05/08/2026
Thank you Northwest CT Community Foundation
Local Nonprofits Receive Spring Boost: $283,200 from NCCF
Northwest CT Community Foundation (NCCF) has granted $283,200 to area nonprofit organizations in its first grant cycle of the year. NCCF awards discretionary grants to local nonprofits three times a year: early spring, late June, and November.
Noteworthy among the recent awards:
• Kent Library Association received $75,000 to support a major renovation and expansion of the Kent Memorial Library. (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund, and the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
“The Kent Memorial Library is honored to receive such a generous gift from NCCF,” said Sarah Marshall, Director of Kent Memorial Library. “We are now one step closer to realizing our fundraising goals for this long-awaited expansion and renovation. Supporting libraries is supporting communities, and Kent is lucky to have help from our friends at Northwest CT Community Foundation.”
• Friendly Hands Food Bank received $25,800 to support general operating expenses, including utilities, water, and sewer tax. (from the Lucia Tuttle Fritz Fund, the Margaret C. Tupper Fund, the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund, and the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)
“NCCF is one of the only grantors that allows for utilities and overhead expenses, which is unheard of when applying for much-needed funding,” said Karen Thomas, Executive Director of Friendly Hands Food Bank. “We are blessed that NCCF recognizes the struggles of local nonprofits and appreciate their diligence in making these funds available.”
The following is a comprehensive list of grants:
Artgarage received $3,000 to support the cost of maintaining expanded free after-school art enrichment programming from 3 to 4 days to meet demand. (from the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund, and the Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund)
Barkhamsted Historical Society received $8,000 to support the cost of a variety of programs and events in the town of Barkhamsted during 2026, celebrating the U.S. 250th anniversary. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)
Best Buddies Connecticut received $5,000 to support the Best Buddies Friendship and Leadership Development program, which creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and social inclusion for students with disabilities in Northwest CT. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Camp Workcoeman received $4,500 to support the purchase of 175 new cots (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, and the Milewski & Masisak Families Fund)
Chore Service received $20,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Karen M. O’Connor Fund, and an anonymous fund)
Community Health & Wellness Center of Greater Torrington received $10,000 to support the cost of a consultant to perform a full financial analysis of the organization's revenue and operating/benefit expenses to ensure long-term strength and sustainability in light of recent federal funding uncertainties. (from the Karen M. O’Connor Fund)
Cornwall Child Center received $9,000 to support a kitchen renovation. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
David M. Hunt Library received $1,500 to support the creation of a poetry enrichment program for middle school students and younger students at Lee H. Kellogg School. (from the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)
David M. Hunt Library on behalf of the NW CT Library Digital Navigation Collaborative received $3,850 to support the cost of a subscription to NorthStar Digital Literacy for the public libraries in Canaan/Falls Village, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. (from the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)
Falls Village Day Care Center received $12,200 to support the purchase of secure storage sheds to improve facility safety and emergency preparedness. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Friendly Hands Food Bank received $25,800 to support general operating expenses, including utilities, water, and sewer tax. (from the Lucia Tuttle Fritz Fund, the Margaret C. Tupper Fund, the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund, and the Barbara D. Lemmen Fund)
Housatonic Child Care Center received $10,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Housatonic Youth Service Bureau received $5,000 to support the Student Assistance Program, comprehensive mental health programs for youth and families. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Kent Affordable Housing received $10,000 to support Phase 2 pre-development costs for 13 new affordable apartments on town-donated land. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Kent Library Association received $75,000 to support a major renovation and expansion of the Kent Memorial Library. (from the Edwin M. Stone and Edith H. Stone Fund, and the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Litchfield Historical Society received $2,500 to support the fabrication and promotion of “Legends and Lore: Reconsidering Perspectives of the American Revolution,” part of the planned U.S. 250th anniversary celebration. (from the Miriam Mason Cable Trust Fund)
McCall Behavioral Health Network received $4,000 to support two 10-week Insight In-School Prevention group cycles at Explorations Charter School in Winsted. (from the Brian J. O’Neil Memorial Fund, and the Fund for Children and Families)
Music Mountain received $5,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
North Canaan Education Foundation received $7,200 to support increased staffing requirements mandated for licensed child care providers. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund, and the Robert Venn Carr, Jr. Fund)
Northwest Connecticut Arts Council received $3,000 to support an Automation Lab pilot program to identify high-burden administrative tasks at a local nonprofit, test solutions, and document ways to free staff time for mission-driven work. (from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund)
Northwest Conservation District received $3,500 to support the addition of more pollinator plants in the blueberry garden and continued agricultural education programming at the Beardsley Library in Winsted. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)
Northwestern CT YMCA received $3,000 to support Leaders Club, a youth leadership program open to youth ages 12-17 from Torrington, Winsted, and surrounding communities. (from the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund)
Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts received $6,150 to support Phase 1 development costs for a new jazz/ballet repertoire piece for stage and presentation in schools. (from an anonymous fund, and the Robert B. and Cheryl Freehill Pauls Fund)
Oliver Wolcott Library received $2,600 to support an early numeracy program as a complement to early literacy programming for 100 families, along with a screening of “Hopeville” with a panel discussion to highlight the literacy crisis. (from the Feliciano & Lydia Turri Zaccheo Fund)
Operation Fuel received $10,000 to support energy grants to low and moderate income families struggling to pay utility and oil bills. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund, and the Claire and Robert Dombi Fund)
River Rocks New Hartford by fiscal sponsor Connecticut Main Street Center received $1,000 to support River Rocks, a Celebration of the Farmington River on June 20, 2026. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund)
Susan B. Anthony Project received $10,000 to support a strategic plan for the next three years in response to significant federal funding cuts and shifting federal funding priorities. (from the Abraham & Joann Temkin Memorial Fund)
Sustainable CT received $5,000 to support placement of a college student at Northwest Hills Council of Governments to provide hands-on assistance to municipalities implementing Sustainable CT actions. (from the Marion Wm. & Alice Edwards Fund, and the Stephen J. Getz Memorial Fund for Community Service)
Torrington Area Families for Autism received $15,000 to support general operating expenses. (from the Carlton D. Fyler and Jenny R. Fyler Fund)
Town of Barkhamsted received $2,400 to support rebuilding 24 community garden beds. (from the Douglas and Janet Roberts Fund)
For more information visit yournccf.org
