Litchfield County Times Lauds "Cornwall's Fabulous Foundation"

The editors of the Litchfield County Times heaped praise on the Cornwall Foundation this week, writing "its scope is almost as limitless as its desire to help." In a month that saw pieces on the Foundation's $10,000 matching grant for the Cornwall Housing Corporation's development of affordable housing in the Lakeville Journal, the Cornwall Chronicle, and the Litchfield County Times, the piece by the Times' editors underscored the success the Cornwall Foundation and the organizations it supports have had in contributing to the quality of life in Cornwall. "Cornwall becomes better each year through the involvement and beneficence of its laudable local organizations,"  concluded the editors. What a lovely way to end the year!

We're Digital!

This morning, Cornwall Foundation president Paul Baren announced that the Cornwall Foundation would be encouraging applicants to submit their proposals electronically. "'Tis the season to waste lots of paper," said Baren. "We're doing our part to change that." To read more and download a grant application, click here.

Support Cornwall by Supporting the Cornwall Foundation

Dear Friends,

A little over a century ago, a handful of our neighbors up in Salisbury got together and decided to create a fund dedicated to preserving and improving their town. Today, the Salisbury Association has nearly $5 million in assets and underwrites dozens of initiatives, from acquiring property for the land trust to paying for the band on the Fourth of July.

In 2003, a handful of Cornwallians got together and decided to create our own community endowment, the Cornwall Foundation. Four years later, we have not yet caught up with the Salisbury Association but we have made remarkable progress.

The Cornwall Foundation now has $125,000 in assets and has given nearly $10,000 to fund a variety of projects that have enriched our community. We helped bring Thomas Jefferson to Cornwall to educate our kids and paid for a guest acting coach for the Town Hall Players. We helped repair the Historical Society’s chimney, and we provided funds for an artificial arm so the Fire Department could better train its generous volunteers.

Throughout our brief history, we have worked hard to balance the twin missions of a community foundation: supporting the efforts of the town’s charities and institutions while building an endowment to meet the needs and opportunities of the future.

One such opportunity arose this fall when the Cornwall Housing Corporation acquired a piece of land off Route 7 in Cornwall Bridge that will finally enable it to expand affordable housing in town. Knowing what a priority this is to our community, the Cornwall Foundation has offered the CHC a three-year, $10,000 matching grant to help prepare the new parcels for construction.  For every $4 the CHC raises, the Cornwall Foundation will add $1 up to the $10,000 limit.

The Cornwall Foundation is overseen by an independent, 14-member board made up of your friends and neighbors. We donate our time and energy because we believe that a century from now our efforts will still be paying dividends.

As you consider your year-end charitable contributions, I hope that you will give generously to many of the wonderful causes in town – just as the Cornwall Foundation does. But I also hope that you will consider making a gift to the Cornwall Foundation so that we can continue to grow and serve our town for decades to come. Contributions may be sent to the Foundation c/0 PO Box 116 West Cornwall.

Contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. If you have any questions about the foundation, please do not hesitate to call me, or any of the other members of the board.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Paul H. Baren, President
Tel:860 672 6637
Fax:860 672 0175

Paul H. Baren, President
James J. Fishman, Vice President
Darilyn Woods, Treasurer
Laurence Zuckerman, Secretary

Steve Brandfield
Nicholas Bruehl
Vera Dinneen
Ingrid Gould Ellen
Diana (Dinny) Greene
Ellen Hubbard
Barton Jones
Jessica Marshall
Jon Old
Celia Senzer

Foundation President Paul Baren Invites Grant Applications

"It's easy to apply for a grand from the Cornwall Foundation," says Paul Baren, the president of the Cornwall Foundation since David Ott stepped down last winter. "All you have to do is download the word file below, and email the completed form to me," he said, though he admits he has, on occasion, had trouble downloading the file himself. Baren urges perserverance: "If you're having trouble with the file, you can reach me by email at pbaren2@optonline.net or phone at 672-6637. The Cornwall Foundation is here to help!" Download cf_application_2007.doc

Building an Endowment for Cornwall

Dear Friends,

I am writing to ask for your support for The Cornwall Foundation.

Starting from zero in 2003, the Foundation has raised approximately $90,000 and, using the interest, has given away over $7,700 to ten Cornwall organizations in grants to a variety of local organizations such as the Library, Historical Society, Fire Department, Child Center, CCS Fund for Excellence, the Lorch Farm Fund, Motherhouse, and others.

In 2006 The Cornwall Foundation was approved as a qualifying foundation to receive a matching grant from the Edwards Fund of the Community Foundation of Northwest CT. Under the terms of the grant, The Cornwall Foundation receives 25 cents on every dollar we raise, up to a limit of $20,000 from the Edwards Fund. We need your support to reach the grant’s maximum before the end of June, when the grant expires.

Directed specifically to increasing endowments, the Edward’s grant goes to the heart of The Cornwall Foundation’s mission. Our purpose is to enhance the town’s quality of life by building an endowment to support Cornwall based institutions and activities

Although we have received a portion of the Edwards Grant, we must now raise an additional $14,500 in order to qualify for the remaining amount. In supporting The Cornwall Foundation, your donation can support the work of Cornwall’s many varied and wonderful organizations, now and in the future.

It would be a pity to miss this opportunity .

Contributions to The Cornwall Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.  If you have any questions about the foundation or the matching grant, please do not hesitate to call me or any of the other members of the board.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Paul H. Baren, President

Spring Grants Given

The Cornwall Foundation is pleased to announce the distribution of five grants from its spring grants cycle. The Foundation supports a wide variety of local initiatives in Cornwall. This season’s grantees are as follows: the Cornwall Historical Society, for badly needed repairs; the Cornwall Free Library for a new display case; the Town Hall Players for a special Shakespearean theater workshop; the Town of Cornwall toward the purchase of the Lorch Farm; and the United Church of Christ for their Adult Education program entitled "Slavery: Then and Now." 

The 2006 Cornwall Foundation Grant Application Now Available Online

The Cornwall Foundation invites applications from organizations serving residents of Cornwall,Connecticut. Applications are encouraged for projects that will build the organization’s capacity to more effectively carry out its mission to enhance the quality of life in Cornwall and to maintain its unique beauty and character now and in the future.

Eligibility
1. Proposals are accepted from nonprofits, municipalities, community organizations or civic entities serving residents of Cornwall,Connecticut.  Community groups may apply using a nonprofit organization as a fiscal agent.
2. Preference is given to organizations that rely primarily on local community support.
3. Grants will not be awarded retroactively for funds already spent.
4. Grant requests must either meet one-time needs or serve as seed money for new programs.  Grants are not typically made for operating expenses, ordinary maintenance, or the liquidation of debt.
5. All organizations receiving grants must submit a report on the outcome of the funded program within two months of the expenditure of the grant funds.

The Foundation does not support organizations that in their constitution, by-laws, or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious belief.

Grants are awarded four times per year, in March, June, September and December.  A grant application must be received in the Foundation post office or email box (listed on the application) on or before the last day of the month preceding the month in which grants will be made.

The updated grant application for the Cornwall Foundation is available here: Download cf_application_2006.doc

Please contact  Foundation president David Ott with any questions.

Welcome to the Cornwall Foundation's Online Home

We're just getting settled here, so please accept out apologies for the sparseness of the site. If you have questions about the Cornwall Foundation, please contact Foundation president David Ott or check back in weeks to come, when the site will be fully furnished with Foundation grant applications and grant-giving history.

Many thanks for your visit.