A survey conducted by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy suggests that most of the state’s funders will give less in 2009. Fifty-three percent of the council’s members who responded to the 2008 Connecticut Funder Economic Impact Survey expect a decrease in next year’s budget.
“The survey results reinforce the expectation that there will be several difficult years of a very competitive funding environment for the nonprofit sector,” said council president Nancy Roberts.
Other funder survey findings include:
• Of those who responded, most project cuts of 15 percent or less.
• 34 percent expect their budgets will be unchanged.
• 44 percent expect to make fewer but larger grants.
Many funders see an increased need for capacity-building programs and operating support for nonprofits.
Roberts said the council is increasing funder meetings around the state and has created a Web resource page in response to the worsening economic climate. A meeting with state commissioners is also planned for mid-February, she added.
Hands On Hartford has received a $314,494 grant from Connecticut Light & Power to build new housing for the homeless. The money will be used to help fund Retreat Apartments, a $4.5 million proposed development that will serve men and women who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS.
“Because the first funding commitment for a project can be the hardest grant to secure, we are particularly pleased to receive this leadership award from CL&P. We hope that their support will also inspire others,” said Paul Christie, executive director of Hands On Hartford, Inc. The nonprofit needs to raise $1 million on its own in order to secure the rest of the project funds from the state of Connecticut.
With the awarding of $222,754 in fourth-quarter grants and scholarships, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has concluded its 2008 grant-making year, having awarded $821,124 to a variety of nonprofit programs, organizations, initiatives and deserving scholarship students throughout Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington.
As a result of its Pink Ribbon Bagel Campaign to help increase breast cancer awareness, Panera Bread bakery-cafes in West Hartford and Glastonbury recently donated a check in the amount of $562.50 to the University of Connecticut’s Health Center’s Navigator Cancer Care Program in Farmington The money was raised from the sale of Pink Ribbon Bagels for breakfast, lunch or dinner during national Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Twenty-five cents from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold at the two bakery-cafes went to the cause.
More than 50 Santas descended on downtown Hartford Dec. 13 for the third annual Revenge of The Santas Pub Crawl to benefit the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. “We had more Santas participate than ever before,” said Kevin O’Connell, who coordinates the annual fundraiser. “Donations are still coming in but we expect to raise at least $3,500.” Participating establishments included Black Bear Saloon, Pig’s Eye Pub, City Steam Brewery and Vaughan’s Public House.
