Colorado

The Community Foundation Boulder County has released Boulder County Wildfire Fund: Two Years of Support (19 pages, PDF), a report presenting an overview, timeline, and financial summary of the fund’s activities to date. It also outlines the work the foundation in collaboration with various partners in support of the community’s immediate, short-term, and long-term recovery efforts. Of the $43 million raised by the Boulder County Wildfire Fund, more than $41 million has been allocated to community needs and more than $30 million has been distributed.

Connecticut

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut in New London has announced more than $314,000 in 2023 grant awards from its four Women & Girls Funds. Northeast Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $25,464 to nine nonprofits; Norwich Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $23,000 to three nonprofits; Southeast Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $204,247 to 27 nonprofits; and Windham Area Women & Girls Fund awarded $61,808 to 14 nonprofits.

Indiana

The Central Indiana Community Foundation, in partnership with Herbert Simon Family Foundation (HSFF) and a community panel of artists and arts administrators, has announced 11 recipients of grants totaling $125,000. Awarded through the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund, the grants range from $4,450 to $15,000. HSFF established the fund in September as a pilot project to provide funding to enable individual artists, artist collectives, and collaborating artists to take creative risks and pursue experimental projects. The fund is part of a trio of initiatives funded by HSFF, including Artists At Work Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Artist Bridge Loan Fund, that seek to support, fund, and build the Indianapolis cultural economy in ways that change mechanisms and power structures and center individual artists, art collectives, and arts organizations that have historically been outside of the mainstream local arts scene.

Michigan

The Midland Area Community Foundation has announced 10 fourth-quarter grants totaling $407,500, including awards from the Youth Action Council totaling $25,000 and Community Investment grants totaling $382,500. Recipients include Chippewa Nature Center, Self Love Beauty, Hidden Harvest, and the Midland Community Orchestra.

Grand Rapids Community Foundation (GRCF) has announced the appointment of LaSandra “Sandra” Gaddy as president and CEO, effective February 5, 2024. Gaddy currently serves as CEO of Women’s Resource Center, a gender-responsive organization in Grand Rapids focused on improving women’s economic opportunities. She will succeed Diana R. Sieger, who has led GRCF since 1987. In the interim, GRCF and Women’s Resource Center will work closely to ensure a smooth transition and continued partnership.

New Mexico

The Santa Fe Community Foundation has announced that its Santa Fe Baby Fund, which supports the well-being of infants, toddlers, and their caretakers, has awarded $70,000 in grants to six local nonprofits. Recipients include Breath of My Heart Birthplace, Gerard’s House, Las Cumbres Community Services, and Many Mothers.

New York

The Syracuse-based Central New York Community Foundation has announced the appointment of Melanie Littlejohn as president and CEO, effective March 1, 2024. Littlejohn, who earlier this month announced her plans to retire from National Grid in February, leads a team responsible for engaging with customers, key community leaders, and policy makers across New York State to ensure processes, planning, and best practices were delivered consistently. She has served at National Grid since 1994, when she was hired as director of inclusion & diversity–US operations.

Ohio

The Cleveland Foundation has announced the inaugural grantees of the Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund, a long-term donor-advised fund established in June with $10 million from the City of Cleveland. The first $1 million in grantmaking will support 29 grassroots organizations and programs operating in 14 neighborhoods, with awards ranging from $7,500 to $60,000. In addition to funding, all applicants, regardless of award status, will be able to take part in learning opportunities intended to raise awareness of the diverse work happening across communities and look for ways to increase support, communication, and collaboration. Recipients include A Vision of Change, Ghetto Therapy, Special Deeds, and Together We Rise.

Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Foundation has announced that Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh has awarded 38 grants totaling $1.6 million to advance the work of individual artists and collectives as well as provide project, planning, and operating support for arts organizations. All but three of the grants are for two years of funding. In June 2021, Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh received a $2 million gift from MacKenzie Scott that enabled the program to provide larger award amounts and multi-year support for a cohort of Black-led organizations and those serving primarily Black audiences. While organizations have received multiyear support in the past, this is the first time individual artists are getting two-year support.

Tennessee

HCA Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare Foundation have announced gifts totaling $250,000 to aid those impacted by the tornadoes that recently hit middle Tennessee. The gifts include $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, $50,000 each to United Way of Greater Nashville and the American Red Cross, and additional gifts to Community Resource Center, Hands On Nashville, and Armed Services YMCA Fort Campbell.

West Virginia

Organizations working for the betterment of the Little Kanawha area recently received $8,000 in grant support from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and its affiliate, Little Kanawha Area Community Foundation, through their competitive Community Action Grants Program. Recipients include Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department, the Town of Grantsville, Two Runs Community Association, and Wirt County 4-H Shooting Sports Club.

Wisconsin

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region has announced grants totaling more than $840,000 through its Community Vision Fund in 2023. Recipients include NEW Hmong Professionals, Community Clothes Closet, LOTUS Legal Clinic, and Thompson Center on Lourdes.