The Guilford Foundation (TGF) distributed $117,900 through 35 community impact grants to area nonprofits. These grants, ranging from $1,000 to $8,000, support essential programs and services that benefit residents of Guilford.

In 2025, TGF witnessed unprecedented growth, receiving 59 grant applications—a remarkable 60% increase from 2023. The total funding requested reached $382,143, reflecting an 81% rise compared to two years ago. This increase highlights both the escalating needs within our community and TGF’s expanding role in addressing them.

“This was a unique year for our Community Investment Committee,” said TGF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. “Historically, we see about 20 to 30 applications, but that number nearly doubled this year. Balancing our desire to support all worthy requests with the realities of our funding limitations—based on a set percentage of our endowment value—was no small feat.”

She continued, “Given the uncertainty surrounding federal funding for many partners, we prioritized supporting children, human services, education, and basic needs, forcing necessary, but tough, decisions along the way.”

The top ten grant recipients by funding amount include Little Sprouts Learning Center ($8,000), Guilford Center for Children (GCC) Early Education ($7,500), Women & Family Life Center ($7,500), APK Charities $5,000), Clifford W. Beers Guidance Clinic ($5,000), Guilford A Better Chance ($5,000), Guilford Social Services ($5,000), Guilford Affordable Housing Commission ($4,900), GCC Before & After School Care Program ($4,600), and The Cove Center for Grieving Children ($4,500).

The percentage of grant funding by focus area reflects the 2025 priorities:  

• 23% Children & Youth  

• 20% Human Services 

• 13% Education 

• 11% Basic Needs 

• 10% Wellness & Mental Health 

• 10% Arts, Culture & Heritage 

• 7% Seniors 

• 5% Environment 

• 1% Civic Engagement 

“This was an especially challenging cycle this year, given the increased number of applications. While we generally view that as a great problem to have, there were many great initiatives that we would have loved to support; however, in the end, we were unable to fund them this time around. We took a rigorous approach to our decision-making to ensure our funding had the most significant community impact possible given the priorities identified,” shared Community Investment Committee Chair Stephanie Little Brown. “This experience fuels our determination to grow our endowment further to expand our impact in the future and meet the increasing needs of our community partners.”

In honor of its 50^th Anniversary, the Guilford Foundation is launching a community appeal, asking all residents to support their hyper-local community foundation. It’s embarking on an ambitious goal to raise $500,000, which will increase the size of the endowment and the Foundation’s ability to award more grants to the vital nonprofits that make Guilford such a remarkable town. Donations can be made at guilfordfoundation.org.  

Janssen Petra added, “Our annual grantmaking is at the core of our mission to enrich the quality of life in Guilford by connecting those who care with causes that matter. Funding enables our charitable partners to meet the community’s needs through their programs and services.  We are deeply thankful to our generous donors who understand the importance of local giving.” 

Click here to see the list of grant recipients, initiatives supported, and funding amounts.