Grassroots Leadership
Grassroots Leadership supports community leaders and resident-led groups with civic engagement, organizing, leadership development, and community-building projects to strengthen Waterbury neighborhoods.
Funder: Connecticut Community Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications) | September and November 2026 (Fall reviews) | Rolling (Spring 2027; quarterly awards)
Funding Amounts: Average grant size: $5,000–$7,000
Summary: Supports resident-led projects that strengthen Waterbury neighborhoods through civic engagement, organizing, leadership development, and community-building.
Key Information: First-time applicants must meet in person with the relevant program officer before applying.
Description
Connecticut Community Foundation’s Grassroots Leadership program provides funding to community leaders for projects that strengthen Waterbury and its neighborhoods. It supports equitable local efforts to revitalize communities, influence local systems, and foster leadership. The program emphasizes a collaborative network of residents across generations, working toward a shared vision with greater access to tools and resources for community action.
Supported work includes nonpartisan voter registration and civic engagement, community organizing, leadership training, and youth development, including leadership opportunities for young adults ages 18–24. Community-building projects may include workshop series, food and resource distribution, community gardens, and public art. The Foundation prioritizes smaller, resident-led groups and ongoing work over one-off events, and values projects that involve community partners rather than working alone.
