Connecticut

The CT Cannabis Social Equity Council and the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut recently awarded $1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations based in Norwich, New London, and Willimantic, the Norwich Bulletin reports. The grants are part of a pilot program of the Social Equity Council, in which $6 million was divided evenly among six grantmaking entities from impacted communities to help the council distribute funds from the cannabis industry. Specifically, the funding will be put toward youth education, recreation, arts, and reentry and reintegration programs that support formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.

Iowa

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, affiliates of the Omaha Community Foundation, have announced grants totaling nearly $400,000 in support of projects across nine counties. Recipients include Friendship Home, Griswold Youth Sports, Shenandoah Medical Center, and the Merrymakers Association.

Maine

The Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) has announced that its Maine Women’s Fund awarded $120,000 this year to 24 organizations across the state working to advance gender equity. Recipients include A Company of Girls, Equality Maine Foundation, Tree Street Youth, and YWCA Central Maine. In addition, the fund, now in its second year at MaineCF, is seeking nominations for an advisory committee of eight to 12 members to advise on the fund’s formation, implementation, and grantmaking. The advisory committee will be composed of women and nonbinary people, a majority of whom are from and have knowledge of marginalized groups.

Maryland

The Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF) has announced the launch of Thrive Prince George’s, a two-year, $4 million guaranteed-income pilot that aims to provide greater economic stability and mobility for families in the region. The program, which is spearheaded by GWCF, Prince George’s County executive and council, and the Meyer Foundation, will provide monthly payments of $800 to 50 youth (ages 18-24) who have aged out of foster care and more than 125 seniors (ages 60 and older) for a 24-month period with no strings attached and no requirements tied to employment. The $4 million pilot is funded using both public and private philanthropic resources, with partners each contributing $1 million.

Massachusetts

The Boston Foundation has announced the inaugural recipients of funding through the Thomas J. Ruffen Community Leadership Fund, which was established to cultivate and support emerging local leaders who are committed to their community, want to implement new ideas, and need an initial source of financial support to get their initiative going. Created in memory of Thomas J. Ruffen, a nonprofit leader and a 2021 Boston Neighborhood Fellow who was killed in 2022, the fund is designed to serve as a testament to his belief in the power of collective action and grassroots leadership. The 2023 fund recipients include Daniel Laurent, Heang Leung Rubin, Shamilia Lloyd, and Garrick Thames.

Washington

The Seattle Foundation has announced that it is partnering again with Craft3 to offer philanthropists an opportunity to support entrepreneurs of color in King County by transferring assets from their donor-advised funds to its Equitable Lending Initiative. The initiative provides capital and technical assistance to entrepreneurs of color with the goal of narrowing the racial wealth gap, supporting job creation, and expanding access to economic opportunity. The initial goal is $500,000 in pooled investments and/or donations, to match the foundation’s investment commitment. In 2010, the foundation invested $1 million in Craft3 to support commercial loans to underserved business owners as one of its first impact investments, which resulted in over $3 million in Craft3 financing for more than 25 businesses and organizations. In the 13 years since, Craft3 has invested more than $112 million in King County, including $95 million through 275 commercial loans to small businesses and nonprofit organizations.