CHEFA grant awards provide our clients and other Connecticut nonprofits with the opportunity to begin new and innovative programs, support ongoing services to vulnerable citizens of Connecticut, and create improvements to facilities that might not otherwise be possible.

Grant Review Process:

CHEFA Staff used industry best practices to develop the competitive review process that determines our grant awards. The Internal Review Group (IRG), led by a certified grants specialist, conducts exhaustive reviews of all eligible applications, with significant due diligence. The Grant Committee members are provided the application documents and recommendations from the IRG. The Grant Committee, following review and discussion of the applications and their merit, questions the IRG as to their review findings, and then assembles recommendations for funding. The Board of Directors makes the final funding decisions following their review of the application documents, and the IRG and Grant Committee recommendations.

Client Grant Program

The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) Client Grant program was established by the Board of Directors in 2003. Our goal is to provide grant funding opportunities to current CHEFA clients through a highly competitive annual RFP process. The Authority has issued nearly $4.4 million in competitive grants to its clients.

Open Grant Program

What began in 2001 as a modest grantmaking commitment has blossomed into a significant source of philanthropic funds for Connecticut nonprofits. Since its inception, the Open Grant program has distributed more than $4.5 million to nonprofits that provide services to Connecticut residents.

Targeted Investment Funds

Board-designated funding for specific areas of interest and concern to the CHEFA Board. Current focus areas are the nursing shortage in Connecticut and violence prevention. » More on Targeted Investments

Other Investments

CHEFA provided $200,000 in seed money to the Early Childhood Research and Policy Council for its first year of operations. » More on Other Programs

CHEFA Staff and Board of Directors reviewed

 more than $6.2 million in grant requests in 2008.

For more information about CHEFA's grant programs, contact Kimberley Fontaine, Manager of Grants & Grants Administration at 860-761-8428 or at .