Connecticut Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Pathways for Older Adults Grant Program to help older adults thrive.

As a field of interest fund, the East Hill Woods Fund provides grants to nonprofits and municipalities that offer services and opportunities for older adults living in the Foundation’s service area. A portion of the fund is also designated to train and educate future managers of senior living communities.

Purpose of Grants

To help people in their region age successfully and remain healthy, informed and engaged, be that with the help of in home care services similar to Seniors Helping Seniors of Columbus or other means. Grant funding is also provided to local communities to help them prepare for the aging of the population.

Their grants to organizations working to improve quality of life for older adults typically fall into one of these general categories:

• Healthy aging
• Connecting with information, benefits and resources
• Aging successfully and safely in the community
• Education, arts and creative expression
• Waterbury BRASS (Bringing Resources to Action to Serve Seniors): A citywide collaboration
• Engaging older adults in addressing community needs
• Intergenerational projects

Funding Information

• Grants over $3,000
• Mini-grants (up to $3,000)
• Town Conversations on Aging

Possible Projects

• Develop core programs and adopt best practices that connect older adults with benefits, services and opportunities; assist with chores, home maintenance and home safety; enhance health and fitness; and build age-friendly communities that promote civic engagement and full participation for all ages.
• Hold a Town Conversation on Aging, open to the public, to discuss services, resources and opportunities for older adults in the town, identify needs and gaps, and prioritize action steps for the next several years. A $2,000 grant is available to each town in the Foundation’s service area for these conversations. This questionnaire provides a framework for the conversation.
• Connect more people over age 65+ to their libraries through Lifelong Libraries grants. Program possibilities include health, wellness, education, arts, creative expression, technology, financial security, intergenerational, and more.
• Collaborative programs that enhance services in a cost-effective manner are prioritized. Examples include a fitness program that rotates among towns and development of a coordinated transportation system.

Criteria

In order to apply for funding, an organization must:

• Be a not-for-profit organization recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a municipal entity seeking a grant for public purposes. Organizations may also have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, if they do not have their own nonprofit status.
• Have a board, representative of the community, of which a majority is neither employees nor relatives of employees.
• Possess a Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds (or exemption, if appropriate) from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. This registration must be renewed annually.

They encourage requests that:

• Provide services or support to the communities located within their 21-town service area
• Support system change and advocacy efforts
• Include support for core nonprofit operations such as staff time, overhead and evaluation
• Support organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)

For more information, visit Connecticut Community Foundation.