Archive for February, 2023

The Guilford Foundation Announces $135,000 Available Through Competitive Grant Process

February 24th, 2023

The Guilford Foundation (TGF) announced it would distribute $135,000 through its competitive grantmaking process. Last year, TGF awarded 22 competitive grants to community-serving organizations, ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, with an average award of $5,000.

The application deadline is March 10, 2023; guidelines are available on TGF’s website.

To address the community’s ever-changing needs and increase impact, TGF builds flexibility into the process to evolve its guiding principles year-to-year. The Community Investment Committee’s 2023 grantmaking theme is community wellbeing. Take a look at our areas of focus by clicking here.

All non-profit organizations whose services support Guilford and The Guilford Foundation’s 2023 priorities are encouraged to submit a grant application. The review process is rigorous; all applications are thoughtfully read by the Community Investment Committee with the goal of making the most significant impact in the community.

“Our focus is competitive grantmaking. As we read the 2022 grant recipient reports, we’re reminded of the impact of our funding,” explained Executive Directory Liza Janssen Petra. “Whether it’s outpatient mental health programs, a nursery school nature center, support for women in crisis, reinvigorating the Shoreline Special Olympics program, school supplies for low-income families, or free hot meals, the grants improve the quality of life for many residents.”
Grant Submission Recommendations

The Guilford Foundation seeks grants that enhance the quality of life for the community. Applications should align their need with a focus area and demonstrate the potential impact on the organization, project, community, or persons served.

Before beginning a 2023 grant application, organizations should carefully review the guidelines on The Guilford Foundation website. TGF recorded its 2023 Grant Application Workshop, which provides insight into the process and 2023 priorities. Email Program Director Jennifer Mullett at jmullett@guilfordfoundation.org to receive a link to view.

Petra added, “We’re proud to address the emerging needs that impact the lives of our residents. A heartfelt thanks to those who generously support The Guilford Foundation’s mission to connect people who care with the causes that matter to them.”

Fappiano Family Fund for Special Needs Gives Donation to Gavin and Friends by Sarah Tuxis

February 21st, 2023

The Fappiano Family Fund for Special Needs is one of our 67 charitable funds established by community members to support a cause that matters. The youngest generation of Fappianos presented a donation to Linda Toscano, the project founder of Gavin and Friends. She is transforming a house near the Guilford Green into a site for a day program for adults with disabilities in collaboration with Sarah Tuxis.

Christine and Tony Fappiano established their donor-advised fund in 2018 to support individuals with special needs relating to cognitive disabilities, including autism, Down Syndrome, and other disabilities, who require assistance to live a full and vibrant life. Over the year, they’ve given generously to many organizations that support individuals with disabilities.

Learn more about the Fappiano Family Fund for Special Needs

Donate to the Fappiano Family Fund for Special Needs

Learn about the Gavin and Friends by Sarah Tuxis Day Program for Adults with Disabilities

Three Community Leaders Join The Guilford Foundation Board

February 14th, 2023

The Guilford Foundation (TGF) welcomes Sarah Blanton, Linda Fan, and Stacy Votto to its Board of Directors. These accomplished leaders bring exceptional expertise, insight, and community understanding.

"Our Board plays a critical role for the Foundation, as they drive our grant-making and sponsorship awards, strategic planning, governance, and community leadership," explained Liza Janssen Petra, Executive Director of The Guilford Foundation. "Sarah, Linda, and Stacy are engaged community members that have each resided in town for more than a decade. They add diverse personal and professional experiences that will inform our priorities and advance our philanthropic initiatives."

Sarah Blanton brings 20+ years of non-profit sector experience in various roles, including school leader, fundraiser, and administrator. She is currently the CEO of 4-CT, a non-profit organization that empowers Connecticut residents to improve their lives by giving them agency to make their own decisions with direct cash assistance. Before Sarah’s current job, she held a leadership role with Achievement First Charter School Network and had a teaching and research fellowship in Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law. Sarah has served on several boards, including in Guilford A Better Chance, Horizons at the Foote School, the Brother Carl Hardrick Institute, and the New Haven Age Group Track Club, where her two children run.

Linda Fan, M.D. is a gynecologic surgeon and has been working to improve patient care within the Yale Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine since she arrived in Guilford in 2012. Through her roles as the Chief of Gynecology and Director of Gynecologic Quality and Safety, she has led numerous educational and safety throughout the Yale New Haven Hospital System to enhance physicians’ ability to provide patient-centered care. She has won numerous teaching awards, has served on multiple hospital committees, and is particularly interested in health equity. Outside work, Linda supports her two sons’ love for soccer and uses travel to expand her children’s global awareness. She enjoys outdoor life in New England on the water, hiking, mountain biking, or skiing.

Stacy Votto is an attorney and serves as General Counsel for Central Connecticut State University. Before joining CCSU, she was a founding partner at a law firm in New Haven. She has over 19 years of experience in litigation, transactional, and administrative law matters. Previously, she sat on the Board of Directors for both the New Haven County Bar Association and the Board of its sister organization, the Foundation of the New Haven County Bar. Currently, Stacy coaches 8th-grade girls basketball and plays in the town volleyball league.

"Since joining the Board, I have seen first-hand the scale and community impact of The Guilford Foundation. It supports a wide range of non-profit organizations that help so many residents, whether it’s basic needs and mental health or early education tuition assistance and town social service programs," commented Fan. "Speaking on behalf of Stacy and Sarah, we are honored to be a part of this storied organization and look forward to doing our part to enrich the quality of life in Guilford."

Petra added, "We’re excited to have these three impressive women serving on our Board, representing the needs and interests of the community. They will be instrumental in helping us expand our impact, advance equity, and address Guilford’s evolving challenges and opportunities with innovative solutions."

Page 1 of 11