Impact Fairfield County Announces 2026 $100,000 Grant Opportunity

Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) is pleased to announce a $100,000 grant opportunity for nonprofits that reach under-resourced populations and address unmet needs in Fairfield County. The Impact FFC Grant will provide restricted funds to develop new programs/projects; enhance, expand, or strengthen existing programs/projects; and/or improve organizational capacity that advances the nonprofit’s core mission. Our transformative grants are to be spent over 24 months, with no more than 20% to be allocated toward general operating expenses, as needed. Strong proposals demonstrate how Impact FFC’s funding supports the organization’s core mission and why this is the right time to invest.

To apply for an Impact FFC Grant, organizations must be:

• Classified as a “public charity” with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Operating in, serving residents of, and fully expending Impact FFC grant funds in Fairfield County, CT
• In possession of three years of independently audited financial statements
• A new awardee, i.e., not a recipient of an Impact FFC $100,000 grant in the previous three years. (If you were awarded a $100,000 Impact FFC Grant in May 2023, you are not eligible to apply for an Impact FFC Grant until after May 2026.)
• Impact FFC will award one or two grants of $100,000 each, and the winner(s) will be determined by a vote of its membership on May 6, 2026. Applying starts with a Letter of Inquiry, which will be accepted online beginning October 14, 2025, and will be due November 11, 2025. Organizations may submit only one application per grant cycle.

Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an Applicant Information Session to be held on September 16, 2025, from 10:30am – 12pm at Pequot Library in Southport, CT. RSVP Here. Registration is required due to space constraints, and we kindly request that only one representative per organization be present.

In addition, on October 9, 2025, Impact FFC will be hosting an optional virtual Proposal Brainstorming Workshop. Nonprofits will be able to gain advice on potential proposal ideas from experienced Impact FFC members. Details and registration to be announced via our website at www.impactffc.org by mid-September.

Applicants will be notified by January 16, 2026, if selected to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be due by February 5, 2026.

All applicants are encouraged to review the Eligibility Criteria and Frequently Asked Questions at https://www.impactffc.org/application-process to determine whether both the organization and the project meet the criteria for an Impact FFC Grant.

About Impact Fairfield County
Impact FFC is a collective giving organization that engages women of Fairfield County, CT, in local philanthropy. Collectively raising funds and empowering women to lead transformational solutions in its community, Impact FFC awards $100,000 grants annually to local nonprofits. Total funding is determined by the number of members who contribute $1,000 each toward the grants. Excess membership funds are divided among the non-winning finalists of the grant process for general operating support. Grant finalists are determined through a detailed process of proposal review and evaluation by members, and the grant recipients are chosen by a vote of membership at the Impact FFC Grant Awards Celebration in May. Please do not call or contact Impact FFC members, as all members are asked to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the grant process. Questions about the grant process may only be sent to grants@impactffc.org. For press inquiries, please contact PR@impactffc.org.