Dime Foundation | CT & Westerly RI Community Grants

We have a decades-long history of reaching out and giving back

Learn about our grant deadlines

Find out if your organization is eligible

Get information about our funding priorities

See who to contact for more information

Our mission is to support organizations who strengthen our communities.

In 1998, Dime Bank established the Dime Foundation with a commitment to strengthen the communities we serve by providing meaningful support to individuals and families facing hardship. We strive to expand access to essential resources for those most at-risk. Through a deep understanding of local community needs, we aim to empower people to build resilience and achieve lasting financial wellness.

The foundation has three grant cycles per year. The grant application can be downloaded here.
A post-grant report is required within one year of receiving grant funding, and prior to submitting a new grant application. The post-grant report can be downloaded here.

Grant applications for 2026 are due on March 3, June 3, and September 9.

Grant Eligibility

Organizations that are recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501( c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and governmental units referred to in Section 170( c )(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Programs must support individuals or families who reside in Dime's service area of New London County; the towns of Glastonbury, Manchester, Vernon, East Hartford, and Marlborough, CT; and the towns of Westerly, Hopkinton and Richmond, RI.
Funding is generally not provided to fund-raising or capital campaigns; organizations that fund other organizations or foundations; political or fraternal organizations; religious institutions; parent-run organizations (such as Parent-Teacher Organizations or Little League)

Funding Priorities

Grant Recipients

Organization	Project
Arts for Learning Connecticut	AFLCT seeks funding to implement Higher Order Thinking at the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London during the 2026-27 school year.
Birth Support, Education & Beyond, Inc.	BSEB's Perinatal Support Services Program which aims to improve maternal, infant, and family well-being.
Norwich Bully Busters	Summer and after-school programs to provide academic support and meaningful social opportunities for the youth in our community.
Community Resources for Justice	Support for CRJ's Behavioral Health Center in New London. Grant funding will provide direct client assistance including basic needs such as food, transportation, hygiene products, and clothing, all of which are essential for recovery and stability.
Connecticut Community Care	CCC's Live Home Support / Independent Living Project provides last resort funding for low-income underserved older individuals and people with disabilities who are often faced with critical or unexpected expenses.
Connecticut Radio Information System	Support for their audio recording services for the blind or print-challenged.
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center	Adventures in Nature high-quality environmental education programs for children and families throughout the year.
Eastern Connecticut Ballet	Nutcracker Free Schoolchildren's Performances.
Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board	Summer Youth Employment Program which provides up-front employability skills training to low income youth ages 14-24, and places them into a structured community work experience in an area of their interest.
Gentle Love Diaper Pantry, Inc. DBA Gentle Love Connections	Support for the Car Seats 4 Kids Program which ensures that children from low-income families have access to car seats.
Hygienic Art	Hygienic Art and the Drop In Learning Center's collaboration to hold a summer enrichment program focusing on educational, artistic, cultural and recreational activities for children K-8th grade.
Jonnycake Center of Westerly	Support for the food pantry.
Midwest Food Bank New England	It is the mission of the Midwest Food Bank NE to alleviate hunger and malnutrition and provide disaster relief by bringing together donors, volunteers and a network of partner agencies to deliver food and vital support to local communities.
New London Homeless Hospitality Center	Ready to Work Employment Program which helps individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability obtain and maintain employment.
Norwich Youth, Family, and Recreation	Teen Back-to School Backpack Program.
Operation Fresh Start	Basic needs support to families transitioning into stable housing.
Operation Warm	Coat and shoe distribution to children at Head Start in Norwich and New London, and the Manchester Early Learning Center.
Read to Grow	Support of the Bookmobile which enables Read to Grow to bring books directly to children in their neighborhoods.
Riverfront Children's Center	Accredited early learning programs serving at-risk children from low-income families in SECT.
Rose City Learning Center	Community Connections program which will provide weekly workshops for Norwich-area adults, with a particular focus on women, mothers, multilingual learners, and low-income families seeking to improve their economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Sails Up 4 Cancer	Grant funds would be used for the Spinnaker Fund, which provides relief directly to families who are experiencing stress when loss of income occurs due to a cancer diagnosis.
Salvation Army (New London)	Emergency Assistance program which provides food, and other essential items to residents who are struggling to make ends meet.
Salvation Army (Norwich)	Support for the Norwich Service Unit's operations along with the provision of basic needs.
Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries	Purchase of wholesale food for distribution to needy residents in NL County through the Old Lyme Food Pantry and Meal Site and the East Lyme Food Pantry.
The Learn Project, Inc., fiduciary for Children First Groton	The goal of this project is to assist families facing economic challenges in addressing needs related to health and safety through their emergency gift card program.
The Light House Voc-Ed Center	Funding to purchase a school-wide Learning Ally subscription and four Bluetooth accessibility switches for students attending their state-approved private special education school.
Westerly Area Rest Meals WARM, Inc	General operating expenses across the full spectrum of essential programs and services.
Crossroads Rhode Island	Grant funds will provide struggling residents in Dime's service area with Housing Problem Solving, Temporary Emergency shelter and Rapid Rehousing and Permanent supportive Housing Programs.
South County Habitat for Humanity	Ledward Avenue duplex project in Westerly, which will create two energy-efficient, affordable homeownership units for low-to-moderate income families.
The Housing Collective	Support for the operations of the Eastern CT Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity (CHEO).
The Children's Museum, Inc.	Science Achievement for All STEAM programs for several hundred Pre-K through grade 8 students in New London County public schools through spring 2027.
Southeastern CT Robotics, Inc	Assistance to purchase a Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC Router and supporting equipment for their engineering lab.

For more information,

Call Dee Sullivan at 860-859-4300, or email [email protected].

The Foundation prioritizes basic needs such as: food security; affordable housing/homeless diversion; workforce readiness and job skills training; and services to at-risk or underserved children, families and seniors.

This is not a requirement however it is taken into consideration in the decision-making process.

The Dime Foundation does not support parent-run organizations such as PTOs or Little League; political organizations; capital campaigns, organizations that fund other organizations or Foundations.