The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

What The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut does

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CFECT) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1983 and headquartered at 68 Federal Street, New London, Connecticut. It functions as a regional community foundation serving 42 towns and cities across New London, Windham, and Tolland Counties, stewarding more than 570 charitable funds with total assets above $120 million and having awarded over $98-100 million in cumulative grants and scholarships since inception. The foundation's operations span donor-advised fund management, scholarship administration, planned-giving counsel, and competitive grantmaking across six priority focus areas: early childhood care and education, youth development and empowerment, affordable/safe/inclusive housing, high-quality/affordable healthcare, women's and girls' empowerment, and environmental resilience.

CFECT operates a community-led go-to-market model, serving three primary constituencies: individual and family donors seeking to establish charitable funds, nonprofit organizations seeking capacity-building and program funding, and students pursuing higher education through its scholarship programs. The technology backbone consists of Foundant/CSuite (fcsuite.com) for donor and fundholder management, GrantInterface (grantinterface.com) for grant and scholarship applications, and a dedicated scholarships portal. These are commercial, off-the-shelf nonprofit SaaS platforms rather than proprietary technology builds. The organization maintains a small professional staff of 1-10 employees (CEO Maryam Elahi, VP Megan Brown, Program Director Jennifer O'Brien, Director of Donor Relations Geoffrey Taylor, Director of Development Lauren C. Parda) supported by a volunteer Board of Trustees chaired by Catherine Marrion.

CFECT's revenue model is donor contributions rather than traditional commercial sales: it receives charitable gifts (cash, stocks, IRA distributions, life insurance, bequests) from donors establishing named funds, manages those assets under a published socially responsible investment policy, charges undisclosed fund management fees, and distributes grants and scholarships through competitive cycles and donor recommendations. Recent activity includes $2.6 million in equity-centered grants in 2024, $1.2 million in scholarships to 278 students in 2025-2026, and stewardship of the End Child Poverty Now statewide advocacy coalition with 120+ partner organizations.

Name

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Legal name

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Website

https://cfect.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CFECT) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1983 and based in New London, CT. It stewards 570+ charitable funds totaling $120M+ in assets across 42 towns in Eastern Connecticut, providing donor-advised fund management, competitive grantmaking across six focus areas, and scholarship administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Charitable fund management
• Donor advised funds
• Scholarship administration

Headquarters

HQ city

New London

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Giving and Donations: The foundation receives charitable gifts from individuals, families, and organizations who establish donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, and endowment funds. Donors contribute cash, stocks, charitable IRA distributions, life insurance policies, and other assets. The foundation manages these funds and distributes grants and scholarships on behalf of donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut is a regional community foundation that stewards more than 570 charitable funds totaling over $120 million in assets on behalf of individual, family, and organizational donors across 42 towns in Eastern Connecticut. It receives charitable contributions, professionally invests and manages them, and distributes competitive grants to nonprofit organizations, scholarships to local students, and advocacy resources across six priority focus areas. The foundation also operates equity-centered initiatives such as the End Child Poverty Now coalition, the Women & Girls Fund, and the Fund for Racial Justice.

Product overview

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut operates as a philanthropic hub offering charitable fund management, competitive grantmaking, and scholarship distribution services. The organization stewards over 570 charitable funds totaling $120 million in assets and has awarded more than $100 million in grants and scholarships since 1983. Core offerings include donor-advised funds, planned giving instruments, and competitive grant programs across six focus areas: early childhood care, youth development, housing, health care, women's empowerment, and environmental resilience. Notable named initiatives include the End Child Poverty Now advocacy campaign, the Women & Girls Fund, the Fund for Racial Justice, and the Brighter Futures Fund, alongside traditional scholarship and systems-change grant programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• End Child Poverty Now: A campaign stewarded by the Community Foundation in partnership with 100+ organizations statewide to address child poverty through policy advocacy.

Products and services

• Grantmaking Services Competitive and responsive grant programs supporting nonprofit organizations in Eastern Connecticut across six priority focus areas: early childhood care, youth development, housing, health care, women's empowerment, and environmental resilience.
• Scholarship Programs Scholarship awards to students in the 42-town service area, including multi-year and one-time grants for post-secondary education. The 2025–2026 cycle awarded $1.2 million to 278 students from 34 towns; more than $13 million has been awarded to 4,000+ students since 1983.
• Donor-Advised Funds Charitable giving vehicles allowing donors to establish named funds for immediate or legacy giving, with professional investment management and grant distribution support by the foundation.
• Planned Giving Services Strategic counsel on Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, and other major gift vehicles to support nonprofit partners and donor legacy planning.
• Systems Change Grants Multi-year grant awards targeting root causes of systemic challenges including housing affordability and child poverty, with inaugural awards of $305,765 over two years to Access Community Action Agency and Partnership for Strong Communities.
• End Child Poverty Now Campaign Statewide advocacy coalition stewarded by CFECT with 120+ partner organizations working to advance a Child Tax Credit, universal school meals, housing stability protections, and nutrition assistance programs in Connecticut.
• Women & Girls Fund Themed fund supporting initiatives that empower women and girls to make positive life decisions, build healthy relationships, and overcome systemic barriers including domestic violence and economic insecurity; awarded over $350,000 in grants in 2025.
• Environmental Resilience Initiative Grants and programs supporting environmental conservation, watershed health, climate justice, and animal welfare in Eastern Connecticut, including more than $6.1 million in grants funded by the Peter Letz and Janvrin Sisters bequests.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.2 million in scholarships awarded to 278 students for 2025-2026 academic year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, notable, minor and flagship.

• The Neighbor FundmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Awarded $100,000 inaugural grant from Fund for Racial Justice to provide immigrants in the Windham area with legal assistance and other types of support. First grant recipient from newly endowed Fund for Racial Justice.
• Integrated Refugee & Immigrant ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Awarded $10,000 inaugural grant to assist immigrants in eastern Connecticut. Organization has lost significant federal funding and CFECT support helps maintain services.
• Immigration and Advocacy Support CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Awarded $10,000 inaugural grant to assist immigrants in eastern Connecticut through the Fund for Racial Justice.
• Access Community Action AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Awarded $200,000 over two years to re-imagine pathways to homeownership for families in Northeastern Connecticut. Partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce to bring homeownership counseling services, education and support to Windham County. Hosts financial literacy workshops and convenes regional stakeholders in real estate, mortgage, banking and housing development sectors.
• Partnership for Strong CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Awarded $105,765 to engage with youth and traditionally underserved families to conduct comprehensive analysis of community housing needs and support advocacy for families facing housing insecurity in Norwich. Works with NAACP Robertsine Youth Council, Norwich Free Academy Office of Diversity, Norwich Public Schools, and Sankofa Education and Leadership on housing opportunity initiatives.
• Audubon ConnecticutnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Awarded $80,000 for Increasing Diversity in Conservation program to provide paid employment in environmental conservation for youth while enhancing forest and coastal habitats to benefit threatened bird species.
• Habitat for HumanitynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Access Community Action Agency to bring homeownership counseling services to Windham County as part of homeownership education initiatives.
• United Way of ConnecticutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition partner in End Child Poverty Now campaign. CEO Lisa Tepper Bates participates in legislative advocacy and coalition discussions on child poverty solutions.
• Connecticut Voices for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition partner providing policy expertise and advocacy for children and families in Connecticut. Special Assistant Carmen Clarkin involved in End Child Poverty Now coalition.
• CT Early Childhood AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition partner focused on early childhood education and care issues. Executive Director Merrill Gay advocates for universal school meals and childcare policies.
• Community Foundation of Greater New HavennotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in End Child Poverty Now coalition. President & CEO Karen DuBois-Walton participated in legislative advocacy events at State Capitol.
• CT Community FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in End Child Poverty Now coalition. President & CEO Kathy Taylor participated in legislative advocacy events.
• Northwest CT Community FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in End Child Poverty Now coalition. President & CEO Guy Rovezzi participated in legislative advocacy events.
• Partnership for Strong CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Coalition partner focused on housing policy. Executive Director Chelsea Ross advocates for just-cause eviction protections and rental assistance funding.
• CT Fair HousingnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Grant recipient working on civil rights enforcement for communities of color and fair housing advocacy.
• Eastern CT Housing Opportunities (ECHO)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Grant recipient addressing housing insecurity in Eastern Connecticut.
• New London Homeless Hospitality CenternotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Grant recipient providing shelter and services for adults facing homelessness. CFECT sponsors the Annual Walk to End Homelessness.
• Sankofa Education and LeadershipnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in community mural project in Greeneville. Vice Chair Shiela Hayes involved in capturing immigrant history and Norwich community heritage.
• Norwich NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth CouncilnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in community initiatives including mural project and housing advocacy work.
• Norwich Public UtilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner providing site for community mural on substation in Greeneville neighborhood.
• The DaynotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Local newspaper receiving $30,000 grant from CFECT to fund the Imminent Horizons environmental journalism project covering climate and energy issues in southeastern Connecticut.
• End Child Poverty Now CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Coalition of 120+ organizations working to end child poverty in Connecticut through policy advocacy for child tax credit, universal school meals, housing stability, and nutrition assistance. Led by CFECT with partners including Connecticut Voices for Children, CT Early Childhood Alliance, United Way of Connecticut, and other statewide organizations.
• Connecticut College (Holleran Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership since 2020 to fund community internships for students through the Summer Civic Leaders program. Students intern with nonprofits serving New London residents, gaining hands-on experience tackling local real-world challenges. The program has placed students with organizations addressing education, employment, health, homelessness, and racism at a local level. Each student receives a $2,000 stipend plus housing and food.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Foundation of Greater New Haven: Another Connecticut community foundation serving a defined geographic region with donor-advised funds, competitive grantmaking, and scholarship programs. Already a coalition partner with CFECT in End Child Poverty Now, making it a directly comparable peer in scope and model.
• Connecticut Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills region of Connecticut with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund services. Also a current CFECT coalition partner, providing an apples-to-apples comparison of community foundation scale and operations in Connecticut.
• Northwest CT Community Foundation: Community foundation serving Litchfield County, Connecticut with donor-advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grantmaking. Active End Child Poverty Now coalition partner with CFECT and operates an almost identical model at a smaller regional scale.
• Hartford Foundation for Public Giving: Connecticut's largest community foundation, serving the Greater Hartford region with substantially greater AUM than CFECT. Provides a benchmark for what scaled community foundation operations, staffing, and grantmaking capacity look like in the same state.
• Fairfield County's Community Foundation: Community foundation serving Fairfield County, Connecticut with donor-advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grantmaking. Comparable in structure and service model to CFECT but operating in a wealthier catchment area, useful for benchmarking donor and AUM dynamics.

Regional players

• Maine Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund services but serving rural Maine. Comparable organizational structure and rural/regional service model, though operating in a different geographic market from CFECT.
• Vermont Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation offering donor-advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grants across Vermont. Highly comparable in scale and rural/regional focus, though serving a different New England geography.
• New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: Statewide community foundation in New Hampshire with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund programs. Useful peer for benchmarking community foundation performance in small/rural New England states.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Foundation: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S., serving Greater Boston. Operates the same community foundation model at significantly greater scale, representing the upper bound of what CFECT could grow into as AUM and program scope expand.
• Fidelity Charitable: The largest U.S. donor-advised fund sponsor and the dominant alternative to community foundations for donors seeking DAF vehicles. Represents the primary competitive threat to CFECT's donor-advised fund and planned giving services, particularly for high-net-worth and tech-savvy donors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityFoundationofEasternConnecticut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-foundation-of-eastern-connecticut
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityfoundationect
• Xx.com/cfectnews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut