For twenty-six years, Fund for the Northwest Corner (FNWC), an Area Fund of BTCF, has directed resources to programs that improve the quality of life for residents of 10 towns in northwest Litchfield County, Conn. This year, the fund launched its inaugural competitive grantmaking cycle, inviting local community-serving nonprofits to apply for funding. This created an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from the community and expand its grantmaking lens.
Aileen Meehan, BTCF’s Community Engagement Officer for Northwest Litchfield County, shares, “Through the organizations’ application proposals, a clear picture emerged of both the region’s most pressing needs and the gaps that remain. The importance of living wages, accessible childcare, after-school youth programs, and continued support for basic needs consistently surfaced as critical priorities.”
These priorities helped guide the decision-making process for FNWC’s advisory committee. Comprised of eight people with strong ties to the community, the committee reviewed twenty-one applications. Funding was approved for sixteen local nonprofits, totaling over $106K.
Kimberly Rock, a resident of Falls Village who serves on the FNWC committee, says the transition to a responsive, competitive grantmaking cycle marks an evolution of how the Fund can best meet its longstanding mission. While the Fund's focus has always been to respond strategically to emerging and pressing needs, a grant application process gives the committee firsthand insights from nonprofits. “It gives us a clearer understanding of what they’re seeing on the ground, and where our support can make the biggest difference.”
FNWC’s new approach is already yielding valuable discoveries the committee might not otherwise have access to. Committee member Mark Shearer of Taconic is excited about the new phase. “One of the most rewarding aspects of the process was discovering a number of smaller organizations doing exceptional work that many of us had not previously known.”
This year’s diverse slate of grantees reflects this new base of knowledge, with grants going to a balance of nonprofits providing a wide range of services that help keep the Northwest corner healthy. These nonprofits support community and school enrichment programs, food security, housing assistance, immigrant support, childcare, and transportation needs, and services for survivors of domestic violence.
