Northwest Community Bank has proudly served the financial needs of local individuals, families, businesses, and institutions for over 160 years. As a leading community citizen, the Bank’s role has been to support, encourage, and help champion the advancement of children and families throughout the region. In keeping with the Bank’s longstanding commitment to investing in the community, the Northwest Community Bank Foundation was established in 2021. The Foundation’s aim is to work collaboratively to support and build partnerships that promote innovative solutions to meet the complex needs of our community.
Working to address the needs of the communities we serve
Our Recipients: Providing opportunities to those who impact our community
In its first cycle of 2025, The Northwest Community Bank Foundation, Inc. awarded $123,200 to 67 area non-profit organizations, and also referred several grant applications to the Bank’s Corporate Giving Program. The non-profit organizations received their grants in May. Northwest Community Bank President and CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo states that, “We received a large number of grant applications, and we made decisions based on the needs and benefits of each grant proposal, and their impact on members of the community.”
Northwest Community Bank Foundation’s “A Celebration of Gratitude” was held in January
The Northwest Community Bank Foundation proudly hosted “A Celebration of Gratitude” gala at the Hill-Stead Museum in Connecticut. In its third year, the event celebrated the impactful contributions of 126 nonprofit organizations that received over $200,500 in grants in 2024. These organizations provide crucial support across various areas, including family assistance, food insecurity, behavioral health, disability services, land preservation, and afterschool programs. The gala was attended by approximately 100 people, including representatives from various agencies, bank employees, and board members, all committed to strengthening and supporting our local communities.
Northwest Community Bank Foundation 2025 Spring Cycle Grants Awarded
Litchfield Hills/Northwest Elderly Nutrition Program
Awarded $3,000 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is proud to support the Litchfield Hills/Northwest Elderly Nutrition Program with a $3,000 grant for its Fuel for Food initiative. This vital program helps ensure that seniors in our community have access to nutritious meals by supporting the transportation and delivery services that make it possible.
Pictured left to right: Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo; Nicole McDonald, Administrative Assistant; Christine Trudeau-Brown, Administrative, Sullivan Senior Center; and Foundation Board Chair
Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance
Awarded $2,000 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is pleased to award a $2,000 grant to Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, Inc. in support of its iPads for Patient Care initiative. These devices will help enhance emergency response by improving communication and streamlining access to vital patient information in the field.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio; Karin Stewart, Executive Director; Susan Everest, Secretary; and Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo.
Northwest Connecticut YMCA
Awarded $5,250 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is proud to support the Winsted Residence program of the Northwest Connecticut YMCA with a $5,250 grant. This initiative provides safe, affordable housing and essential services to individuals in need, helping to foster stability and well-being in our community.
Pictured left to right: Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo; Bob Teittinen, Board President; Willem Donahue, Director of Maintenance; Brian Ohler, Chief Executive Director; and Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio.
Covenant to Care for Children
Awarded $2,500 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is pleased to award a $2,500 grant to Covenant to Care for Children, Inc. to support its Basic Essential Goods for Children program. This important initiative helps provide children in need with everyday necessities such as clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies, ensuring they have a stronger foundation for health and learning.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio; Dave Santis, Ph.D., Executive Director; and Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo.
Hartford Interval House
Awarded $2,500 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is honored to support Hartford Interval House, Inc. with a $2,500 grant for its Breaking the Cycle: Intervention & Prevention at Interval House program. This initiative plays a critical role in addressing and preventing domestic violence through education, support services, and early intervention.
Pictured left to right: Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo; Mary-Jane Foster, President & CEO; and Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio.
Friend to Friend, Inc.
Awarded $2,600 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is proud to support Friend to Friend, Inc. with a $2,600 grant for its Food Pantry program. This vital initiative helps ensure that individuals and families facing food insecurity in our community have consistent access to nutritious groceries and essential items.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio; Paul Oliva, Director; Leona Bevins, President; and Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo.
Litchfield Land Trust
Awarded $3,000 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is pleased to support Litchfield Land Trust with a $3,000 grant for its Boost the Caboose Restoration Project. This unique initiative will help preserve and restore an important piece of local history while enhancing educational and community engagement opportunities.
Pictured left to right: Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo; Roberta Andrulis Mette, Director; Dean Birdsall, Executive Director; and Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio.
Northwest Connecticut (NWCT) Adult Day Center
Awarded $2,500 Grant
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The Northwest Community Bank Foundation is proud to support Northwest Connecticut (NWCT) Adult Day Center with a $2,500 grant for its Nutritious Noon Meal program. This initiative ensures that older adults and individuals with special needs receive healthy, well-balanced meals each day, supporting both their physical health and overall well-being.
Pictured left to right: Foundation Board Chair Alan Colavecchio; Amy Fitzpatrick, Executive Director; Susan Rea, Board Chair; and Northwest Community Bank CEO and Foundation President Maura Malo.
$123,200 in grants awarded to 67 non-profit organizations in our 2025 Spring cycle
2025 Spring Cycle Recipients
| Non-Profit Organization | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| After School Arts Program, Inc. (ASAP!) | $1,400.00 | ASAP! Summer Camp for Youth |
| American Mural Project | $1,400.00 | Summer @AMP – Art Enrichment Programs for 2025 |
| American Museum of Tort Law | $1,400.00 | Youth Civic Challenge Program |
| Arts for Learning Connecticut | $1,000.00 | Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools at Kinsella in Hartford |
| Aton Forest, Inc. | $2,000.00 | Haskell property, Colebrook, CT |
| Avon Land Trust, Inc. | $1,090.00 | Oakes Preserve Mapping and Tool to Control Invasive Knotweed |
| Brooker Memorial | $2,500.00 | Shade Equipment for Child Care Playground |
| Burlington Volunteer Fire Department | $2,000.00 | Expanded AED coverage for our First Responders |
| Canton Historical Society | $1,500.00 | 2025 Electrical improvement plan |
| Colebrook Fire Department Forge Company, Inc. | $1,000.00 | Griphoist / Tirfor TU Series Hoist Rescue Kit (TU-28) for Squad 2 |
| Connecticut Institute for the Blind d/b/a Oak Hill | $1,000.00 | Adaptive Camp & Recreation |
| Connecticut Rivers Council Camp Workcoeman Scouting America | $1,300.00 | Camp4All: Camp Workcoeman Program/Facility Enhancement |
| Covenant to Care for Children, Inc. | $2,500.00 | Basic Essential Goods for Children |
| Dress for Success Hartford County Inc. (Dress for Success Hartford) | $1,000.00 | Financial Literacy Education for the Professional Women’s Group |
| East Granby Social Services | $2,000.00 | East Granby Emergency Assistance Fund |
| Falls Village Volunteer Fire Department | $1,000.00 | Outfit our Department in Hi-Vis |
| Farmington Land Trust Inc | $1,250.00 | The Open Space Land Stewardship and Garden Necessities Project |
| FOCUS CENTER FOR AUTISM, INC | $2,500.00 | FOCUS Center for Autism - Fresh Start School |
| Friend to Friend, Inc. | $2,600.00 | Food Pantry |
| Girl Scouts of Connecticut Inc. | $1,500.00 | Building Girl Leaders in Northwest Connecticut |
| Goshen Community Care | $1,500.00 | Monthly Family Dinners |
| Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc. | $1,500.00 | Increasing Access to Mental Health Support for At-Risk Youth |
| GREENWOODS COUNSELING REFERRALS INC | $3,500.00 | Financial Aid for Mental Healthcare across Litchfield County |
| Gunn Memorial Library | $1,500.00 | Career Club : Individual Career Mapping |
| Habitat for Humanity of NWCT | $5,000.00 | Habitat For Humanity of Northwest Connecticut - North Canaan Home |
| Hands On Hartford | $2,500.00 | Hands On Hartford Community Pantry |
| Hartford Interval House, Inc. | $2,500.00 | Breaking the Cycle: Intervention & Prevention at Interval House |
| Healing Hoofbeats of CT Inc | $1,000.00 | Hoof & Heart Fund – Supporting the care and well-being of Healing Hoofbeats’ Animal Healers. |
| Healing Meals Foundation Corporation | $3,100.00 | Nourishing Northwest Connecticut |
| Helping Hands Chore Service | $3,000.00 | Program Development & Capacity Building |
| Hill-Stead Museum | $1,000.00 | From the Porch |
| Housatonic Youth Service Bureau | $2,000.00 | Student Assistance Program |
| Klingberg Family Centers Inc | $2,500.00 | The Klingberg Family Pantry |
| Litchfield Hills Rowing Club | $1,000.00 | Financial Aid Support |
| Litchfield Hills/Northwest Elderly Nutrition Program | $3,000.00 | Fuel for Food |
| Litchfield Historical Society | $2,000.00 | Critical Technology Upgrades |
| Litchfield Land Trust | $3,000.00 | Boost the Caboose Restoration Project |
| Litchfield Performing Arts, Inc | $2,000.00 | Litchfield Jazz Camp Talent Search and Jazz After Work |
| McCall Foundation, Inc. | $1,750.00 | Enhancing Patient Safety and Medication Management through NextGen EHR-Integrated Cameras |
| New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance | $2,000.00 | Lifesaving Advanced Airway Management Tools and Training |
| New Hartford Volunteer Fire Department | $1,200.00 | Cancer Preventative Fire Hoods |
| New Horizons Living Center Inc. | $2,500.00 | NHLC Soup Kitchen |
| North Canaan Education Foundation | $1,000.00 | Technology Hardware and Software to Run AHA! |
| Northwest Connecticut (NWCT) Adult Day Center | $2,500.00 | Nutritious noon meal |
| Northwestern Connecticut YMCA | $5,250.00 | Winsted Residence |
| Open Door | $2,000.00 | Open Door Soup Kitchen |
| Prime Time House Inc | $1,188.00 | Continue with Prime Minds Cognitive Remediation Program |
| PVUMC Community Food Bank | $1,200.00 | Community Outreach Infrastructure |
| Region 5 Dive Team | $2,000.00 | AED |
| Riverton Theatre, Inc. | $1,000.00 | Set replacement and sound system upgrade |
| Simsbury Free Library | $1,500.00 | Simsbury Free Library |
| Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association, Inc. | $2,000.00 | iPads for Patient Care |
| Summit Adaptive Sports Inc. | $1,000.00 | Communication Upgrade Project |
| The Arc of the Farmington Valley, Inc. | $1,000.00 | Favarh Players Theater Program |
| The Community Kitchen of Torrington Inc | $1,500.00 | Stock the pantry and freezer |
| The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory | $1,500.00 | Half Century Leadership Change - Call for Strategic Planning |
| The Police Activities League of Hartford INC. (PAL) | $1,000.00 | General Operating Funds |
| Town of Hartland | $1,000.00 | Hartland Community Assistance Fund |
| Watertown History Museum | $1,000.00 | Speaking of History |
| West Hartland Volunteer Fire Department | $2,000.00 | Portable radios with dual compatibility |
| Winchester Land Trust | $1,600.00 | 4th and 5th grade Outdoor Education Field Trips |
| Winchester Youth Service Bureau branch of the Northwest CT YMCA | $2,200.00 | Rising Star Camp Scholarships |
| Winsted Area Ambulance Association | $2,000.00 | Radio System Upgrade |
| Winsted Youth Baseball Softball Association | $1,000.00 | Softball Pitching Machine Purchase |
| YMCA Camp Mohawk, Inc | $2,500.00 | Waterfront Shed Replacement |
| YMCA of Greater Hartford | $2,400.00 | Camp Chase Camp Scholarships |
Investment Focus Areas will include, but will not be limited to the following:
Education That Fuels
Future Economic Success
Our education grants help empower people to build personal assets and skills to take charge of their futures.
- Youth development including early childhood education
- Financial education
- Employment skills/workforce development
- Women’s empowerment
Safe and Affordable Housing
Our affordable housing grants support access to safe, clean and affordable places to live.
- Community development projects
- Maintenance and renovation projects
- Homebuyer programs
- Temporary housing, shelter
Basic Human Services
Our basic human services grants support organizations that meet the immediate needs of individuals and families while also supporting prevention and long-term solutions for people living in difficult economic circumstances.
- Food and nutrition programs
- Fuel assistance
- Domestic violence programs
- Basic necessity assistance e.g., clothing
- Health Services
Community Impact
Our community impact grants support the overall well-being of individuals within the community
- Disaster relief
- The Environment
- The Arts
- Animal Welfare
Guidelines and Eligibility:
Eligibility for Grants:
To apply for a grant from the Northwest Community Bank Foundation applicants must be:
- A registered 501(c) 3 organization that demonstrates significant local Municipalities will be considered for programs or expenditures outside the realm of municipal responsibilities.
- An organization whose mission or services align with Northwest Community Bank’s investment focus
- An organization providing services within Northwest Community Bank Communities*
*While preference is given to organizations primarily serving the aforementioned cities and towns, the Foundation Board will also consider funding for programs which reach a broader, more regional area, as long as that area incorporates services provided to Northwest Community Bank Communities.
The Foundation does not provide financial support to political organizations or candidates, activities for religious purposes, individual endeavors or organizations which are discriminatory in their practices. Additionally, it will not fund organizations which utilize a fiscal agent.
Geographic Preference:
Avon, Barkhamsted, Berlin, Bethlehem, Bloomfield, Bridgewater, Bristol, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Colebrook, Collinsville, Cornwall, East Granby, Falls Village, Farmington, Goshen, Granby, Hartford, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Lakeville, Litchfield, Morris, New Britain, New Hartford, Newington, New Milford, Norfolk, Plainville, Rocky Hill, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Simsbury, Southington, Suffield, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Winsted and Woodbury.
Grant Programs:
The Foundation will consider the following types of funding requests from organizations that fit our investment focus areas.
- Program Grants to support the delivery and/or expansion of the direct services core to the mission of local organizations.
- Capacity Building Grants aimed at strengthening an agency’s ability to make a greater impact, improve effectiveness and efficiency or adapt to address changing community needs. e.g., strategic planning, staff and board development, technology upgrades, and marketing.
- Capital Grants and Campaigns will be considered by the Foundation but may also be selectively considered by Northwest Community Bank’s Corporate Giving programs.
*Capital projects are typically defined as major building purchases, new construction, expansion, renovation, and/or land acquisition.
Frequency:
Organizations may apply to one grant cycle and total annual grants awarded will not exceed $25,000. Extenuating circumstances may be considered.
Deadlines and Review Process:
Grants will be reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in an impartial manner based upon an evaluation of each grant request. Some key elements examined in our grant evaluation process include an organizations’ financial sustainability, leadership, impact and collaboration within the community.
| 2025 Phase I: Application Available February 15th | Due March 15th | Notification May 15th |
| 2025 Phase II: Application Available August 15th | Due September 15th | Notification November 15th |
Average Grant Request:
The average grant amount distributed in 2024 was $1,600.
Additional Eligibility Guidelines:
Although there are many worthy endeavors, the Foundation generally does not invest in the causes listed below. If you fall into one of these categories, we suggest you submit your request to Northwest Community Bank’s Corporate Giving program which may possibly consider your request.
- Individuals including those seeking scholarships, fellowships, or sponsors for a particular cause
- Alumni organizations
- Endowment campaigns
- Fundraising dinners or events and tickets to fundraising events
- Individual sports teams including youth sports teams and leagues
- Advertising and promotional items or merchandise
- Organizations designed primarily for lobbying, Political Action Committees, candidates, and lobbying
- Travel, including conferences, seminars, tours and student trips
- The Foundation does not make grants to organizations for which program services are contingent on participation in religious services or events or adherence to religious doctrine.
- Other Foundations
Northwest Community Bank Foundation Board Members
- Alan Colavecchio, Chair
- Jane Hinkel
- Raimie Webber
- Brian McCormick, Co-Chair
- Jessica Bragg
- Susan Atkins
- William Shea
- Charles Joseph
- Kevin Sullivan