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04/17/2018 03:00 PMOnce again local organizations in need of funding have the chance to apply for funds through the North Haven Rotary Club Community Grant Program. The Rotary Club just opened the application and some 30-plus organizations have the chance to secure funding.
North Haven Rotary has been using this grant program structure for four years now. President Brian Coughlin said Rotary decided to move to this grant program where organizations apply, Rotary selects recipients in May, and then there is a community luncheon for the recipients in July, because it creates more of a celebration for the recipients.
“In July we do a community luncheon and we hand out between 25 to 35 grants. It’s a pretty amazing lunch because it’s an opportunity for the community to be together and plus see all of the work from the year come together in one big event,” he said. The recipients “all get an opportunity to come up, receive the check, and say a few words and North Haven TV actually tapes the event, which is really nice.”
Last year Rotary donated approximately $40,000 to more than 30 charities and groups including Special Olympics Connecticut, Vets 4 Vets, The Community Soup Kitchen, and many others. Coughlin said Rotary is likely going to be able to hand out just as many grants thus year.
Proceeds from various Rotary fundraisers throughout the year supply the dollars for the grant program. Coughlin said Rotary raised a good amount of money this year, which is why it can likely give out just as much as it did in 2017.
Applications for the grant are online on the North Haven Rotary Club website www.nhrotary.org and are due by Monday, April 30. Anyone can apply for the grant, but the website does offer a few guidelines.
“We seek to fund projects and purposes that can have the greatest positive impact on the community,” reads a post on the website. “Grants are not typically made for endowments, scholarships, operating expenses, deficit financing, or reimbursement for items previously purchased. We encourage requests for seed money for new community projects—preference goes toward needs that are not already met by other organizations.”
While Rotary is focusing on giving out as many funds as possible through this program, Coughlin said the club itself is investing in a particular local project in the coming months. Coughlin said every Rotary club around the world has been asked this year to plant a tree and he said North Haven Rotary is ready to fill that request.
“So with some of the funds this year, we are donating a tree to replace the one they just took down on the green,” he said. “We are paying for a new tree to be planted this year in the spirit of Rotary.”
For more information on the North Haven Rotary Club or its Community Grant Program, contact North Haven Rotary Club President Brian Coughlin at coughlinb28@gmail.com or visit www.nhrotary.org.