The Women’s Giving Circle’s 2024 grant recipients include $26,000 awards to the following organizations:

• Greenwoods Counseling Referrals in Litchfield was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its affordable mental healthcare and addiction treatment for Women & Girls in Litchfield County.
• Robotics and Beyond in New Milford was awarded a $5,000 grant for their all-girls summer camp for Science, Engineering, Technology and Design.
• Brian Gibbons Homeless Outreach Inc. in Naugatuck was awarded $5,000 to support the needs of women experiencing homelessness through a compassionate approach.
• Literacy Volunteers of Greater Waterbury, Inc. in Waterbury was awarded a $5,000 to increase literacy skills in female adult learners in order to gain or improve their employment, obtain U.S. Citizenship, obtain Driver’s Licenses and achieve goals to improve their quality of life.
• Woman’s Choice Charitable Association in Waterbury was awarded $5,000 for the organization’s community doula program, which provides free or low-cost doulas to women of color birthing in Waterbury who cannot afford the service.
• Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation in Waterbury was awarded $1,000 to support the Women of Color Empowerment Collective program offered to Women of Color enrolled at CT State Community College, Naugatuck Valley Campus. 

Over the last eight years, the Circle has awarded $199,000 in grants to 26 organizations advancing opportunities for women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills.

What Membership Means

Members of the Women’s Giving Circle:

• Collaborate and network with a diverse group of generous people who value improving opportunities for women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills

• Learn about community issues and effective philanthropy

• Share the joy of giving—together.

When it is time to make grants, circle members decide together the issues they want to support, such as employment, education, pay equity, housing, parenting or women’s health. Circle members review grant applications and make funding decisions together.

2024-2025 Steering Committee Members

Hannah Alley Keller – Chair
Pam Bless
*Regina Duchin Kraus
Baba Frew
Trish Lindenman
Dana Martinez
*Karen Powell – Past Chair
Amanda Pulawski – Grant Review Committee Chair 
Lisa Segal
*Jodi Wasserstein – Past Chair

*Denotes founding members

Women’s Giving Circle Chair:

Hannah Alley-Keller is the Director of Development Operations at The Frederick Gunn School, where she manages the day-to-day operations related to constituent engagement and annual giving. She brings to the team more than a decade of experience in higher education and independent school fundraising.

Hannah has held a variety of annual and major giving roles throughout her career. Most notably, Hannah served as the Director of Annual Giving for Marist College, where she oversaw a team responsible for alumni and parent giving. Before relocating to the northeast, Hannah was the Associate Director of Development for Hollins University, where she oversaw the significant growth of the Hollins Fund and worked as a Major Gifts Officer as part of the Alumnae Engagement Initiative.

Hannah is a proud Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Agnes Scott College. She and her family enjoy traveling, farming, cheering for the Virginia Tech Hokies, and playing with their chocolate lab, Remington.

FAQs for Women’s Giving Circle Grant Applicants

If you have questions about how to apply for a Women’s Giving Circle grant please visit our FAQs for grant applicants.

Joining the Women’s Giving Circle

The Women’s Giving Circle is open to anyone who cares about women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills. Members make a minimum annual contribution to the Women’s Giving Circle. Your investment also entitles you to invitations to Women’s Giving Circle activities and events and to cast a vote at an annual meeting to decide how the circle’s pooled funds should be granted to local organizations. Select a giving level that not only meets your needs, but has impact!

• $ 1000 Women’s Giving Circle Game Changer (or monthly payment of $84)

• $ 500 Women’s Giving Circle Community Hero (or monthly payment of $42)

• $ 250 Women’s Giving Circle Community Catalyst (or monthly payment of $21)

• $ 120 Women’s Giving Circle Community Builder (or monthly payment of $10)

Contribute, Renew or Join Now!

You can donate online or via check,  and can give monthly or in a single installment. Checks can be made payable to Connecticut Community Foundation. Please include Women’s Giving Circle on the memo line. To join with a gift of appreciated securities, please contact Development Officer Mark Berardi.