The New Canaan Community Foundation primarily funds local New Canaan institutions and services, concentrating on community infrastructure, education, and neighborhood wellbeing. Much of its support is donor-advised and directed toward capital projects, operating support, and direct service programs for town residents, with repeated multi-grant relationships to longtime local organizations. While most dollars stay local (parks, schools, libraries, human services), the foundation also makes selective grants to regional cultural and health institutions when aligned with donor recommendations.
A single grant to Staying Put in New Canaan, at $1,047,118 in 2024, shows the scale at which New Canaan Community Foundation Inc supports local services. The foundation also made a $455,281 grant to the Town of New Canaan for emergency assistance, Bristow Park, Mead Park, and the Athletic Foundation, alongside a $377,650 grant to New Canaan Public Schools for student food assistance and the NCHS Dome. That mix points to a funder that backs community infrastructure, school supports, and direct aid for residents through both operating support and project-specific awards. The recent record also includes repeat support for organizations tied to neighborhood wellbeing and local institutions. Waveny Park Conservancy received multiple grants for the Merritt Trail project and a trail network study, while New Canaan Library, New Canaan Museum & Historical Society, and New Canaan Land Trust all appear with grants linked to capital work or programmatic needs. Across the top grants, the foundation’s pattern is heavily local and oriented toward New Canaan organizations, with selective awards to nearby regional institutions when the purpose aligns with donor recommendations.
Community infrastructure is a recurring theme. New Canaan Community Foundation Inc gave $181,850 to New Canaan Land Trust for donor-advised grants, and $107,950 to Waveny Park Conservancy to support the Merritt Trail project. Education and youth supports also appear in several forms. New Canaan Public Schools received $377,650 for student food assistance and the NCHS Dome, while New Canaan High School Scholarship Foundation received $47,000 for scholarships and the Color Drop. Health and aging services show up through both local and regional grants. The foundation awarded $1,047,118 to Staying Put in New Canaan for agency fund distribution and program support, and $50,000 to Silver Hill Hospital for the New Canaan Urgent Assessment Program. Cultural and civic projects are another thread. New Canaan Museum & Historical Society received $101,500 for its capital campaign, and the New Canaan Library received $56,700 for its capital campaign, special needs program, and operating support.
Typical grants cluster around a mid-sized range, with a p25 of $9,000, a median of $12,000, and a p75 of $21,125. The recent record includes both large anchor grants and many smaller awards, which fits a community foundation that uses flexible grant sizes across institutions and programs. Donor-advised recommendations are explicit in many grant descriptions, and some recipients appear in multiple years, including Waveny Park Conservancy, New Canaan Library, The Congregational Church of New Canaan, and Mount Saint Joseph High School. The foundation is a public charity and a mixed community foundation; it does not make program-related investments.
$2.3M
$32M
$9.8M
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $9K and $21K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$21K
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Giving is both concentrated and relationship-driven: large, targeted awards to a handful of core local grantees alongside many mid-sized repeat grants. A significant share of grants are donor-advised recommendations, funding a mix of capital campaigns, unrestricted operating support, and program-specific awards; most dollars remain focused on New Canaan and immediate-region organizations.
Notable grantees: Staying Put in New Canaan, Town of New Canaan, New Canaan Public Schools, New Canaan Library, Waveny Park Conservancy
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 81% of grants go to recipients in Connecticut, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. New Canaan, CT dominates the recent grants list, with additional awards in nearby Connecticut communities such as Norwalk, Cos Cob, Darien, New Haven, and Fairfield. Outside Connecticut, the recent record includes Boston, MA and Baltimore, MD. The top state by grant count is Michigan, though the grant list itself is concentrated in Connecticut.
The foundation gives mainly to New Canaan institutions and services: schools, parks and trails, libraries, human services, cultural groups, and emergency assistance programs. Recent grants include support for school food assistance, trail projects, capital campaigns, scholarship funds, and critical-needs services for residents.
Yes. Many recent awards are labeled as recommended by DAFs, including grants to New Canaan Land Trust, Waveny Park Conservancy, New Canaan Library, and other recipients. The foundation is classified as a mixed community foundation.
The grant-size distribution is fairly compact: p25 is $9,000, median grant size is $12,000, and p75 is $21,125. The recent record also includes larger awards for anchor programs and capital projects.
It is highly local. 81% of grants go to recipients in Connecticut, and the recent grants list is centered on New Canaan organizations and nearby Connecticut communities. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOWN OF NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $198,077 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & FOR COPPO FIELD PROJECT |
| NEW CANAAN YMCA | NEW CANAAN, CT | $109,630 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR THE COMBINED HEAT & POWER PROJECT |
| TOMMY FUND INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $109,150 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| NEW CANAAN LAND TRUST | NEW CANAAN, CT | $106,513 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| NEW CANAAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS | NEW CANAAN, CT | $85,634 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR THE DOME, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & SCHOLARSHIP |
| SILVER HILL HOSPITAL INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $75,500 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE & FOR THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM |
| PLANET NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $55,600 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & NCHS COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD |
| MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $36,800 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & FOR THE KATHLEEN M. FRUIN, RN CERTIFIED NURSING AIDE SCHOOL |
| PERSON TO PERSON INC | DARIEN, CT | $36,250 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & SCHOLARSHIP |
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER | NORWALK, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR FRESH START FURNITURE, NEW COVENANT CENTER & RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| POSITIVE DIRECTIONS - THE CENTER FOR PREVENTION & COUNSELING INC | WESTPORT, CT | $34,010 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR A CHILD-SPECIFIC COUNSELING OFFICE & NORWALK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GAP ASSESSMENT |
| GETABOUT INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $30,320 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $30,200 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY | STAMFORD, CT | $30,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM & ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM |
| BRIDE MINISTRIES | KATY, TX | $30,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| THE CARVER | NORWALK, CT | $28,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING, SCHOLARSHIP & FOR GENERAL OPERATING AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR |
| KIDS IN CRISIS | COS COB, CT | $27,500 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR KIDS |
| SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY | FAIRFIELD, CT | $26,000 | 2025 | RESTRICTED GRANT- SCHOLARSHIP |
| NORWALK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| CONNECTICUT INSTITUTE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS INC | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| WAVENY PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW CANAAN, CT | $24,553 | 2025 | GRANTS AS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING |
| FOOD RESCUE US | STAMFORD, CT | $24,500 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR EXPANDING FOOD ACCESS & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT |
| STAR INC LIGHTING THE WAY | NORWALK, CT | $23,220 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR ENRICHMENT CLASSES |
| LIVEGIRL | NEW CANAAN, CT | $23,000 | 2025 | GRANTS TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING, PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| LIBERATION PROGRAMS INC | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $22,500 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING & TO SUPPORT SPIRIT OF HOPE GALA |
| CONNECTICUT RISE NETWORK | NEW HAVEN, CT | $22,500 | 2025 | GRANTS TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR |
| SUMMER THEATRE OF NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $22,500 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| STAYING PUT IN NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $20,650 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| MALTA HOUSE | NORWALK, CT | $20,450 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| OPEN DOORS | NORWALK, CT | $20,400 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING & AS RECOMMENDED BY DAF AND BY DONOR |
| NEW CANAAN CARES | NEW CANAAN, CT | $20,100 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTERS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY | STAMFORD, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING |
| VINCEREMOS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER | N LOXAHATCHEE, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| THE ROWAN CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CLUB OF CT COMMUNITY PARTNERS | NORWALK, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & BY DONOR |
| YALE NEW HAVEN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT KIDS' ROOM IN THE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY FLOOR & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INCORPORATED | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES |
| TOURETTE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA | BAYSIDE, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR |
| ST ALOYSIUS CHURCH | NEW CANAAN, CT | $19,600 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER | NEW CANAAN, CT | $19,500 | 2025 | GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR LAND MANAGEMENT |
| LAUREL HOUSE INC | STAMFORD, CT | $18,300 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR RESOURCES TO RECOVER |
| ST MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH | NEW CANAAN, CT | $18,000 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| PACIFIC HOUSE INC | STAMFORD, CT | $17,800 | 2025 | GRANT TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEALS PROGRAM & AS RECOMMENDED BY DAF |
| FUTURE 5 | STAMFORD, CT | $16,850 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR THE COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM, SCHOLARSHIP & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT |
| A BETTER CHANCE (ABC) NEW CANAAN | NEW CANAAN, CT | $16,750 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT |
| NEW CANAAN MOUNTED TROOP | NEW CANAAN, CT | $16,500 | 2025 | GRANT FOR SUPER TROOPERS PROGRAM & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT |
| NEW CANAAN LIBRARY | NEW CANAAN, CT | $16,100 | 2025 | GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMMING |
TOWN OF NEW CANAAN
$198,077GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & FOR COPPO FIELD PROJECT
NEW CANAAN YMCA
$109,630GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR THE COMBINED HEAT & POWER PROJECT
TOMMY FUND INC
$109,150GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
NEW CANAAN LAND TRUST
$106,513GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
NEW CANAAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$85,634GRANTS FOR THE DOME, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & SCHOLARSHIP
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE & FOR THE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
PLANET NEW CANAAN
$55,600GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & NCHS COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL
$50,000GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF
WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK INC
$36,800GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & FOR THE KATHLEEN M. FRUIN, RN CERTIFIED NURSING AIDE SCHOOL
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & SCHOLARSHIP
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER
$35,000GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
GRANTS FOR FRESH START FURNITURE, NEW COVENANT CENTER & RECOMMENDED BY DAF
POSITIVE DIRECTIONS - THE CENTER FOR PREVENTION & COUNSELING INC
$34,010GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR A CHILD-SPECIFIC COUNSELING OFFICE & NORWALK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GAP ASSESSMENT
GETABOUT INC
$30,320GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN
$30,200GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM & ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
BRIDE MINISTRIES
$30,000GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING, SCHOLARSHIP & FOR GENERAL OPERATING AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR
KIDS IN CRISIS
$27,500GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR KIDS
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
GRANTS AS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR EXPANDING FOOD ACCESS & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT
STAR INC LIGHTING THE WAY
$23,220GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR ENRICHMENT CLASSES
LIVEGIRL
$23,000GRANTS TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING, PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND RECOMMENDED BY DAF
LIBERATION PROGRAMS INC
$22,500GRANTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING & TO SUPPORT SPIRIT OF HOPE GALA
GRANTS TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR
SUMMER THEATRE OF NEW CANAAN
$22,500GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MALTA HOUSE
$20,450GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
NEW CANAAN CARES
$20,100GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR GENERAL OPERATING
GRANT TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING
VINCEREMOS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$20,000GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF
THE ROWAN CENTER
$20,000GRANTS FOR GENERAL OPERATING & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CLUB OF CT COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$20,000GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & BY DONOR
GRANT TO SUPPORT KIDS' ROOM IN THE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY FLOOR & AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR
GRANT TO SUPPORT PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
TOURETTE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
$20,000GRANT TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING AS RECOMMENDED BY DONOR
ST ALOYSIUS CHURCH
$19,600GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER
$19,500GRANT RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR LAND MANAGEMENT
ST MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
$18,000GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
PACIFIC HOUSE INC
$17,800GRANT TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEALS PROGRAM & AS RECOMMENDED BY DAF
FUTURE 5
$16,850GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR THE COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM, SCHOLARSHIP & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT
A BETTER CHANCE (ABC) NEW CANAAN
$16,750GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF, FOR GENERAL OPERATING & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT
NEW CANAAN MOUNTED TROOP
$16,500GRANT FOR SUPER TROOPERS PROGRAM & YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS GRANT
NEW CANAAN LIBRARY
$16,100GRANTS RECOMMENDED BY DAF & FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMMING