Opportunity Overview
American Savings Foundation is accepting applications for its 2026 Community Grants, supporting direct-service programs in education, human services, and arts and culture across the Foundation’s 64-town Connecticut service area.
Application deadline: September 30, 2026. The Foundation does not publish an exact submission clock time or time zone.
Funding
Community Grant requests may be for up to $5,000. The requested amount should represent a meaningful percentage of the specific program budget.
Eligibility and Geography
Applicants must generally be tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3); public libraries may also apply. Agencies of any size may apply for programs and services in the Foundation’s 64-town service area outside New Britain and Waterbury. In New Britain and Waterbury, organizations with agency budgets greater than $250,000 must generally use the Foundation’s Program Grant pathway for programs taking place in or primarily serving those cities.
The 64-town service area includes Manchester, Bristol, Meriden, Middletown, Naugatuck, New Britain, Southington, Waterbury, West Hartford, Windham, and other Connecticut communities identified by the Foundation.
Allowable and Excluded Costs
Funding is primarily for direct-service program expenses. Program requests cannot include computers or other capital purchases. Limited requests for essential capital equipment may be considered only as a stand-alone request after consultation with the Foundation before applying. The Foundation does not fund general operating support, replacement of municipal/state/federal funding, municipalities and municipal services except rare invitation-only exceptions, disease-specific or scientific research, travel, field trips, teacher professional development, sports teams/tournaments, or ordinary event sponsorships.
Repeat-Funding and Prior-Grant Rules
- Only one Community Grant can be awarded per agency in a calendar year.
- Agencies awarded an American Savings Foundation Program Grant in the past 12 months are not eligible for a Community Grant.
- Organizations may reapply for up to three consecutive years; after three consecutive awards, a one-year waiting period applies.
- New requests will not be considered until the Foundation has received the final report for any previous grant.
Submission
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online grants portal. The Grants Team can be reached at grants@asfdn.org or 860-357-2652 for program guidance, including required consultation before any stand-alone capital-equipment request.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 86/100. This is a legitimate, open Connecticut opportunity with clear community relevance, a defined award ceiling, and alignment to behavioral health, community health, youth, family, and human-services programs. The small award size and program-expense emphasis limit strategic scale.
N9+ Fit: 5/100 conditional. Ordinary program requests expressly exclude computers and capital purchases. A limited essential capital-equipment request may be possible only as a stand-alone application after Foundation consultation, so no N9+ equipment fit should be assumed.
QC Healthcare/other Dr. Miltie Fit: 10/100 conditional. Any role would need to fit an applicant-defined direct-service scope and the Foundation’s cost rules. Dr. Miltie direct-applicant fit: 0/100 absent independent nonprofit eligibility.
Applicant Qualification Gate
Before any applicant outreach or package advancement, Atlas must confirm the prospective applicant’s 501(c)(3) status and service geography, verify that it has not received an American Savings Foundation Program Grant in the prior 12 months, verify that it has not already received a 2026 Community Grant, and, for any prior American Savings Foundation award, confirm that the required final report has been received. Applicant-specific project scope and budget must not be fabricated.
Official Sources
American Savings Foundation Community Grants | 64 Connecticut Towns Served