In 1975, Betty Stevens, Hugh Jones, Stanley Page, John Leffingwell, Laurence Appleton, David Dudley, and Tom Wuerth planted the seed that became The Guilford Foundation.

• Received a $310,000 donation with the Effie Good Fund, TGF’s largest bequest to date (2006)
• Contracted with Greater New Haven Community Foundation to manage TGF’s financial assets (2007)
• Provided seed funding for Guilford Fund for Education (2007)
• Funded a TEAM Guilford community event focused on youth substance abuse programs which generated a $625,000 federal grant and resulted in the formation of Shoreline Developmental Assets for Youth (Guilford DAY) (2007)
• Provided seed funding for Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (2008)

• Hired the first professional staff, a part-time Executive Director (2011)
• Formed the Youth Advisory Group in partnership with the GHS Interact Club, cultivating the next generation of philanthropists (2011)
• Added an Acorn Fund option that provides donors with five years to reach the fund minimum of $10,000 (2012)
• Used a match challenge to launch Foundations Fuel Families, a private initiative to raise funds for fuel assistance through Guilford Social Services (2012)
• TGF awarded a $10,000 grant to Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) to build a boardwalk and overlook platform at Chittenden Park, the termination point of the 215-mile-long New England Trail (2013)
• Garnered Organization of the Year award from the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce (2014)
• Focused on affordable housing after learning it surfaced as a critical community need in a commissioned study by the Yale School of Management (2014)

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to start collaboration between the Branford and Guilford community foundations. (2015)
• Provided professional development and support to area nonprofits in a collaborative initiative with the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and Branford Community Foundation (2016)
• The Guilford Institute Trust moved to TGF to support exceptional Guilford High School (GHS) programs and projects. (2016)
• Supported Eagle Scout project to restore the iconic Grass Island Shack and then established a permanent fund to ensure it remains resourced (2017)
• Provided seed funding for the Guilford Performing Arts Festival, now GreenStage Guilford (2017)
• Convened “Community of Compassion” in response to racist graffiti spray painted on a local home (2017)
• Provided seed funding for Guilford Witness Stones (2018)
• Initiated Shoreline Nonprofit Conference in partnership with Shoreline Chamber of Commerce (2018)
• Friends of Education Award from Guilford Public Schools (2018)

• Set a COVID Response Fund campaign with a $20,000 goal, raised and distributed over $138,000 (2020)
• Susan & Lou Weady left a nearly $1 million bequest, the largest in TGF’s history (2021)
• Entered a partnership with GSB to distribute $25,000 in annual sponsorship funds (2022)
• Formed the Legacy Circle to recognize those who plan future giving through their estate (2022)
• Appointed by the Town of Guilford to manage the distribution of $1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act federal funding to community-serving organizations (2023)
• The Guilford Fund For Education became a donor-advised fund, allowing GFFE to retain its autonomy in funding decisions while leveraging TGF’s administrative resources and operational expertise (2024).