• The Guilford Foundation and GSB allocate $15,350 to Local Noinprofits in Second Round of 2025 Sponsorship Awards

    General News ArticleCommunityPress Release

    Through generous funding from GSB, The Guilford Foundation (TGF) distributed $15,350 to 15 community partners for 17 local events in the second round of the 2025 Sponsorship Award Program. The funding supports Guilford-serving nonprofits with events and programs focused on fundraising and increasing brand visibility.

    Program Director Jennifer Mullett explained, “In our second round of funding, we received 25 sponsorship applications requesting over $55,000 in sponsorship awards. While we strive to support as many initiatives as possible, we remain committed to our annual budget of $30,000, which is made possible through the generosity of GSB. The Development Committee worked through the applications, prioritizing the needs of local organizations, evaluating existing TGF funding, and considering the breadth of residents served in Guilford.”

    Awards from the first application review ranged from $500 to $2,000. This round of funding supports iconic events and programming that build community and connection, including the Little Folks Fair, SongStrong 5K, North Guilford Country Fair, and Wings & Strings Country Bluegrass Festival, among others.  
     

    2025 Sponsorship Recipients (Round 2-April)

    • ALEX, Inc.: Guilford Pride Event
    • Community Nursery School: Little Folks Fair
    • Guilford Art Center: Craft Expo and Soup for Good
    • Guilford Keeping Society: Summer Picnic
    • Guilford Parks and Recreation: 2025 Wings & Strings Country Bluegrass Festival
    • Indaba Action Team: Fundamentals of Race and Racism Workshop
    • Legacy Theatre: 2025 Mainstage Season Enhancement
    • North Guilford Congregational Church: North Guilford Country Fair
    • Paul Dostie KARE Foundation: The 4th Annual Paul Dostie KARE Fest
    • Project Graduation GHS: Project Graduation 2025
    • Shoreline Arts Alliance: Celebration of the Arts 2025
    • Soundview Family YMCA: Sweat for a Cause, Race 4 Chase, Stingrays Banner Program
    • The Connecticut Hospice, Inc.: Bloom Gala
    • The Dudley Foundation/Farm Museum: Educational Events
    • The Ethan Miller Song Foundation: 2025 SongStrong 5K

    “We are incredibly grateful to GSB for their generous $30,000 sponsorship donation. It allows us to provide additional funding to local nonprofits beyond our traditional grantmaking,“ added Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. “The sponsored activities we fund enhance community vitality, as so many are iconic events and programs that make Guilford such a remarkable town.”

    TGF reviews sponsorship applications three times a year. The final 2025 application deadline is July 15. To be eligible for sponsorship, organizations must be tax-exempt and provide programs or services that directly benefit the Guilford community, aligning with the mission and values of The Guilford Foundation and GSB. Potential recipients should visit TGF’s online grant portal to apply.

    GSB started collaborating with four community foundations, including TGF, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank repurposed $100,000 of direct event sponsorship funds to foundations, believing they are well-positioned to prioritize and respond to local needs. This partnership solidifies GSB's commitment to making a lasting impact on the communities it serves.


    About The Guilford Foundation

    The Guilford Foundation is a trusted philanthropic partner established in 1975 when seven friends organized an effort to beautify the area around the town green. In 2025, the organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

    To ensure the perpetuity of their vision, the founders established a source for long-term funding. Over the past four decades, this endowment has expanded in scope and impact and now exceeds $7.9 million, awarding over $2 million in grants and scholarships since 2010. Areas of distribution include animal welfare, arts/culture/heritage, basic needs, community improvement & vitality, education, environment & sustainability, wellness & mental health, human services, children & youth, and seniors.

    The mission of The Guilford Foundation is to enrich the quality of life in the community by connecting people who care with causes that matter, now and for generations to come. TGF is recognized as a responsive, collaborative, and trusted leader that takes the long view toward making a lasting impact in the community.

    For more information about The Guilford Foundation, visit guilfordfoundation.org.

    The Guilford Foundation and GSB allocate $15,350 to Local Noinprofits in Second Round of 2025 Sponsorship Awards

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