Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Boosts Local Grantmaking as Nonprofits Face Rising Demand

$3.75 million will help 200 organizations strengthen food access, health, housing, education, and economic opportunity for residents across the county

NORWALK, Conn. (Aug. 13, 2026) — Fairfield County’s Community Foundation today announced an increase in Community Impact grants to address the rising and urgent needs of 200 nonprofit organizations serving residents in the region.

The 18 percent jump from FY25 increased the Foundation’s annual strategic grantmaking to more than $3.75 million in fiscal year 2026.

The increase arrives at a defining moment for philanthropy. U.S. charitable giving reached a record $617.2 billion in 2025, according to Giving USA 2026. Yet, mirroring another national trend, FCCF’s nonprofit partners report that local needs continue to grow as resources tighten, leaving organizations to support more people and families with less certainty about the funding available to meet those needs.

“Record national giving is encouraging, but its true impact is measured by whether that generosity reaches people when and where they need it most,” said Mendi Blue Paca, President and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “This 18 percent increase means more local nonprofits can meet urgent needs today while also investing in new solutions that will strengthen Fairfield County for the future. When families have access to food, stable housing, health support, and pathways to education and work, our entire community benefits.”

FCCF also increased its use of general operating support, providing flexible dollars that nonprofit leaders can direct where they are needed most. Rather than limiting every grant dollar to a single program, this funding supports an organization’s overall work and gives local leaders room to adapt when demand or community conditions shift.

“Across Fairfield County, more people are seeking assistance, and many families are turning to nonprofits for the first time. Meanwhile, organizations are stretching every dollar further to meet this rising demand,” said Lutonya Russell-Humes, Vice President of Grants and Programs at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “Flexible operating support is one of philanthropy’s most direct responses to this urgency: it trusts our nonprofit leaders to put resources where they will do the most good and gives them the flexibility to adapt in real time as our community’s needs change.”FY26 Community Impact grants, totaling $3.75 million, were distributed across the following six major funding categories: Youth Education & Workforce, Health, Housing, Income & Asset Building, Women & Girls, and Civic Engagement.

The Foundation’s FY26 Community Impact grantmaking worked alongside $19.6 million in grants from donor-advised funds. Together, the two grantmaking streams totaled $23.3 million, demonstrating the power of institutional and donor giving working in tandem to address local needs.

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About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is partnering with our community to create a county where every person has an equitable opportunity to thrive. We work closely with nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to address challenges and identify opportunities for a stronger, more vibrant region. Informed by three decades of partnership and impact, FCCF has awarded more than $420 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.