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When Cristal Torres gave birth to her first child last February, she endured multiple complications. “I nearly died, and so did my child,” she says. They reached out to New Haven Healthy Start (@nhhealthystart ) early on. Cristal and Joshua Torres shared their story at a press conference hosted by U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) at The Community Foundation on Friday. DeLauro announced $367,000 in federal funding for New Haven Healthy Start, part of a five-year $5.5 million grant approved in 2024 when the program was recertified. DeLauro also promised to fight to reverse "drastic cuts." Read more at the link in our bio.

It's official: Our community raised $4,821,549 during #TheGreatGive 2026 for 546 nonprofit organizations serving Greater New Haven, a new record for the giving event! Thank you for giving! Read more at the link in our bio or at CFGNH.org

#TheGreatGive 2026 is officially over. THANK YOU to all who came together to support our great nonprofit community over the past 36 hours. What a testament to the extraordinary generosity of Greater New Haven! Official numbers and major prize winners to be verified and announced on a future date. Did you miss the chance to give? Matching funds and prizes have been awarded, but you can still give through #TheGreatGive website at TheGreatGive.org through 8:00 a.m. Monday, May 11th. For now: Have a GREAT night & have fun celebrating! 🎉 #GreaterNHV #Gratitude #Nonprofits

NHE3 In Action: AI & Small Business — A Conversation with Ted Yang Celebrating National Small Business Week has been especially meaningful, particularly for the small businesses who showed up for this conversation. For many of them, AI isn’t just a trend, it’s something they’re actively trying to understand, navigate, and apply in real time. That’s what made our conversation on AI & Small Business at the New Haven Lawn Club so important. It created space not just to talk about what’s possible, but to make sense of what’s practical. The discussion focused on the real-world use of AI for small businesses and how we apply judgment, experience, and intention to make it truly valuable. As Marlene Megos, Founder of Equate Education, shared, “Knowing how fast AI is moving is critical, understanding what tools are out there and how small businesses can actually use them.” That perspective reflects what many founders are facing right now, keeping up with change while figuring out what’s useful for their business. Grateful to Ted Yang and Ryan Dings for leading an engaging, thoughtful, and grounded conversation, and to our ecosystem partners Virginia Spell, Cathy Graves, and Sue Rapini for their continued leadership and support. These are the kinds of spaces that move an ecosystem forward, where access to knowledge, tools, and honest dialogue helps small businesses adapt and grow. #NHE3 #NHE3InAction #EntrepreneurialEcosystem #EcosystemBuilding #NationalSmallBusinessWeek #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #AI #Innovation #NewHaven #Connecticut

NHE3 In Action: Venture Capital Panel — Capital Meets Innovation Access to capital is one of the biggest questions founders face and one of the most misunderstood. That’s why this panel such an important conversation. It brought together founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders to unpack what it really takes to get funded and what matters once you’re in the room. The discussion was grounded in the realities of building and investing in businesses. From how relationships shape opportunity to how founders position their value. As Marie Rocha, Founder of Realist Ventures, shared: “When you have a good business model and a great startup, you hold the power… your power is making sure your business model will return revenue.” That perspective resonated, especially for founders navigating systems where access isn’t always straightforward. It’s a reminder that while capital is critical, how you build, position, and understand your business is just as important. Grateful to our panelists Ted Dinsmore, Malik Okoro, Marie Rocha, and Eric Seidman for an engaging, honest, and insightful conversation and to everyone who showed up ready to learn, connect, and contribute. These are the spaces where ecosystems grow and where knowledge becomes more accessible, connections deepen, and founders gain the tools to move forward with confidence. #NHE3 #NHE3InAction #EntrepreneurialEcosystem #EcosystemBuilding #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #NewHaven #Connecticut

Update: Congratulations to CT Beds, the winner of the Six Seven Prize! #TheGreatGive TheGreatGive.org #TheGreatGive fell on May 6 and 7, so for no reason, there is a $1,000 prize between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. One organization will be randomly drawn to receive the Six Seven Prize. All organizations receiving at least one gift during this hour are eligible. The more gifts an organization receives, the greater chance it has to be drawn! Learn more and give at TheGreatGive.org

The Great Give 2026 is on! Go to TheGreatGive.org to support your favorite Greater #NHV nonprofits and help spread the word by sharing #TheGreatGive posts. Looking to make your donation go further? Take advantage of sponsored matching pools and prizes throughout the 36 hours. Winners will be posted here as prizes are drawn. Visit TheGiveGive.org/prizes for more details and the full list of match incentives. ⭐ Wednesday, 5/6 ⭐ Early Bird Draw Prizes (2) of $1,000 @deskct @hccwallingford Black Futures Fund Early Bird Draw Prizes (2) of $1,000 @hereraincorp PK Foundation Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven Prize for Disability Services of $1,800 @chapelhaven Tzedakah House Power Hour Match Lunch Hour Draw Prizes Branford Early Learning Center ($1,000) Continuum of Care ($500) Black Futures Fund Lunch Hour Draw Prizes @emerge_ct ($1,000) @urbancommunityalliance ($1,500) Valley Community Foundation "Getting Ready for the Next 25" Prize Draw of $1,000 @adamshousect Happy Hour Double Draw Prizes Madison Historical Society ($1,000) Where the Love Is Animal Rescue ($500) Black Futures Fund Happy Hour Prizes New Haven Legal Assistance ($1,500) National Veterans Council for Legal Redress ($1,000) Cast Your Vote Prize (most unique donors) of $2,000 @thewhitneyplayers Midnight Snack Prize of $500 Milford Robotics ⭐ Thursday, 5/7 ⭐ See FULL results give at TheGreatGive.org

Every year, The Great Give brings attention and resources to the hundreds of nonprofits serving Greater New Haven, like @legacytheatrect . "Julie is the kind of teacher who reminds you that dreams are still possible,” one Legacy actor shared. “This is what a Legacy Theatre acting class can do, and funding from the Great Give makes our programs possible," says Legacy Theatre Director of Development Anne Runolfsson. "In Legacy Theatre classes students find a safe space to develop their voice, unlock creativity, and step into their stories with confidence. Julie's students don't just learn to act — they learn to believe in themselves.” The Great Give is coming up on May 6 - 7, 2026! Now more than ever, nonprofit organizations are relying on community support. Use your voice and your social media to spread the word, and to highlight the organizations making a difference in your community. Did you know? Last year, the Great Give raised $4.4 million dollars for 544 nonprofit organizations serving Greater New Haven — the largest amount in the giving event's 16-year history. Learn more at TheGreatGive.org

Richard Hersh and Judith Meyers have had lifelong careers dedicated to promoting the healthy development of children and youth, with Richard’s focus on education and Judith’s on children’s physical and mental health. “For the last thirty years, we’ve both been heavily involved in philanthropy on both the giving and receiving ends,” Hersh said. “We have a deep appreciation for the role of philanthropy and the challenge of giving money responsibly. To give money, you have to decide where you can have the most impact that aligns with your values.” When it came time to do their own estate planning, Hersh and Meyers chose to establish a donor advised fund at The Community Foundation and include a bequest to The Foundation in their estate plans. In addition to supporting education, mental health, children and families, their fund will also focus on arts and culture, which they say has greatly enriched their lives. “One of the things we like about The Community Foundation is its focus on systems change,” Meyers noted. “In addition to giving out money for immediate concerns — which is important — they also look at the systems and policies that support these programs, which has a longer-term impact.” Funds like this one can be established with a gift today or through estate planning. Let CFGNH help you build a fund to honor who or what you love by visiting CFGNH.org/Giving

We’re excited to announce The Community Foundation's 2026 Annual Meeting, centered on community healing through the arts. Hear from President & CEO Karen DuBois-Walton and Board Chair Fernando Muñiz on The Foundation's work in 2025 and its strategic direction for 2026. The evening will feature Reginald Dwayne Betts, poet, lawyer and the Founder & CEO of Freedom Reads. In 2020, Betts founded Freedom Reads with a mission to open libraries in prison cellblocks. To date, Freedom Reads has opened 520 Freedom Libraries in 52 adult and youth prisons across 13 states. Plus, hear music from Paul Bryant Hudson, a musician, singer-songwriter and composer from New Haven, where he is an active and invested community member. Register to attend at the link in our bio or at CFGNH.org/Events

Last year, we raised $4.41 million in 36 hours! This year, we're aiming for $5 million. Nonprofits need this infusion as funding disappears. They were on the front lines during COVID, and we need them on the other side too. #FundraisingSuccess #NonprofitSupport #CommunityImpact #GivingBack #SocialGood #Donate #Nonprofit

The New Haven Breastfeeding Task Force, co-chaired by @nhhealthystart Director Natasha Ray, is continuing its citywide efforts to normalize breastfeeding. In recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, April 11 to April 17, members of the Task Force worked with community-based organizations and businesses so they could become recognized as breastfeeding-friendly worksites. Two of the first to be recognized are Manufacturing and Community Technical Hub (MATCH) and @newhavenarts . Both are designated by the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (@breastfeeding.ct ) as official Breastfeeding Friendly Worksites, which mean that employees have time, space and a formal policy that allows for using breast pumps while at work. Hear from both of these community-based organizations at the link in our bio.