Would you like to be part of a diverse group of community-minded people who want to improve and enrich the lives of women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills?

Join the Women’s Giving Circle at Connecticut Community Foundation!

What is a giving circle?

A giving circle brings together people with common interests to learn about community issues and effective philanthropy, to pool their donations and to decide together to make grants that have an impact on local issues.

Why join the Women’s Giving Circle?

Women are effective collaborators and give generously to make a difference in their communities. The Women’s Giving Circle makes the most of both of those qualities, bringing people together to learn about issues affecting women and girls in our region to join their resources and to make grants that will improve lives.

The Women’s Giving Circle’s 2023 grant recipients include $32,440 awards to the following organizations:

  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury was a awarded a $2,440 grant for its Leadership Summit.
  • Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital Foundation in New Milford was awarded a $5,000 grant for Breast Care Patient Navigation at New Milford Hospital.
  • Greenwoods Counseling Referrals in Litchfield was awarded a $5,000 grant to support its affordable mental healthcare and addiction treatment for Women
  • Malta House in Waterbury was awarded a $5,000 grant for improving access to women’s healthcare through patient navigation.
  • Planned Parenthood of Southern New England in Waterbury was awarded $5,000 for the purchase of a second ultrasound machine at Waterbury Health Center.
  • Thy Eagle’s Nest, Inc. in Wolcott was awarded a $5,000 grant to empower women through positivity.
  • Women’s Choice Charitable Association in Prospect was awarded $5,000 for a community doula program.

Over the last seven years, the Circle has awarded $173,000 in grants to 18 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.

2023-2024 Steering Committee Members

*Jodi Wasserstein – Chair
Hannah Alley Keller
Pam Bless
*Kathy Bower
*Regina Duchin Kraus
Trish Lindenman
Rama Mahesh
Dana Martinez
*Karen Powell
Amanda Pulawski
Lisa Segal

*Denotes founding members

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)

 

The Women’s Giving Circle at Connecticut Community Foundation is a proud member of

 

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.

Check this video out to learn what the Circle members do, their collective impact and how YOU can help empower women and girls in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills!

Tricia Poirier

For more information, please contact:
Mark Berardi, Development Officer
mberardi@conncf.org | 203.753.1315, x110