Grants
Granting Impact
Since 1951, The Community Fund of Darien has granted nearly $30,000,000 to local nonprofits supporting the basic needs of our neighbors Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien. We grant funding to vital, nonprofit health and human services organizations that meet our Key Areas of Impact: Basic Needs, Community Health, Workforce Development, and Youth Success. Each nonprofit funded by The Community Fund is thoroughly vetted by our Grant Review Committee and trained volunteers who ensure that our donors' contributions are allocated to make the greatest impact.
Our grants provide access to food, housing, physical and mental healthcare, employment skills, youth success programs, and emergency services to our neighbors in need.
Key Areas of Impact
Basic Needs
Services that meet critical basic needs such as food, housing, and emergency financial assistance. Promote long-term stability of individuals and families through effective programs and services.
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Reduce food insecurity by improving access to nutritious, affordable food on a consistent basis.
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Move individuals and families from homelessness to stable housing by promoting access to housing options, emergency shelter, and collaborative case management.
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Provide emergency assistance programs to help residents attain financial and housing stability by helping fund requests for utilities and rent.
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Guide clients towards greater self-sufficiency through effective case management and innovative long-term solutions.
Workforce Development
Services that promote economic security and help individuals and families to move out of poverty. Through effective skills training and improved access to employers, workers are better prepared to obtain jobs that will lead to long-term self-sufficiency.
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Teach skills to ensure and retain employment or increase wages.
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Identify potential employers within growing industry sectors and promote networking and mentoring opportunities for the underserved community.
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Improve employment opportunities and economic independence through language skills, education, and employment resources.
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Promote employment opportunities and career pathways for post-secondary school, young adults.
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Expand opportunities to attain a college degree and support programs that help college persistence and graduation.
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Support financial independence for vulnerable populations.
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Support childcare and eldercare services to enable adults to work outside the home, supporting their families and the local economy.
Community Health
Services that improve outcomes and access to community-based physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment. Promote long-term independence and economic security through improved health initiatives.
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Improve access to community-based physical healthcare programs and preventative medicine.
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Improve access to mental health services, including youth mental health counseling and clinical services, to address increasing need.
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Improve access to substance abuse treatment programs and increase awareness of community resources for substance abuse prevention.
Youth Success
Services that aim to reduce the opportunity gap for children, birth through high school, and prepare youth for post-secondary education.
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Prepare young children for kindergarten by investing in and expanding affordable, high-quality early childhood care and education services.
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Enhance academic performance for underserved youth through literacy, STEM or tutoring programs.
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Prepare high school students for graduation and college readiness.
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Increase engagement through social emotional learning, mentorship, and consistent out-of-school enrichment activities.
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Promote leadership, independence, resiliency and positive asset development for youth.
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Connect youth and their families to support services.
Community Grant Review

"We do the research so you can be assured that your donation to The Community Fund is supporting the most impactful local nonprofits serving Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford."
- Lisa Haas, Grants Director
Community Grant Review is our annual process to evaluate nonprofit applicants to ensure that we are funding the most effective local nonprofit organizations. Approximatley 80 local volunteers contribute their time, expertise, and perspective to our due diligence efforts. Volunteers are placed on teams (panels) and are assigned 3-4 organizations to review. Volunteers will read applications, conduct site visits, and with their panel, complete an evaluation rubric for each organization. The panels will then present their findings and recommendations to The Community Fund of Darien's Community Grants Review.
Questions about our Grant Review Process or interested in volunteering on a Grant Review Panel? Please email Lisa Haas, Grants Director, at lisa.haas@communityfunddarien.org



How to Apply for a Grant
We invests in nonprofit health and human services organizations that:
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Address Basic Needs, Community Health, Workforce Development, and Youth Success (see our Key Areas of Impact for more detail).
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Provide services for individuals that are primarily residents of Darien, Norwalk and/or Stamford. We prioritize organizations which predominately serve our local catchment area.
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Clearly demonstrate outcomes and impact through key performance indicators and metrics, including specific data for program recipients in Darien, Norwalk and Stamford. We do not fund new or pilot programs.
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Can provide two years of audited financials.
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Adhere to a non-discrimination policy on the basis of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental disabilities, gender or national origin or any other characteristic protected by law in all aspects of organizational operations including hiring, leadership, and service provision.
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Are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Grants typically range from $5,000 to $45,000 and are awarded in July, after the end of The Community Fund of Darien's June fiscal year end.
The Community Fund of Darien will generally NOT consider grants in:
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Individuals
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Annual appeals or membership drives
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Fundraising events
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Capital campaigns
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Capital projects
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Religious activities, projects or organizations which do not serve the public on a nondenominational basis
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Political or lobbying efforts
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Endowment campaigns
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Scholarships
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Conference fees
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Research
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Environmental programs
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Arts or cultural programs
Application Process
If your organization or program serves residents of Stamford, Norwalk or Darien and meets all the Eligibility Requirements, The Community Fund of Darien encourages you to submit Part I of the application. Part I application will open on Tuesday, November 4 and will be due back on December 15, 2025.
Organizations submitting Part 1 of the application will be notified at the end of January 2026 if they are selected to submit the full application, which will be due back at the end of February. Grant applications must conform to the format and content specifications provided in the application form. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Community Fund of Darien may not approve a grant request even though it meets the established criteria.Community Grants are announced after the end of our June 30 fiscal year end and are distributed in July and January. The Community Fund of Darien reserves sole discretion to award or deny grants as it deems appropriate. Grantees will be required to submit a final (12-month) report detailing how funds were used.

























