport of soccer as well as Jim’s qualities of caring, kindness, humor, teamwork, sportsmanship and confidence to follow his or her own path in life. The award is split between a financial grant directed to the recipient's college or university and a financial award given directly to the recipients.

Contributions in memory of Jim McKennan may be made at any time.

The Joseph F. Dorrico Rotary Award

In honor of his 90th birthday, family members established The Joseph F. Dorrico Rotary Award Fund at the New Canaan Community Foundation. This award honors Joseph and his loyal service to the community, both professionally and as a volunteer. The fund, in cooperation with the Rotary Club of New Canaan, will make an annual award to support the educational needs of a New Canaan resident who has demonstrated a similar loyalty to the community through his/her volunteer service and who also has demonstrated need for financial assistance in pursuing his/her education. Eligibility for this scholarship award is not limited to a graduating high school senior. Anyone who is interested in being considered for this award must file the Sapienza Scholarship forms by April 1st and include a brief statement in the community service section of the application. The Scholarship applicaitons forms can be found on this web site under Publications and Applications.

Anyone wishing to honor Joe’s lifelong commitment to community service through Rotary International is asked to donate to this fund. Please make checks payable to the New Canaan Community Foundation, write Dorrico/Rotary on the memo line, and mail to the NCCF. Donations can also be made online on this web site. Please remember to indicate that your contribution is for The Joseph F. Dorrico Rotary Award.

Jack Jacobs Congressional Medal of Honor Award for Citizenship

The Award was established in 2008 and is named in recognition of Jack Jacobs and for his unparalleled service to our Country . Jack Howard Jacobs is a retired colonel in the United States Army and a medal of Honor recipient for his actions during tthe Vietnam War.

The selected student will be a graduating senior from New Canaan High School who has demonstrated selfless leadership and service to others during their four years of high school in an area where their contribution made a significant difference to others, their town or the United States. The recipient’s involvement may be through a program at the High School or through another organization. The recipient must be a citizen of the United States. It is requested that the selection committee at New Canaan High School take into consideration community involvement beyond participation in New Canaan High School offerings by any potential recipient.

Contributions to this Fund are greatly welcomed and should be sent to NCCF. Contributions may also be made online on this website.