Program Grants

What We Fund

The American Savings Foundation is a broad-based funder with a special emphasis on the needs of children, youth and families.  Our three priority areas are education, human services and arts & culture. With a primary focus in New Britain and Waterbury, program grants support direct services where our funding can make a measurable impact, especially for those with the greatest need.

The Foundation considers support for established programs that have been demonstrated to make a meaningful difference in the community and in the lives of those they serve.  We also consider funding for new, innovative programs that fill an unmet need in the community, and where there is evidence of broad local support.  We are interested in funding collaborative programs, and also in providing matching funds to leverage new dollars into the community.

With very few exceptions, we do not fund:

• General operating support or unrestricted grants
• Primary or secondary schools—public, private independent, or parochial—or colleges and universities
• Funding to replace municipal, state or federal funding

If your request is for any of the above purposes, we strongly encourage you call the Foundation before submitting an application.

In order to apply:

Organization must be tax exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).

Ineligible for funding:

• Political advocacy and lobbying
• Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large
• Individuals
• Annual campaigns
• Endowment funds
• Travel (e.g. sports teams, field trips).
• Event sponsorships (e.g. golf, galas)
• Private Foundations

The Foundation operates a large college scholarship program (see Scholarships) and does not provide funding for scholarship programs operated by schools or other nonprofit organizations.