The Community Fund of Darien provides grants and resources that improve lives and strengthen the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, and Darien.
The Community Fund of Darien pairs a local annual grant pool with a youth-directed funding stream and direct emergency assistance for Darien residents. In 2025, its Community Grant Pool distributed $790,000 to 36 local nonprofits, while the Youth Community Fund gave high school students a role in selecting grants for community needs. The fund also runs the Touch-a-Life Fund, which pays essential bills on behalf of Darien residents facing urgent financial need. Its grantmaking centers on basic needs, community health, workforce development, and youth success, with support also directed to food security, housing stability, physical and mental healthcare, employment skills, and emergency financial assistance. Recent awards show repeated support for the same local organizations across multiple years. Open Door Shelter and Child Guidance of Mid Fairfield each received $40,000 grants in 2024 and 2025, and Person-to-person received $38,000 grants in 2024 and 2025. These recurring awards suggest a funding pattern that combines annual review with sustained support for organizations serving nearby communities. The Community Fund of Darien is also structured as a mixed community foundation and funds individuals through its emergency assistance work. Its giving is place-based, focused on Darien, Norwalk, and Stamford.
In housing and basic-needs work, the fund has supported shelters and food-access organizations, including a $40,000 grant to Open Door Shelter in Norwalk and a $38,000 grant to Person-to-person in Darien. Both organizations appear repeatedly in the recent grants list, indicating continued support for local emergency and stability services. Its youth and mental-health-related giving includes grants to Child Guidance of Southern Ct in Stamford and Child Guidance of Mid Fairfield in Norwalk, both of which received $35,000 or $40,000 awards in the recent grants list. These awards align with the fund’s emphasis on youth success and community health. Workforce and family-support programming also appears in the recent grants. Family Centers Inc in Greenwich received $36,000 grants in 2024 and 2025, and Carver Center in Norwalk received $35,000 awards, showing that the fund supports organizations working across service needs rather than a single issue area.
$2.2M
$3.3M
$1.3M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $15K and $31K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$31K
BRANDI MANISCALCO
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Typical grants cluster around a moderate local range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $20,000, and a p75 of $31,000. The recent grants list also shows repeated awards to the same nonprofits across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. The Community Fund of Darien operates as a mixed community foundation and accepts unsolicited applications in its annual community grant processes. Its youth-led grant programs, by contrast, are not open to unsolicited applications and are reviewed by high school students.
Grant dollars stay in Connecticut, with 100% of recipients in the HQ state and local giving concentrated in Darien, Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich, and nearby Fairfield County communities. Norwalk appears often in the recent grants list, including Open Door Shelter, Child Guidance of Mid Fairfield, and Carver Center. Stamford also appears repeatedly through Child Guidance of Southern Ct, Inspirica, and Pacific House. Darien-based support is visible through Person-to-person and the fund’s resident assistance work.
The fund supports local nonprofits and community initiatives in basic needs, community health, workforce development, and youth success. The active program descriptions also name food security, housing stability, physical and mental healthcare, employment training, and youth programming as supported areas.
Yes for the annual community grant process and the Touch-a-Life Fund. The youth-led grant programs are not open to unsolicited applications because students identify agencies and review requests within the program structure.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $31,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent community awards also reach $40,000 in the top end of the listed grants.
The Touch-a-Life Fund is for Darien residents experiencing urgent financial need. It pays essential bills directly to vendors for items such as rent, utilities, prescribed medications, medical equipment, and food, in cooperation with the Darien Department of Human Services.
Yes. The Youth Community Fund is youth-directed: high school students raise funds, identify local agencies, review applications, and allocate grants. Another description specifies that 10th–12th grade students review funding requests and allocate about $15,000 to local nonprofits.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Fund of Darien that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit health and human services organizations that primarily serve residents of Darien, Norwalk, and/or Stamford; must demonstrate outcomes and impact with data for program recipients in the catchment area; cannot be funding new or pilot programs; must provide two years of audited financials; adhere to a nondiscrimination policy.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEEN TALK | — | $60,000 | 2025 | FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING RE: WELLNESS & MENTAL HEALTH - PRESENTATION AT MIDDLESEX MIDDLE SCHOOL |
| TEEN TALK | — | $50,000 | 2025 | FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING RE: WELLNESS & MENTAL HEALTH - PRESENTATION AT MIDDLESEX MIDDLE SCHOOL |
| OPEN DOOR SHELTER | — | $46,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| MID-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CARE CENTER | — | $45,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CARVER CENTER | — | $45,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| OPEN DOOR SHELTER | — | $45,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CARVER CENTER | — | $41,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY CENTERS | — | $41,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY CENTERS | — | $41,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CHILD GUIDANCE OF MID FAIRFIELD | NORWALK, CT | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| OPEN DOOR SHELTER | NORWALK, CT | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PERSON-TO-PERSON | DARIEN, CT | $38,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY CENTERS INC | GREENWICH, CT | $36,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PACIFIC HOUSE | — | $36,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CHILD GUIDANCE OF SOUTHERN CT | STAMFORD, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| MID-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CARE CENTER | — | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PERSON-TO-PERSON | — | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CARVER CENTER | NORWALK, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PERSON-TO-PERSON | — | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PACIFIC HOUSE | — | $34,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| INSPIRICA | STAMFORD, CT | $33,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY | — | $32,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY | — | $31,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| PACIFIC HOUSE | STAMFORD, CT | $31,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| INSPIRICA | — | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY AND CHILDRENS AGENCY | — | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| NEW COVENANT CENTER | — | $28,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER | — | $28,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FUTURE FIVE | — | $27,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| NEW COVENANT CENTER | — | $27,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| KIDS IN CRISIS | — | $27,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER | — | $26,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY | STAMFORD, CT | $26,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY AND CHILDRENS AGENCY | — | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FILLING IN THE BLANKS | — | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FILLING IN THE BLANKS | — | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FAMILY AND CHILDRENS AGENCY | NORWALK, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| KIDS IN CRISIS | — | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FUTURE FIVE | — | $24,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER OF SOUTHERN CT | — | $24,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| LAUREL HOUSE | — | $22,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| KIDS IN CRISIS | COS COB, CT | $22,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| NEW COVENANT CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $22,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| LIBERATION PROGRAMS | — | $22,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER | STAMFORD, CT | $21,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| DOMUS | — | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FUTURE FIVE | STAMFORD, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| FILLING IN THE BLANKS | NORWALK, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| LIBERATION PROGRAMS | — | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
| CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER OF SOUTHERN CT | — | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD |
TEEN TALK
$60,000FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING RE: WELLNESS & MENTAL HEALTH - PRESENTATION AT MIDDLESEX MIDDLE SCHOOL
TEEN TALK
$50,000FUNDING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING RE: WELLNESS & MENTAL HEALTH - PRESENTATION AT MIDDLESEX MIDDLE SCHOOL
OPEN DOOR SHELTER
$46,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
MID-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CARE CENTER
$45,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CARVER CENTER
$45,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
OPEN DOOR SHELTER
$45,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CARVER CENTER
COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FAMILY CENTERS
$41,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FAMILY CENTERS
$41,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CHILD GUIDANCE OF MID FAIRFIELD
$40,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
PACIFIC HOUSE
$36,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CHILD GUIDANCE OF SOUTHERN CT
$35,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
MID-FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY CARE CENTER
$35,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
PERSON-TO-PERSON
$35,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CARVER CENTER
$35,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
PERSON-TO-PERSON
$35,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
PACIFIC HOUSE
$34,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
INSPIRICA
$33,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY
$32,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY
$31,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
PACIFIC HOUSE
$31,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
INSPIRICA
$30,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FAMILY AND CHILDRENS AGENCY
$30,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
NEW COVENANT CENTER
$28,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER
$28,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FUTURE FIVE
$27,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
NEW COVENANT CENTER
$27,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
KIDS IN CRISIS
$27,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER
$26,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FAMILY AND CHILDRENS AGENCY
$25,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FILLING IN THE BLANKS
$25,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FILLING IN THE BLANKS
$25,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
KIDS IN CRISIS
$25,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FUTURE FIVE
$24,500COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER OF SOUTHERN CT
$24,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
LAUREL HOUSE
$22,500COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
KIDS IN CRISIS
$22,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
LIBERATION PROGRAMS
$22,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER
$21,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
DOMUS
$20,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
FUTURE FIVE
$20,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
LIBERATION PROGRAMS
$20,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD
CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER OF SOUTHERN CT
$20,000COMMUNITY GRANT AWARD