Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

What Connecticut Council for Philanthropy does

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1969 that serves as the statewide convener for Connecticut's philanthropic sector. Headquartered in Hartford with a 3-person core staff (President Karla Fortunato, Communications Manager Toby Mathew, Operations Coordinator Tianna Glass-Tripp), the organization represents 21 community foundations plus corporate giving programs and family foundations, collectively responsible for approximately $1.3B in annual grantmaking and holding $9.5B in philanthropic assets. Membership is acquired through application based on a 3-year giving history in Connecticut, with dues set on a sliding scale tied to each member's total giving in the state.

The Council's product surface is organized around convening, professional development, and collaborative funding infrastructure. Core offerings include twelve peer networks (by function such as Communications, CEO, Corporate Giving, and Family Foundation), three issue-focused affinity groups (Health, Housing, Workforce), three multi-funder collaboratives (CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, Supporting Organizing Work-CT, and Fairfield County Funder Network), a public policy and advocacy program, a resource library, a fee-based job board, and an RFP/Opportunities Board. In 2024 the organization hosted 90+ events connecting 1,500+ attendees. The Council also serves as fiscal sponsor for the CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative and SOW-CT, embedding itself structurally in sector governance.

Revenue is generated primarily through sliding-scale membership dues (covering approximately 50% of the operating budget), voluntary Leadership Fund donations, job posting fees ($150–$275), and a newer $100 online learning course offering. The technology stack is entirely third-party — built on the YourMembership association management platform for member directory, event registration, authentication, and the job board, and on impala.digital for the recently launched (2025) Connecticut Mapped! data platform. The Council expanded from a small group of 7 local foundations in 1969 to statewide coverage in 1998, and continues to operate as an independent, member-governed nonprofit with no parent company or external controlling entity.

Name

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Legal name

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Website

https://ctphilanthropy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1969 that convenes Connecticut's philanthropic sector — 21 community foundations plus corporate and family funders — through peer networks, affinity groups, multi-funder collaboratives, professional development events, advocacy, and a job board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy Association Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Membership association services
• Philanthropy sector networking
• Professional development training
• Funder collaborative initiatives
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Sliding scale membership dues based on each organization's total giving in Connecticut averaged over the most recent 3-year period. Dues cover approximately 50% of operating budget. May be paid in the form of a grant.
2. Leadership Fund Donations: Voluntary contributions to support the organization's community work beyond membership dues.
3. Job Board Fees: Fee-based job posting service: Members free for 45 days, $150 for 90 days; Non-members $150 for 45 days, $275 for 90 days. Nonprofits may post leadership positions for a fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is a statewide nonprofit membership association that connects, supports, and represents grantmakers and philanthropic organizations in Connecticut. It sells sliding-scale membership to foundations, corporate giving programs, and family foundations, and delivers peer networks, affinity groups, multi-funder collaboratives, professional development events, advocacy support, a sector job board, and a resource library as part of its member offering.

Product overview

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy operates as a membership-based nonprofit association serving grantmakers across Connecticut. The organization provides a unified platform of services centered on membership programs, professional development, peer networking, and collaborative funding initiatives. Core offerings include affinity groups (Health, Housing, Workforce), collaboratives (CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative, Supporting Organizing Work-CT), peer networks by function (Communications, CEO, Corporate Giving, Family Foundation), a job board, resource library with publications and guides, public policy advocacy support, and the Connecticut Mapped! data platform launched in 2025. The Council also offers events and training, RFP/opportunity sharing, and online learning programs. The organization does not sell a commercial software product; rather it provides member services powered by YourMembership membership management software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative (CT ECFC): A philanthropic collaborative dedicated to creating an early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities, and the workforce in Connecticut.
• Supporting Organizing Work-CT (SOW-CT)
• Connecticut Mapped!

Products and services

• Council Membership Program Sliding-scale membership for Connecticut grantmakers (community foundations, corporate giving programs, family foundations) that connects funders to peer networks, learning programs, advocacy, and collaborative opportunities across the state.
• Events and Training

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.3B annually granted by members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CT Early Childhood Funder CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Project of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy; the Council serves as fiscal sponsor and manager. Founded in 2011, comprises 21 funders dedicated to creating an early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities, and workforce in Connecticut.
• Supporting Organizing Work-CT (SOW-CT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA funders collaborative that believes community organizing is a process that builds collective power and leadership among community members to bring about systemic and structural change for social and racial justice. The Connecticut Council for Philanthropy serves as fiscal sponsor.
• Point32Health FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMade a commitment to invest $15 million over five years to support community-driven initiatives across New England, highlighted through Council news.
• Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational collaborative working to protect renters and prevent homelessness. Featured speaker Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie presented at Housing Affinity Group meeting.
• Neighborhood Funders GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured speaker Chimene Okere presented on how funders are organizing to support community-centered housing and democratic ownership of land.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations providing advocacy, training, and resources. Comparable in mission (sector-wide advocacy and capacity building) and structure (state affiliates providing member services) to Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, though focused on operating nonprofits rather than grantmakers specifically.
• Council on Foundations: National membership association for philanthropic organizations, foundations, and corporate giving programs. Direct category peer as a membership-based grantmaker association, though operating at a much larger national scale than Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's state-level focus.
• United Way Worldwide: A federated giving organization that mobilizes workplace giving and community philanthropy across local United Ways. Comparable in structure to the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's role as an umbrella coordinating funders and distributing collaborative impact, though operating as a public-facing fundraising brand rather than a membership association for grantmakers.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar): Major nonprofit data and research organization providing foundation grants databases and nonprofit transparency tools. Directly comparable to Connecticut Mapped! and the Council's Resource Library, but at vastly larger national scale and as a for-purpose data infrastructure provider.

Direct peers

• Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers: National network of regional philanthropic associations, of which the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy is a regional member. Direct peer operating the same membership-based model connecting foundations at the regional level.

Peers

• Independent Sector:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTphilanthropy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-council-for-philanthropy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connecticut Council for Philanthropy