Impact Fairfield County Kicks Off Its 2025 Grant Year

Impact Fairfield County (Impact FFC) launched its tenth year of grantmaking at an inspiring fall kickoff event attended by nearly 150 women from across Fairfield County. Impact FFC is a collective women’s giving organization that provides large, transformational grants to nonprofits across Fairfield County. Since its inception, Impact Fairfield County has awarded over $2.1 million to local organizations. Membership in Impact FFC is open for the current grant year through December 31, 2024.

Current and prospective members joined Impact FFC leadership at The Darien Community Association to celebrate ten years of Impact FFC, hear from Impact FFC’s Co-Founders, Wendy Block and Vicky Craver, and get updates from the 2024 $100,000 grant winners, The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (BGCS) and Filling in the Blanks (FITB). In celebration of a “Decade of Impact”, a special anniversary grant will be awarded this year, split evenly across all 17 grantees from the past 10 years. The final total of the grant will be announced at the Grant Award Celebration in May 2025, along with the 2025 grant winners. Throughout the year, a Flashback Friday series will be shared on email and social media to learn about the past grantees’ success stories and planned future initiatives.

Kristen Rosenbaum and Annika Kennon, Co-Presidents of Impact FFC, shared just a few of the ways in which Impact FFC’s $2.1 million has addressed critical needs in Fairfield County, including combating food insecurity, staff development, education and support related to sexual and domestic violence, access to preschool, an outdoor learning center and much more.
Craig Baker, CEO of BGCS, updated the audience on the integration of youth mental health support into their after-school services thanks to their Impact Grant. Although the Impact FFC grant initiative will directly support 300 children and teens per year, many of whom have experienced trauma or have been exposed to chronic stress or violence, it will benefit all 3,000 that BGCS serves. In just a few months, BGCS has been able to train 75% of their staff in youth first aid and will be providing them with a 5 step action plan for both crisis and non-crisis situations. “We strive to create an environment that removes the layers of stress for these incredible children and teens so that they are able to thrive. The Impact Grant allows us to further this mission by evolving and improving how we meet the changing needs of our young people who face daily challenges and pressure,” said Baker.

Co-Founders & Presidents of FITB, Shawnee Knight and Tina Kramer, shared exciting news that FITB is on track to host seven mobile pantry events with their Impact Grant, delivering 175,000 pounds of nutritious food and providing community resources all in one. Each pantry event has turned into a vital community resource, allowing families to learn about and sign up for important services to help build more stable futures and lift the community as a whole. Said Knight and Kramer, “The Impact Grant has not only allowed us to transform the lives of those who need it most but has also motivated others to step forward and make a difference. One donor, who learned about FITB through Impact FFC, has graciously committed to launching another mobile pantry site in Bridgeport!”

Attendees also heard from Impact FFC Co-Founders, Wendy Block and Vicky Craver, and their journey to create Impact FFC, which began with an introduction from a friend who belonged to Impact100 Westchester. Recognizing the need within Fairfield County for the Impact100 model, Block and Craver started Impact FFC with 155 members and one $100,000 grant award in the first year. “In year ten, Impact FFC has exceeded our wildest dreams, bringing together over 280 highly engaged women across backgrounds. Each transition in leadership has been a success, with each Impact FFC President continuing to improve and grow this organization’s membership and grant funding,” said Block and Craver.

“We are committed to expanding our support across Fairfield County, not only through grant funding but through our members by oa confidential scholarship program, installment payment plans, member participation from our Corporate Partners, support for our high school program, Generation Impact, and new for this year, a virtual Review Committee. Our 10th year promises to be our best year yet!” said Rosenbaum.

About Impact FFC: Impact FFC is a collective giving organization whose mission is to empower women to engage in local philanthropy through deeper knowledge and active participation in grantmaking. It unites women by pooling membership funds to provide large, transformational grants to nonprofit organizations across Fairfield County.

To learn more, visit impactff.org and @impactffc on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.