Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Grants $3.2 Million to Strengthen Local Efforts and Build Lasting Change

Strategic Grants Fuel Fairfield County’s Push for Greater Opportunity

Norwalk, CT (October 23, 2025) — Fairfield County’s Community Foundation today announced that it has awarded nearly $3.2 million in strategic grants to nonprofits across Fairfield County during its 2025 fiscal year. Together with $19.4 million in grants from donor advised funds, community giving reached $22.6 million.

The grants support organizations expanding opportunity across the Foundation’s focus areas: advocacy and civic engagement, health, housing, income and asset building, women and girls, youth education and career development.

The Foundation’s strategic grantmaking aims to strengthen local systems and structures so all community members, particularly those facing the greatest barriers, can thrive.

“Our mission is rooted in the belief that every person in Fairfield County deserves the chance to prosper– no matter their ZIP code,” said Mendi Blue Paca, president and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “These grants represent more than dollars. They represent a shared commitment to fairness and lasting change. Together with our nonprofit partners, we’re investing in solutions that strengthen our communities today and build a more just and thriving region for generations to come.”

This year’s strategic grants were distributed in the following categories:

• Advocacy & Civic Engagement: $47,000
• Health: $444,000
• Housing: $485,169
• Income & Asset Building: $331,000
• Women & Girls: $1,069,915
• Youth Education & Career Development: $655,500
• Additional Discretionary Grants: $147,700

“Every grant we make is an investment in the people and organizations driving meaningful change in Fairfield County,” said Lutonya Russell-Humes, vice president of grants and programs at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. “Our grantees are breaking down barriers, amplifying resident voices, and reimagining what a community with expansive opportunity looks like in practice. Their work reminds us that progress happens when we lead with trust, listen deeply, and commit to long-term efforts that allow everyone to thrive.”

To view the full list of grants awarded in fiscal year 2025, visit fccfoundation.org/our-grants.

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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.