APPLY FOR A GRANT

Main Street Community Foundation welcomes grant requests from organizations that serve our geographic area, which includes Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott, Connecticut.

Potential applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert, Director of Grants & Programs, or another member of the grantmaking team at least 1 week prior to the grant application deadline to discuss the proposed project and to determine eligibility.

30th Anniversary Circa 1995 Grant Opportunity - Now Accepting Applications
Louise Lauretano DeMars Love of Art Fund - Cycle Closed
Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust - LOI CYCLE CLOSED
General Grant Cycle - Cycle Closed
Malerbo Children's Field Maintenance Fund - Cycle Closed; See General Grant Cycle
Men & Boys' Fund - Cycle Closed
Plainville Community Fund - Cycle Closed
Women & Girls Fund - Cycle Closed

30th Anniversary Circa 1995 Grant Opportunity

Now Accepting Applications - Due June 16, 2025

Main Street Community Foundation is announcing a brand new grant opportunity for local nonprofits! In celebration of Main Street Community Foundation’s 30th anniversary, up to 10 Circa 1995 Grants totaling $30,000 will be awarded to local nonprofits.

Any 501(c)(3) organization with an operational office in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington or Wolcott and provides programs/services to residents of any of those six communities is eligible to apply.

Applications will include a written response to a given prompt. Applications are due by June 16, 2025.

Final grant decisions will be announced at The Main Event 30th Anniversary Celebration - Meet Us On Main Street at the Aqua Turf on September 13, 2025. Attendees of the event will vote for the recipients of the Circa 1995 grants!

How to Apply

Contact Susan Sadecki at 860.583.6363 x151 for more information and the application package.

Louise Lauretano DeMars Love of Art Fund

2024 Cycle Closed

The purpose of the Louise Lauretano DeMars Love of Art Fund is to award annual grants to support Bristol-area artists to help further their creativity, explore their talent, or expand their learning. The inaugural grant cycle was in the fall 2024 and was limited to proposals for fine arts and graphic arts.

Grants are made to individual artists residing in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott for a minimum of two years.

This fund will honor the memory of Louise Lauretano DeMars who passed away January 9, 2023. Louise's contributions to the museum industry as well as the arts and culture community were many. Most notably in the greater Bristol community, her 28-year tenure as the Executive Director of the New England Carousel Musuem established the museum as a national tourist destination. Louise was a valued member of many organizations and associations over the course of her career. This fund will continue her joy and passion for art while inspiring future artists.

How to Apply

Main Street Community Foundation utilizes an online grants management system. Visit our Online Grants Center to apply. You will also find the program's full guidelines and eligibility criteria there.

Applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert (kate@mainstreetfoundation.org) Director of Grants & Programs or Alicia Krar (alicia@mainstreetfoundation.org), Grants Manager, for instructions prior to applying.

Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust

The LOI cycle is now closed

The Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust was established by the late Bradley Henry Barnes of Southington to support the health and well-being of Southington residents. The Trust distributes grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving the Southington community. Letters of Inquiry are typically accepted in January and August for new projects, (programs, capital requests, or initiatives) that improve the health and well-being of Southington residents. Continued Funding requests are accepted twice a year, after the LOI cycles conclude (typically March and September), for programs, projects, and initiatives currently being supported by the Trust. Grants generally range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Funding requests must align with at least one of the following identified community health and healthcare priority areas:

Health/Health Care Needs for an Aging Population
Behavioral Health
Healthy Initiatives and Lifestyle including, but not limited to:
- Availability and Access to Healthy Food
- Environmental Protection and Sustainability of Natural Resources
- Fitness and Health
- Health Equity
- Health Literacy and Education
- Transportation and Access to Health Services

The Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Memorial Trust Advisory Committee recommends all grant decisions for final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

How to Apply

When the second LOI cycle opens on August 18, 2025, organizations can contact Kate Kerchaert, Director of Grants & Programs, at kate@mainstreetfoundation.org or 860-583-6363 for a determination of eligibility.
Main Street Community Foundation utilizes an online grants platform. Visit our Online Grants Center to complete and submit your LOI by 4pm on September 19, 2025. You will also find the program's full guidelines and eligibility criteria there.

The second Continued Funding cycle for existing grantees will open on September 29, 2025.

Burlington Community Fund

A separate grant cycle for the Burlington Community Fund will no longer be conducted in the fall. If you have a program/project that benefits residents of Burlington for which you are seeking grant funding, please contact the Foundaton to discuss. Burlington requests can also be submitted in the General Grant Cycle which occurs annually in February/March. See below for details.

General Grant Cycle

2025 Cycle Closed

Grants distributed from Main Street Community Foundation have made a positive difference for thousands of people throughout our area since the Foundation's establishment in 1995. While the majority of grants distributed each year benefit designated organizations for which the funds are established or are directed by individual donors, the Foundation administers a number of funds whereby grant awards are made through a competitive grant cycle.

Grant requests for the General Grant Cycle should fall within the following program areas: Basic Needs, Access to Opportunity and Vibrant Communities and must benefit the residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott.
Grants for programs, capital expenditures and general operating support will be considered
Applicants must be in compliance with all prior grant reporting requirements in order to be eligible to apply in this cycle. If you are applying for a second consecutive year of funding for the same program, please check with us to see if you qualify for an abbreviated application.

If you have received funding from the General Grant Cycle for two or more years in a row, you are not eligible to apply in the current grant cycle.

Competitive grants are made to eligible community organizations for future, planned expenditures and not to cover operating deficits or previously incurred obligations. Preference is given to an organization if the program/project:

Responds to changing or emerging needs of the community;
Leverages or generates other funding or resources;
Promotes collaboration among nonprofit organizations without duplication of efforts; and/or
Enhances an existing program to encourage sustainability.

*Please take note that we have Field of Interest (FOI) funds available in the General Grant Cycle that support the following specific uses:

Care and support of animals.
Sports field maintenance in Bristol and Burlington.
Programs/projects benefiting the Burlington community.
Non-sport, noncompetitive programs and activities for children attending elementary and middle schools in Southington. Programs and activities must involve direct and active participation by the children and will promote and encourage self-expression and personal accomplishment.

Grants from these funds are in addition to numerous other unrestricted and FOI funds.

The Foundation’s Distribution Committee, a volunteer group of appointed community representatives, recommends all grant decisions for final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified of decisions by email in mid-June.

How to Apply

Main Street Community Foundation utilizes an online grants management system. Visit our Online Grants Center to review the program's full guidelines and eligibility criteria and apply.

Applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert (kate@mainstreetfoundation.org), Director of Grants & Programs, or Alicia Krar (alicia@mainstreetfoundation.org), Grants Manager, at 860.583.6363 for a preliminary discussion of their proposal at least 1 week prior to the deadline.

Malerbo Children's Field Maintenance Fund

2024 Cycle Closed

A bequest received in 2005 from the estate of Harold L. Malerbo provided an opportunity to award funds to nonprofit youth sports organizations in Bristol and Burlington for field improvements, field maintenance, facility improvements or equipment needed for those purposes. The Malerbo Children’s Field Maintenance Fund was accepting grant applications in the fall of 2024. Malerbo Funds can not be used to relieve any municipal, state, or federal governmental entity from performing field maintenance, improvements or purchase of equipment for which it is normally responsible. Nonprofit organizations must be located in Bristol or Burlington and must be in compliance with any previous grant reporting requirements.

How to Apply

Apply in the General Grant Cycle. After March 28, please call the Foundation office at 860-583-6363 if you have a grant request that you would like to discuss.

Men & Boys' Fund

2024 Cycle Closed

The Men & Boys' Fund was established in 2016 by a group of local, committed men. Through grantmaking, the Foundation works to make it possible for men and boys to improve the quality of their lives, increase self-sufficiency and make a positive difference in their community. Grants are made to organizations serving males of any age in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott.

Applicants must be in compliance with all previous grant reporting requirements. Any organization who has received a grant for three consecutive years will not be eligible to apply for a grant the following year.

The Men & Boys' Fund Advisory Board recommends all grant decisions for final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

How to Apply

Main Street Community Foundation utilizes an online grants platform. The grant cycle is currently closed, but visit our Online Grants Center to apply when the next cycle opens in August 2025. You will also find the program's full guidelines and eligibility criteria there.

Applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert (kate@mainstreetfoundation.org) Director of Grants & Programs or another member of the grantmaking team at 860.583.6363 for a preliminary discussion of their proposal at least 1 week prior to the deadline.

Plainville Community Fund

2025 Cycle Closed

The Plainville Community Fund was established in 2006 by a group of Plainville leaders to create an additional resource for charitable projects and programs that would enhance the lives of Plainville residents. Grants are made to either a public institution or private tax-exempt organization engaged in charitable activities defined by Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Either the organization or the program for which funding is requested, must be located in Plainville and be of benefit to Plainville residents. Grant requests should fall within the following program areas: Basic Needs, Access to Opportunity and Vibrant Communities.

Applicants must be in compliance with all previous grant reporting requirements.

The Plainville Community Fund Advisory Committee recommends all grant decisions for final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified of decisions by email in mid-May.

How to Apply

Main Street Community Foundation utilizes an online grants platform. Visit our Online Grants Center to review the program's full guidelines and eligibility criteria and apply when the next cycle opens in February 2026.

Applicants must contact Kate Kerchaert (kate@mainstreetfoundation.org), Director of Grants & Programs, or another member of the grantmaking team at 860.583.6363 for a determination of eligibility at least 1 week prior to the deadline.

Women & Girls Fund

2024 Cycle Closed.

The Women & Girls Fund was founded in 2001 by a group of caring and committed women. Through grantmaking, the Foundation assists women and girls with obtaining the skills and competencies to develop their potential and improve the quality of their lives. Grants will allow organizations to build internal capacity to ensure ongoing support of women and girls in the local communities. Applications will be accepted for program grants and capital requests that are related to a program that meets grant guidelines.

2024 Grantmaking Priorities

Based on input from over 20 participating grantee and community partners, Main Street Community Foundation has identified three priority areas for the Women & Girls Fund. Preference will be given to grant requests that address the following needs:

Services for Senior Women: Programs that provide supports to senior women to increase self-sufficiency such as - basic needs, financial literacy resources, and opportunities to decrease social isolation

Confidence Building and Leadership: Programs that build self-esteem and self-reliance particularly in young girls and teens such as - programs that promote connections with a caring and stable adult, programs that promote financial literacy and life-skills, and programs that develop skills to be a successful leader in school, the community or in a career

Mental Health and Well-being: Programs that reduce anxiety and stress through non-clinical methods, teach mindfulness skills, and improve overall self-care and well-being for women of all ages

Grants are made to organizations serving women and girls of any age in the towns of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott. Collaborations between organizations are encouraged and will be given special consideration. Applicants must be in compliance with all previous grant reporting requirements to be considered in the current grant cycle.

The Women & Girls Fund Advisory Board recommends all grant decisions for final approval by the Foundation's Board of Directors.

How to Apply