New Haven Foundation Pledges $26 Million To Address Major Issues

NEW HAVEN, CT — The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has announced a new program pledging $26 million to address what it's calling the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial inequity, according to a statement from the organization. The program, dubbed "Stepping Forward," will include both a major increase over the next three years in the foundation’s grantmaking and other current spending as well as new monies for endowed funds.

The foundation increased and accelerated its 2020 grantmaking to meet the challenges of COVID, but Stepping Forward will go beyond what was done in 2020.

"COVID’s impact continues to be devastating," William W. Ginsberg, CEO of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, said in a statement. "It poses existential challenges to our local nonprofits and the services they provide. Even beyond that, COVID’s economic impact has greatly increased the numbers of those among us who are vulnerable to hunger, eviction and suffering, and COVID has also exposed the tragic health and education inequities in our community."

Foundation donors have contributed nearly $6 million for both current spending and for new endowments. The program will include grants for immediate COVID relief; grants and leadership development support for nonprofits led by people of color; arts grants to advance racial equity and community healing; and grants to those working, advocating and organizing to change racially inequitable systems in health, education, employment, housing and civic participation

Find out more by going to the foundation's website.