Ion Bank Foundation Grants – Grant Round #3 (2026)

Community Grants for Nonprofits in Connecticut and New Jersey

The Ion Bank Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, municipal entities, and eligible religious organizations working to improve the communities served by Ion Bank. The Foundation funds programs and capital needs that contribute to community betterment, with priority given to affordable housing, community services, economic development, and revitalization of distressed or underserved areas.

Grant Round #3 is open from August 13, 2026, through October 9, 2026, with decisions expected after the November 2026 Foundation meeting.

Organization: Ion Bank Foundation
Support Type: Competitive grants for programs and capital needs
Geographic Focus: Eligible communities in Connecticut and Morris and Passaic counties, New Jersey
Typical Grant Range: Most supported requests fall between $1,000 and $10,000
Deadline: October 9, 2026

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

The Ion Bank Foundation supports programs and organizations that contribute to the betterment of the communities Ion Bank serves. Through its grantmaking, the Foundation invests in local nonprofits and community partners addressing demonstrated needs across Connecticut and parts of New Jersey.

The Foundation awards both designated grants and competitive grants. Designated grants are made to organizations selected by the Ion Bank Foundation and do not require an application. Competitive grants are available for eligible organizations seeking support for programs and capital needs.

What This Program Supports

The Ion Bank Foundation primarily supports projects aligned with the following priorities:

Affordable Housing and Rehabilitation

Programs and projects that support access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

Community Services

Community-based services, including but not limited to:

Healthcare
Education
Job training
Social services
Child care
Credit or financial services

Economic Development

Programs that strengthen local economic opportunity, workforce pathways, financial stability, or community prosperity.

Revitalization or Stabilization of Distressed or Underserved Areas

Projects that help improve, stabilize, or revitalize communities facing economic or social challenges.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants may include:

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Municipal entities seeking grants for public purposes
Religious organizations seeking support for nonsectarian projects primarily associated with Foundation priorities

Applicants must be located in or serve communities within Ion Bank’s defined Community Reinvestment Act assessment area.

Applicants must also have a board of at least three community representatives, with a majority of board members who are neither employees nor relatives of employees.

Connecticut applicants must have a current Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds, or applicable exemption, from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

Geographic Focus

The Ion Bank Foundation supports organizations located in or serving eligible communities within its assessment area.

Connecticut Eligible Areas

Capital Region: Andover, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Bolton, Canton, Columbia, Coventry, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Hebron, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, New Britain, Newington, Plainville, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Somers, South Windsor, Southington, Stafford, Suffield, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Willington, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.

Naugatuck Valley Region: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bristol, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury.

South Central Region: Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven, and Woodbridge.

New Jersey Eligible Areas

Morris County
Passaic County

Proposal Preferences

The Ion Bank Foundation looks for strong proposals that:

Address a demonstrated community need
Show the organization’s track record in successfully implementing programs
Use evidence-based programs and models, when appropriate
Demonstrate potential to leverage additional or sustaining support
Clearly explain the project plan
Include a realistic budget aligned with project goals
Advance community plans and priorities, when applicable
Show broad, visible community involvement in project design or fundraising
Include alliances or collaborative ventures, especially when partnerships are essential to success
Describe the organization’s local presence and benefit to eligible Connecticut or New Jersey communities

Capital and Equipment Requests

The Foundation may consider capital and equipment requests, but gives higher priority to programs and services.

Requests for capital expenditures on buildings not owned by the nonprofit requesting funds are not eligible.

For capital campaign requests, applicants must include a campaign feasibility study and provide the campaign status, including requested versus secured contributions.

School-Based Requests

Requests from schools, or for programs offered in schools by nonprofit organizations, must include a signed letter of support from the school principal.

Indirect / Overhead Costs

Competitive grants may support direct costs for starting or improving a program. Indirect or overhead expenses are permitted as a line item, but overhead above 10% of the request must be documented in the budget narrative.

Ineligible Requests

The Ion Bank Foundation does not fund:

Requests for political purposes
Requests for religious purposes
Requests from municipalities or religious organizations for buildings or associated expenses
Capital expenditures on buildings not owned by the nonprofit requesting funds
Expenses that have already been incurred

The Foundation may consider equipment requests from municipalities or religious organizations if the equipment is specifically part of an eligible programmatic request.

Funding Amounts

The Ion Bank Foundation does not set a strict request limit. However, most supported requests fall within the range of:

$1,000 – $10,000

Organizations may submit more than one proposal in a year, but receiving more than one competitive or designated grant in the same year is unusual.

Timeline & Review

📅 Grant Round #3: Accepting applications August 13, 2026 – October 9, 2026
📅 Grant Round #3 Meeting: November 2026

The Foundation notes that the grant review and decision-making process takes place after the grant submission deadline. Applicants will be notified by phone call or letter once decisions have been made.

Application / Request Process

Applicants should complete the online grant application through the Ion Bank Foundation website.

Applicants should be prepared to submit the following attachments:

Proposed project budget and budget narrative
List of support from other funders, including amounts requested and whether each request is committed, pending, or projected
Board of Directors list, including contact information for the Board Chair
IRS nonprofit determination letter
Connecticut Nonprofit Registration to Solicit Funds, or exemption, if located in Connecticut
Principal letter of support for school-based programs
Campaign feasibility study and campaign status, if applying for a capital campaign

Important Note on Sponsorships

Sponsorship requests should not be submitted through the grant portal. Sponsorship requests should be dropped off at any Ion Bank branch or emailed to kbrochhausen@ionbank.com.

Apply / Learn More:
➡️ Ion Bank Foundation Grant Application and Guidelines

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

Serve eligible Ion Bank communities in Connecticut or Morris and Passaic counties, New Jersey
Focus on affordable housing, community services, economic development, or revitalization
Can demonstrate a clear community need
Have a strong project plan and realistic budget
Serve distressed or underserved areas
Can show local collaboration, community involvement, or alignment with community priorities

The Ion Bank Foundation is best suited for local nonprofits and community partners with well-defined programs or capital needs that directly benefit communities within Ion Bank’s service area.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Competitive grant cycles
Current Deadline: October 9, 2026
Current Cycle: Grant Round #3
Decision Meeting: November 2026
Typical Grant Range: $1,000 – $10,000
Best Suited For: Nonprofits and eligible public-purpose entities serving Ion Bank communities in Connecticut and Morris or Passaic counties, New Jersey
Key Reminder: Sponsorship requests should not be submitted through the grant portal