CT Community Foundation, Litchfield County

As spotted by intrepid seeker of knowledge and CT State Library web resources librarian Sharon Clapp.

The Connecticut Community Foundation awards sponsorship grants of up to $2,500 to libraries, historical societies, and arts, cultural, and environmental organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or public entities for one-time programs, symposia, or events open to the public. Your event must be held in their 21-town CCF service area (see below for a list).

Sponsorship grants are limited to one per current calendar year per organization. Info and application.

Deadline: May 11.

Visit www.conncf.org/sponsorships for details.

FYI, grants are also available from the Community Basic Needs Fund; the Earl and Shirley Herbst Eye Research Fund, the Priscilla S. Whittemore Fund for international group travel programs for youth, and the Women’s Initiative Fund & Lois Livingston McMillen Memorial Fund, to provide funding for programs and services for women and children.

For more information, call the foundation at 203-753-1315, or e-mail grants@conncf.org.

• Beacon Falls
• Bethlehem
• Bridgewater
• Cheshire
• Goshen
• Litchfield
• Middlebury
• Morris
• Naugatuck
• New Milford
• Oxford
• Prospect
• Roxbury
• Southbury
• Thomaston
• Warren
• Washington
• Waterbury
• Watertown
• Wolcott
• Woodbury

IMLS grant: Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums

These grants support the planning and designing of up to 30 Learning Labs in libraries and museums throughout the country. The Labs are intended to engage middle- and high-school youth in mentor-led, interest-based, youth-centered, collaborative learning using digital and traditional media. Grantees will be required to participate, in-person and online, in a community of practice that will provide technical assistance, networking, and cross-project learning. Projects are expected to provide prototypes for the field and be based on current research about digital media and youth learning.


Deadline:     June 15, 2012
Grant Amount:     up to $100,000
Grant Period:     18 months
Matching Requirement:  Cost sharing of at least one third is encouraged, but not required

See the program site for more details.


IMLS invites applicants to participate in one of two pre-application Web conferences to learn more about the program, ask questions, and listen to the questions and comments of other participants.

The Web conference schedule for the FY13 Grants for Learning Labs in Libraries and Museums program is:

    Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 12 noon PT/3 pm ET-1 pm PT/4 pm ET
    Thursday, May 23, 2012, at 11 am PT/2 pm ET-12 noon PT/3 pm ET

Register for the May 9 webinar by clicking this link.

Chelsea Groton Foundation for S.E. CT

The Chelsea Groton Foundation, established by Chelsea Groton Bank, is accepting grant applications. They serve New London County/SE CT.

The Foundation’s aim is to support those organizations which improve the quality of life for those in need in the local communities. Grants will only be made for charitable purposes to existing non-profit organizations. 

Awards seem to be on the small side, between $1 to 5K.

Deadline: August 31, 2012