Vermont Business Magazine The Crosby-Gannett Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, has granted $23,000 to fifteen nonprofit organizations in its 2021 competitive grant round.
This year, the Crosby-Gannett Fund chose to focus on community needs related to the pandemic. Awards represent a combination of grants to organizations for education, food access, the arts, and business support, all of which exhibit a vast array of creativity, increased collaboration, and the ability to adapt service delivery within the confines of the pandemic. The Crosby-Gannett Fund considered not only the mission and work of the organization and its contribution to the vitality and betterment of the Brattleboro community, but also where the available funding could make the greatest difference in these challenging times.
“The grant round was extremely competitive—requests were almost two times the dollar amount available for distribution,” says an advisor to the Fund. “The advisory review committee was heartened by the generosity of the local community evident in numerous proposals, and we thank all applicants for their efforts and commitment to the Brattleboro area community.”
The purpose of the Crosby-Gannett Fund is to support endeavors that contribute to the betterment and vitality of the Brattleboro area.
For more information, visit vermontcf.org/crosby-gannett-fund.
2021 GRANTS
Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center received $2,000 to inspire connections with the natural world, creatively adpating outdoor education for use at home, as well as socially distant activites for schools and families.
Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro received $1,500 to support the Children’s Farm & Forest After Care Program, which provides young people with accessible after school outdoor group education and opportunities to socialize and build peer relationships.
Brattleboro Time Trade received $500 to plan, start, and maintain a number of new community gardens in Brattleboro in collaboration with Edible Brattleboro.
Downtown Brattleboro Alliance received $2,500 to support the One-2-One Project, a program to provide personalized support for downtown businesses during the pandemic.
Epsilon Spires received $1,250 to offer creative and safe programs, including an online film Q&A, socially distant poetry readings, and live streamed concerts, among others.
Groundworks Collaborative received $2,000 to provide ongoing support to families and individuals facing a full contiuum of housing and food insecurities in the greater-Brattleboro area.
New England Youth Theatre received $500 to support the hiring of a Health Officer, who will provide professional support to ensure youth on campus are coming together and engaging safely.
Phoenix Houses of New England received $1,000 to support the purchase of computers to help clients remain connected with family and loved ones outside of the program, alleviating social isolation and loneliness, and reinforcing commitment to recovery.
Rich Earth Institute received $500 to support its Vermiponic Food Growing System, which will cultivate fresh, green produce to donate to Brattleboro’s food shelves each month on an ongoing basis, strengthening the region’s access to fresh produce.
St. Brigid's Kitchen and Pantry received $2,500 to purchase a new, Energy Star glass door cooler, which will enable the organization to reduce energy use and costs, and maintain condition of its produce.
Theatre Adventure received $2,000 to support the continuation of its online program sessions, which create a safe and focused learning environment where participants come together weekly to connect, play, experiment, and build relationships with others.
United Way of Windham County received $2,000 to help coordinate the Kids in Coats Fund, the Collaborative Care Initiative, and its COVID-19 Response Fund.
Vermont Jazz Center received $1,250 to support VJC Technician Expenses during Live Stream Concerts, as part of a reimagined approach to public outreach, audience engagement, and program delivery.
Windham County Consortium on Substance Use received $2,500 to support the Collaborative Neighbors Project.
Windham County Foster Families Resource Center received $1,000 to support the Foster Family Resource Closet, providing a “resource closet” with clothing, gear, and outerwear for families caring for foster, kin, and adoptive children and youth.
The Vermont Community Foundation inspires giving and brings people and resources together to make a difference in Vermont. A family of hundreds of funds and foundations, we provide the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise that make it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love.
The heart of the Community Foundation’s work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. We are aligning our time, energy, and discretionary resources on efforts that provide access to early care and learning, pathways to college and career training, support for youth and families, and community and economic vitality. We envision Vermont at its best—where everyone has the opportunity to build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information. For information on our COVID-19 response, visit vtcovid19response.org.
Source: Vermont Community Foundation 3.12.2021