The Quinnipiac River is home to an array of aquatic plants and animals, as well as waterfowl like the white heron. Learn more about The Quinnipiac River at www.thequinnipiacriver.com

Grants Support Research into the Sources and Effects of River Contaminants an Anti-Pollution Public Education Campaign, and the Continued Development of a Recreational Trail along the River's Edge.

New Haven, CT (March 28, 2016) – The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is pleased to announce that $117,700 in grants has been awarded from the Quinnipiac River Fund to support 8 programs that study and restore the river and surrounding ecosystem, provide education and improve recreational access. 

The River flows 40 miles from west of New Britain southward to Plainville, Southington, west of Meriden, Cheshire, through Wallingford, Yalesville, North Haven and into New Haven Harbor.

“The Quinnipiac River historically had many industries on its banks that discharged their waste, metals and chemicals into it, so it is now taking much effort to get the river clean once again,” said Nancy Alderman, chair of the Quinnipiac River Fund’s advisory committee. “The grants for this year will once again contribute to the ongoing work of restoring the river’s health.” 

Grants and distributions from the Quinnipiac River Fund are recommended each Spring by the advisory committee consisting of Alderman, President of Environment and Human Health, Inc.,  Gordon Geballe, Associate Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Roman Zajac, Professor, Department Chair of the University of New Haven’s Department of Biology & Environmental Science. Committee recommendations are brought to The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors for approval. Since being established in 1990, the Fund has distributed $2 million in grants. 

Learn more about the Quinnipiac River and projects supported by the Quinnipiac River Fund, along with the history of the river and recreational opportunities at www.thequinnipiacriver.com. 

The Quinnipiac River Fund is a component fund of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. It was established in 1990 by a court settlement of litigation between the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, the Natural Resource Defense Council and the Upjohn Company concerning wastewater discharges from Upjohn’s plant in North Haven.  The settling parties agreed that distributions from the Fund were to be used “to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River and the New Haven Harbor and the watersheds of these water bodies, and otherwise to benefit the environment of these resources.” 

Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven awarded over $30 million in grants and distributions in 2015 from charitable assets of more than $500 million and composed of hundreds of individually named funds. In addition to its grantmaking, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by taking measures to improve student achievement, create healthy families in New Haven, promote local philanthropy through www.giveGreater.org® and The Great Give®, and encourage better understanding of the region. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20 town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. For more information, visit www.cfgnh.org or follow The Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.org/cfgnh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cfgnh).

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven announces The Great Give^® 2016, The Foundation’s seventh community-wide online giving event to raise funds for local nonprofits serving Greater New Haven. Over a 36-hour period from May 3 at 8:00 am to May 4 at 8:00 pm, gifts made to over 400 participating nonprofits will be eligible to be matched; more than $190,000 in matching funds and prizes for nonprofits is available. Grand prizes will be awarded to the nonprofits that attract the most number of individual donors ($15,000), get the greatest number of new donors ($10,000), raise the most money ($5,000) and more. Gifts will be matched on a pro-rated basis with additional funds by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Valley Community Foundation. Local businesses and corporations, including Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Liberty Bank Foundation and others, are offering prize and match money during the 36 hours. Additional features for donors have been added. A list of participating nonprofits, prizes and rules is online at www.thegreatgive.org. 

The Great Give^® is the annual giving online event on giveGreater.org^®, a local resource for learning and giving created in 2010 by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to increase philanthropy in the Greater New Haven region of South Central Connecticut. Since its beginning giveGreater.org^® has distributed over $4 Million to local nonprofits. Donors wishing to support their favorite cause or charity can visit giveGreater.org^® to find information on local nonprofits, including their mission, governance, programs, financials and community impact. Donors can also stay connected by visiting www.facebook.com/givegreater and following @givegreater on Twitter. The Great Give^® 2016 is being held in conjunction with Give Local America’s day of giving.

Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven awarded over $30 million in grants and distributions in 2015 from charitable assets of more than $500 million and composed of hundreds of individually named funds. In addition to its grantmaking, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by taking measures to improve student achievement, create healthy families in New Haven, promote local philanthropy through www.giveGreater.org^® and The Great Give^®, and encourage better understanding of the region. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20 town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. For more information, visit www.cfgnh.org or follow The Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.org/cfgnh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cfgnh).

As a nonprofit, community based dance school, New Haven Ballet (NHB) offers classical ballet training to a many throughout the City of New Haven.

“We provide the highest caliber of classical ballet training in the region,” says Artistic Director Lisa Sanborn.

Boasting a roster of 500 students, from 3 – 18 years old, some of these students practice up to 6 days a week perfecting their skills.

“They are tremendous athletes. They cross train, very seriously, but they’re also artists,” says Sanborn. “It’s really something very special that we are looking for in these students.”

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Board member recruitment is never an easy task. But let's say your nonprofit is successful in identifying a candidate, is the criteria for selection singularly a set of skills, knowledge, expertise and lens that make the candidate the "right" fit? I would propose there to be one more element: passion for mission. And how to measure or determine passion? While action (lots of experience or knowledge about the mission is an indicator of passion, I pose that the candidate's understanding of the organization's theory of change would be a clear indicator of fit.

Theory of Change answers three questions: what is the issue, concern or interest that calls for action; what is the solution or action around this issue; and what is the desired result? If a prospective candidate's answers or perspective to these 3 questions is consistent with the board's, fit is highly likely. If the candidate does not have any perspective consistent with the board's own collective declaration of responses to these questions, then the candidate, in my opinion, is likely not a good fit. As an indicator, an individual's understanding of and willing to engage around the theory of change will assure the rest of the board that a future partner has been identified.

Less than a decade ago, before the dramatic and sadly increasing disparity between "the haves" and "the have-nots" (now an issue in the presidential campaign), luxury brands typically dispersed their giving to a wide range of nonprofits: culture, education, health and a range of social service organizations all doing good in many creative and altruistic ways. The luxury brands that gave, a generous percentage of their marketing budgets did little to promote (many thought “tout”) their good corporate citizenship...

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/269739/wake-up-call-for-nonprofits.html ;

Are you a good listener who enjoys being with other people? Have you been looking for a way to have an impact on someone else’s life? If so, please consider becoming a volunteer for Regional Hospice and Home Care. 

Hospice Volunteers are needed in the New Haven area as Regional Hospice and Home Care expands its services becoming the exclusive hospice provider at the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven.

Training will be provided. After training, the volunteer’s schedule is flexible.

Interested applicants should contact Mary Beth Hickey (MHickey@RegionalHospiceCT.org / 203-702-7415) or complete a volunteer application on our website: https://regionalhospicect.org/volunteer/online-volunteer-application/

Thank you for your consideration!

Regional Hospice and Home Care’s team of experienced clinicians have been providing physical, emotional, spiritual and bereavement support to children, adults and their families through our palliative and hospice care program for the past 30 years. Regional Hospice and Home Care is a nonprofit, state-licensed and Medicare-certified home health care and hospice agency. Now, with the opening of our new private-room, specialty hospital for palliative and end-of-life care — the Center for Comfort Care & Healing — Regional Hospice and Home Care can bring that same hope and compassionate care close to home and under one roof. For more information, visit www.RegionalHospiceCT.org. Follow us on twitter: @RegionalHospice. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RegionalHospiceandHomeCare.  

Naugatuck Valley Community College Nursing Class of 2016. Photo courtesy of CT League for Nursing.

There are a myriad of different options when choosing a nursing career and the Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) is ready and available to help individuals make informed decisions about their futures.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the region’s permanent endowment and largest grantmaker to area nonprofits, invites local nonprofits to participate in The Great Give® 2016.

Participating nonprofits can earn special prizes in addition to the donations given online by individuals. The Great Give® 2016 is the seventh major community-wide giving event on giveGreater.org®, taking place for 36 hours starting 8:00 am on May 3rd and ending 8:00 pm on May 4th. More than $170,000 in matching dollars and prizes will be provided by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Valley Community Foundation, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Liberty Bank Foundation and other generous community sponsors.

Nonprofit organizations serving the region and that are interested in participating must register by April 1, 2016 at www.thegreatgive.org or by calling 203-777-2386; eligibility requirements apply.

Businesses interested in supporting the nonprofit community through prize sponsorship are asked to contact Sharon Cappetta, Director of Development, at 203-777-7071.

Thanks to the generosity of three generations of donors, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven awarded over $30 million in grants and distributions in 2015 from charitable assets of more than $500 million and composed of hundreds of individually named funds. In addition to its grantmaking, The Community Foundation helps build a stronger community by taking measures to improve student achievement, create healthy families in New Haven, promote local philanthropy through www.giveGreater.org® and The Great Give®, and encourage better understanding of the region. The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven’s 20 town service area includes: Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. For more information, visit www.cfgnh.org or follow The Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo courtesy of FISH of Greater New Haven Inc.

Volunteers for FISH of Greater New Haven Inc. deliver free bags of food to more than 1,100 homebound individuals in New Haven and surrounding areas every month. This includes 350 families, 75% of which include elderly and children.

“We deliver to people who are homebound or going through some type of hardship,” says FISH Executive Director Joy Johannes. “For instance, they’ve had a surgery and it’s difficult to get to the grocery story, they have a child who’s going through a major medical treatment, they’re elderly, they’re handicapped.”

Read more here. 

Mrs. Joseph Sheffield, in the picture, was the first President of the all women Board of Managers of the Home For the Friendless, now known as Mary Wade Home. The Home began in 1866, following the Civil War, when a group of ladies representing the Churches of New Haven, were inspired to begin a program to aid women and children. A parcel of property was acquired at 118 Clinton Avenue at the corner of Pine Street in Fair Haven in September, and the Home opened in December. Mrs. Sheffield served as President from 1866 to 1868.

Maria St. John was born on May 22, 1801 and in 1822 married Joseph Earl Sheffield. Mr. Sheffield wrote of his wife of many years, "Blest with a most devoted wife, with whom I have lived happily for over fifty seven years, mother of nine children to whom she as devoted constant care, love and affection." Mr. Sheffield was one of Yale's greatest benefactors and continued to support the school throughout his life. Their home on Hillhouse Avenue is now one of the buildings of the Yale Sheffield Scientific School.

Testimonial to her in the 1889 Report of the Home for the Friendless, "Great loss in the death of Mrs. Sheffield, first President, one of the founders, and one who always retained a deep interest in the work, and who was ever ready to help by her generous pecuniary aid." Mrs. Sheffield died on April 21, 1889 and is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery.

David V. Hunter

I think it's quite common for many folks to assume that it's the Exec or CEO at a nonprofit who calls the shots. But what happens when the board, a nonprofit's legal owner, calls the shots?

In the case of the Clearwater, Pete Seeger's nonprofit environmental organization, the CEO stepped down citing his own disagreement with the direction the board had decided to take. The board decided that renovating their ship, the source of mission, was more critical than spending money on their annual music festival. While both "vehicles" serve as a source of mission, the ship is critical to mission and must be maintained. The CEO, as the following USA Today article describes, had a different take on what should be a priority. Kudos to the board though for a) making a decision and b) accepting the consequences. On the other hand, once the board set the path around the sloop, isn't the how this would be paid for the job of the CEO? Might deciding that the concert is a no-go be micromanaging and in-turn, usurping the authority of the CEO?
Decision to cancel annual Croton Point fest, focus on repairs to flagship sloop, caused division in Hudson River group

The director of the Hudson River environmental group Clearwater has resigned in the midst of an internal rift over last week's decision to cancel the group's long-running annual music festival at Croton Point Park.

Peter Gross of South Salem, who served as Clearwater's executive director since 2014, said in a statement released by the group Wednesday that he was stepping down over "significant differences between his and the organization's vision to the path to building a stronger future for Clearwater, and dealing with the organization's longstanding financial and structural challenges."

The announcement comes a week after the board of directors of the Beacon-based environmental group voted to cancel the 2016 Great Hudson River Revival so it could devote limited financial resources to restoring it's flagship, the sloop Clearwater.

The boat, a replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson River in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, is undergoing $850,000 in needed renovations.

In an announcement last week, the Clearwater board said that, due to cash shortages, it had to choose between the sloop and the annual festival, which has been held since 1979. It has been held at the Westchester County-owned Croton park every year since 1999.

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, flagship of the environmental group by the same name, is undergoing $850,000 in repairs. The cost led to the cancellation of the group's annual music festival and has now prompted the resignation of its executive director. (Photo: File photo/The Poughkeepsie Journal)

The sloop was launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, who founded the group on a mission to raise awareness of the plight of the Hudson River, which had been plagued by decades of pollution from waterfront manufacturing plants.

But Anne Osborn, president of the Clearwater board of directors, said Wednesday that there was still disagreement within the group after the decision was made to focus on repairs to the sloop. Gross and others, she said, felt Clearwater could repair the boat, yet still host the festival.

“I think it’s what it says: Significant differences between his and the organization’s vision of the path to a stronger future," Osborn said. "One vision, his vision, is we can have a festival and use that income stream. The other was it is way too risky. Focus on floating the boat. So we did.”

Related: Pete Seeger, activist & folk singer, dies at 94

Osborn said about 75 percent of the repairs to the flagship sloop are being reimbursed by the state. But she said it was uncertain if the reimbursements would come in time to stage the two-day summer festival.

The group says the event has averaged about $162,000 a year in net income over the past six years, but only $31,000 last year.
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Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival, held annually at Croton Point Park, was canceled this year amid a budget crunch at the environmental group Clearwater. The group's executive director has now resigned in an internal rift over the cancellation of the festival. (Photo: File photo by Peter Carr/The Journal News)

Clearwater officials said they plan to move forward with the 2017 festival, and that a series of local music shows will replace the larger event throughout the year. Those events will help raise money for the group. For instance, a show in Ulster County last weekend raised $12,000, Osborn said.

“I think it’s hard to be an effective leader when your troops are marching in the other direction," she said. "(Gross) would’ve loved in his heart of hearts to have put the festival on. He would’ve liked to have done both, and perhaps the income stream from early tickets sales would’ve been really helpful in getting the boat restored. But the folks who do the festival felt differently.”

Greeetings to All,

Long journeys - long stories briefly describes the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven. In light of this description, the Society is celebrating its 40th Anniversary of its birth in 1976. This Society has accumulated vast amounts of photos, oral histories, books, films, and other vintage pieces of information relating to the Jewish heritage, culture, education, and Jewish values of in New Haven for the past 40 years.

There has been many a program relating to their heritage. Come March 27th, Joshua Sandman, PhD will be speaking at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel at 10:00am. He will be speaking on Israel and the Middle East Direction.

Then the Society has been extremely active in the "Ethnic New Haven Historic Neighborhood Tours" Project . Where the first Historic Neighborhood Tour will include Dixwell Ave, Wooster Square Area, and Downtown New Haven. And on March13 the group will kick-off this Neighborhood Tours Project at 2:00pm with the "Ethic History of New Haven: Pre 1630 through 2010 and Beyond"  exhibit at the Ethnic Heritage Center at 270 Fitch Street on the SCSU Campus. The exhibit is wonderful!!! - it is a must see.

We must bestow many, many kudos to this Society for their untiring work in keeping their heritage alive for many generations to come and in co-joining with other groups as well.

If you need more information concerning the Society and their work, the telephone is 203.392.6125, website www.jhsgnh.org, or email jhsgnh@yahoo.com. 

Thank you,

Patricia Illingworth

Grove Street Cemetery

Refugees come from the most war-torn places on earth, having left everything they have ever known - homes, friends, family, country, culture, and professions.

If a family is fortunate enough be selected to enter the U.S. and pass the security and background checks, it is up to resettlement agencies like IRIS to help them find a home and start on their difficult path toward building a new life. 

Read The Community Foundation Issue Brief to learn the facts about the worst refugee crisis since World War II, how the U.S. screens refugees entering the country, and how you can help agencies like IRIS.

New Haven, Conn. - February 29, 2016 - On Global Rare Disease Day Monday, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. completed its HereinNewHaven charitable giving initiative with its last award given to Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS).  Launched with the support of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the initiative made $1,000 awards to 30 local non-profit organizations dedicated to strengthening the greater New Haven community. The initiative coincided with Alexion’s move to its new global headquarters at 100 College Street. 

Congratulations to the grant recipients:

Week I: Columbus House, Arte Inc, Abilities Without Boundaries, Boy Scouts of America, Christian Community Action
Week II: CT Food Bank, Music Haven, Clifford Beers Clinic, Solar Youth
Week III: AIDS Project New Haven, New Reach, ConnCAT, Fair Haven Community Health Center, Girl Scouts of Connecticut
Week IV: JUNTA for Progressive Action, Community Soup Kitchen, Neighborhood Music School, Chapel Haven, New Haven Reads
Week V: New Haven Farms, Liberty Community Services, Shubert Theatre (CAPA), Project Access-New Haven, Boys & Girls Club of New Haven
Week VI: New Haven Land Trust, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Arts Council of Greater New Haven, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, Youth Continuum

February 29: Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS)

Read more about the initiative at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the region's largest grantmaker and permanent charitable endowment, is seeking a qualified candidate for a mid-level communications officer position in the Development, Stewardship, Donor Services and Communications (DSDSC) Department. This position is responsible for executing elements of the marketing/communications plan, assuring efficient and effective communications processes and products and supporting the communications of The Foundation’s mission. The Community Foundation’s mission is to create positive and sustainable change in Greater New Haven by increasing the amount of and enhancing the impact of community philanthropy. The deadline to apply is March 11, 2016. Please visit www.cfgnh.org/employment for details.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. These are competitive grant opportunities for organizations that prepare permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history and civics. The two programs will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. Applications are due by April 22.

More information: http://www.grants.gov/

All Our Kin has two fellowship opportunities available for the coming year, the Early Childhood Policy Fellowship and the Research and Evaluation Fellowship! Both positions are one- to two-year full-time paid fellowships based in New Haven, CT. Ideal candidates are college seniors and recent graduates with a passion for nonprofit work and a strong academic background. Click here for more information and application instructions: http://www.allourkin.org/job-opportunities

All are invited to Family Centered Services Annual Spring Cocktail Party & Auction 

Thursday, May 5, 2016

 Amarante's Sea Cliff

Doors Open: 5:30 pm

Tickets: $75 per person

Tables of 10: $600

Tables of 8: $480

Featuring Keynote address by Dr. Frederick "Jerry" Streets founding member of the Harvard Refugee Program.   

To purchase tickets or to find out about sponsorship opportunities  contact:  Susan D'Orvilliers, Development Officer at 203-624-2600 ext.118