General Operating Support Grants

The General Operating Support (GOS) grant is offered by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the Valley Community Foundation. This funding opportunity is designed to provide flexible financial assistance to nonprofits that serve communities within the Foundation’s twenty-town region. Unlike project-specific grants, General Operating Support allows organizations to allocate funds where they are needed most, helping them sustain and expand their operations in alignment with their mission.

Eligible organizations may apply for one-year, two-year, or three-year grants. To qualify, applicants must have been actively running programs for at least three years, have an operating budget of at least $100,000, and maintain an up-to-date profile on giveGreater.org®. Organizations that operate under a fiscal sponsor must also have an independent local Advisory Board or Board of Directors. Additionally, any nonprofit with an existing GOS grant that extends beyond December 31, 2025, is not eligible to apply in this funding cycle. Past grant recipients from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven or the Valley Community Foundation must also be in compliance with all reporting requirements.

Applicants must submit their completed giveGreater.org® profile checklist as part of their application. The deadline for updating this profile is March 19, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Failure to meet this requirement may result in disqualification from the funding opportunity.

For additional guidance, applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation’s guiding principles for nonprofits and information on how to develop measurable outcomes. More details and resources for preparing applications can be accessed through the Foundation’s official channels.

For further inquiries, applicants may contact the Foundation at 203-751-9162. The office is located at 253-A Elizabeth Street, Derby, Connecticut, 06418.