DERBY — The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) is pleased to announce that $566,000 has been awarded to seven organizations as a result of its 2021 Responsive Grants process. These are multi-year grants that will help provide a reliable source of funding during a time of financial uncertainty.
“On behalf of the Valley Community Board of Directors, we are proud to serve as a trusted and meaningful source of long-term stability for the region’s nonprofits,” said Jack Walsh, VCF Board Chair. “As our community begins to emerge from unprecedented times, with widespread need and changes to the very way in which we go about daily life, many in our community still rely on the programs and services offered by Valley nonprofits. These organizations have continued to serve as lifelines for the individuals and families who have been affected by the pandemic and the region as a whole.”
Grants were awarded through VCF’s Responsive Grantmaking cycle, which is done with its partner in philanthropy, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven (TCF). The program is funded by a generous annual grant from TCF’s Gates and other field of interest funds, as well as VCF’s unrestricted and field of interest funds.
The Responsive Grant process is the only VCF grant program that offers a multi-year commitment. Multi-year grants deliver predictable financial stability to area nonprofits, something that is critical during COVID-19 recovery and while business-as-usual operations begin to resume across the region.
Responsive Grants from VCF are awarded to address a nonprofit’s operating, programmatic, or capacity building needs. This year, all seven grants were awarded for general operating support. This unrestricted funding is granted to nonprofit organizations with the flexibility to use dollars where they are needed the most. VCF has proudly supported numerous regional nonprofits throughout the years with this type of funding to make the Valley a better place for all.
The Derby Historical Society is one Valley nonprofit that is receiving a 2021 Responsive Grant from VCF. Executive Director, Daniel L. Bosques, said, “We are humbled to receive this grant from VCF. All of us at the Derby Historical Society are responsible for preserving the past and, in doing so, it is important to ensure that everyone has access to those stories. As a result of this support, we can invest time and resources towards creating exhibits that highlight our history and David Humphrey’s contributions to our early nation. We aim to engage audiences that would not typically visit historic sites so that we could share stories from our past with guests from underrepresented communities while also making it a fun, memorable experience.”
The following is a list of 2021 VCF Responsive Grant recipients:
Adam Wysota Foundation – To provide general operating support for grief education and peer support for children and their families in a home-like setting called Adam’s House. $71,000
Derby Historical Society – To provide general operating support to continue to provide more programs and to educate the public about local Valley history. $75,000
Griffin Hospital – To provide general operating support to assist the physicians, staff, and volunteers at Griffin Hospital who are dedicated to rendering care that encompasses the mind, body and spirit and emphasizes prevention and wellness. $90,000
Julia Day Nursery – To provide general operating support for quality childcare in a safe, warm, nurturing, environment where, in partnership with families, children can grow and learn. $90,000
Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County – To provide general operating support to help inspire and prepare young people with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a global economy. $100,000
Salvation Army, Greater Valley Corps – To provide general operating support for its Emergency Assistance program efforts. $90,000
Shelton Historical Society, Inc. – To provide general operating support to help preserve elements of the community’s history in order to create lasting and meaningful connections between Shelton’s past, present and future. $50,000
