Events
Nonprofit Education
Main Street Community Foundation partners with local organizations and businesses to offer its Nonprofit Education Series. As part of this series, MSCF will offer web/audioconferences or in-person events on topics of interest to enhance the development and knowledge of nonprofit Board members, professionals and volunteers.
If you have any questions or would like to be added to our nonprofit education distribution list please contact Samantha Rajotte, Scholarship & Program Officer, at samantha@mainstreetfoundation.org or by telephone at 860.583.6363 x155.
Grant Mastery Training Mini Conference
When: February 23-24, 2027 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Where: Home2 Suites by Hilton Bristol | 90 Century Drive | Bristol, CT 06010
Cost: $75 per person; materials and meals (continental breakfast and lunch) will be provided each day
Returning by popular demand, this comprehensive two-day grant writing conference welcomes nonprofits serving Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, New Britain, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott in Central Connecticut. It offers grant professionals at every career stage—including executive directors, development staff, and volunteers involved in any aspect of the grant process—the knowledge, skills, ethical practices and core competencies needed across the grant lifecycle.
New for 2027, Grant Mastery Training will help participants explore key areas of the grant profession and beyond with sessions on Building Strong Leadership and Board Development, Budgeting, Prospect Research, Artificial Intelligence, Post-Award Management, and Proposal Impact. Hands-on, facilitated workshops will focus on Building Your Case Statement Blueprint, Ethical Integrity, and Creating Impactful and Successful Narratives. Attendees will receive more than 50 resources and handouts, along with dedicated time each day for individual questions.
The American Savings Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Farmington Bank Community Foundation, and Main Street Community Foundation support this capacity-building opportunity.
View the Mini Conference flyer, which includes all information on the topics and trainers, here.
View the full Mini Conference schedule here.
Limited spaces are available and registration is required by January 15, 2027 to Julie Matthews at Main Street Community Foundation by calling 860.583.6363 x160 or emailing julie@mainstreetfoundation.org. Payment is due by February 1, 2027, and can be mailed to Main Street Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2702, Bristol, CT 06011-2702.
Men & Boys' Fund - 10th Anniversary MVP Celebration
Thursday, October 1, 2026
The 10th anniversary of the Men & Boys' Fund will be celebrated at the MVP Celebration! The 10th Anniversary MVP Celebration will be held on October 1, 2026 at 5:30pm at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Seats are $75 per person.SEPTEMBER 9, 2027 SPEAKER UPDATE: Steve Pikiell, who was scheduled to be the guest speaker, will not be able to attend the event as he will be undergoing cancer treatment; you can read Steve’s public statement here. Steve has asked Tom Moore to speak in his place. We are excited to welcome Tom, who is the recently retired men’s basketball General Manager and Assistant Coach at UConn.
Proceeds from the event support programs that improve the lives of men and boys in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
For more information on the Men & Boys' Fund, visit the Men & Boys' Fund page.
Women & Girls Fund - Wonder of Women (WOW)
Save the date for the 26th annual WOW event, which will be held on May 5, 2027, at 5:30pm at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington! Tickets are $75 per person. The guest speaker will be Sherry Pocknett, a Mashpee Wampanoag chef and caterer. In 2023, Sherry received the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast. She is the first Indigenous woman to be honored by the James Beard Foundation. Sherry’s parents instilled in her a deep love for food and education, passing down traditions of hunting, fishing, and foraging that she then passed down through youth cultural classes and her cooking. She is committed to cultural preservation and embodies a rich heritage of Indigenous cuisine and New England cooking.
Proceeds from the event support programs and initiatives that improve the lives of women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.
For more information on the WOW event and the Women & Girls Fund, visit the Women & Girls Fund page.
