NCCF’s 2026-27 grant cycle is open, with three ways to fund your work

New Canaan Community Foundation’s 2026-27 grant cycle is now open, and this year it looks different. Rather than a single application path, NCCF is offering three distinct funding opportunities. Organizations are invited to review all three and apply to the one that best fits their work.

All three share are due on Friday, October 16 at 11:30 PM.

Opportunity one: Main grant cycle

Open to nonprofits broadly serving New Canaan and Lower Fairfield County across a wide range of quality-of-life initiatives. The main cycle funds program, operating, capital and capacity-building support across all five of NCCF’s funding priorities.

Awards range from $2,500 to $30,000 and above, in two tracks. Applications are due October 16, with an application update in mid-December, site visits as applicable in February and March 2027, and decisions announced in May 2027.

Opportunity two: Multi-year strategic growth and solutions

Open to behavioral health, early childhood and human services organizations that have received at least three NCCF grants in the past five years. This opportunity funds scaling a program, building capacity, launching a partnership, or adapting after a funding change. It is transformative multi-year funding that lets a longtime NCCF partner adapt, scale or respond to evolving community needs in high-priority areas.

Awards range from $100,000 to $250,000 over three to five years, with one to two grants anticipated. Applications are due October 16, with site visits as applicable in November 2026 and decisions announced in mid-December 2026. Applications that are not selected may be moved back to the main grant cycle for one-year funding consideration, or declined.

Opportunity three: Multi-year capital projects in New Canaan

Open to New Canaan based organizations with a once in a generation capital project, the kind an organization takes on once a decade or less. This opportunity continues NCCF’s long history of providing multi-year funding for critical capital projects at New Canaan based organizations, with a focus on work that will have significant impact on the town and its residents.

Amounts vary by project. Applications are due October 16, with an application update in mid-December, at which point applications may be advanced, moved back to the main grant cycle for one-year funding consideration, or declined. Site visits follow as applicable in February and March 2027, with decisions announced in May 2027.

Applicant info session

Given these new opportunities, NCCF invites all grant applicants, whether or not they are new to the grant cycle, to join a virtual Applicant Info Session on Friday, September 18 at 2 PM. The session will cover an overview of the three opportunities, the different application processes, and questions from attendees. For those who cannot attend, a recording will be posted on NCCF’s website in the days following.

Before you apply

Please read the 2026-27 Application Guidelines for more information about NCCF’s funding priorities and grantmaking process. Guidelines are available for each of the three opportunities.

Additional resources live at newcanaancf.org/apply-grants, and questions can go to Meg Soffen-Stadel at msoffen@newcanaancf.org.