April 2026 Charitable Giving

Chelsea Groton – Community Grants (2026)

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Charitable Grants Supporting Community Growth in Connecticut and Rhode Island

The Chelsea Groton Foundation provides annual charitable grants to nonprofit organizations serving communities in southeastern Connecticut and southwestern Rhode Island. Established in 1998, the Foundation has awarded more than $7.7 million to nonprofits working to strengthen local communities across Chelsea Groton Bank’s service area.

Beginning in 2025, the Foundation transitioned to one grant cycle per calendar year to better support community partners amid rising demand.

Organization

Chelsea Groton Foundation, Inc.

Support Type

Charitable grants

Geographic Focus

New London County, Connecticut
Westerly, Rhode Island

About the Funder

The Chelsea Groton Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization initially endowed by Chelsea Groton Bank. The Foundation works in partnership with the Bank to support long-term community growth and is committed to belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion—ensuring communities thrive today and in the future.

2026 Grant Program Overview

Funding Priorities

Projects and programs must fall within one or more of the Foundation’s priority areas:

Arts & Culture
Economic Development
Education
Environment
Health & Human Services
Housing
Youth Activities

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit or other acceptable 501(c) organization, or a qualifying governmental unit
Serve communities within Chelsea Groton’s market area (primarily New London County, CT and Westerly, RI)
Align with one or more funding priority areas

New for 2026:
Organizations that received a 2025 Chelsea Groton Foundation grant must:

Fully expend 2025 grant funds before April 30, 2026, and
Submit a required Post-Grant Report prior to applying again

Organizations with unspent 2025 funds after April 30, 2026 must wait until 2027 to reapply.

Funding Amounts

💰 Maximum Grant Request: $10,000

This cap allows the Foundation to support a greater number of community organizations. Requests for multi-year funding require advance approval and must be discussed via email with the Foundation.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted online
Applications cannot be saved once started; applicants are encouraged to prepare responses in advance
All materials are confidential and become the property of the Foundation

Grant recipients are required to submit a Post-Grant Report six months after receiving funds.

For application assistance or eligibility questions, contact giving@chelseagroton.com.

2026 Grant Timeline

📅 Application Opens: February 1, 2026
📅 Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
📅 Awards Announced: June 2026
📅 Checks Disbursed: July 2026