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Dime Foundation

A helping hand for organizations that give our communities a lift

Download Application Download Post-Grant Report

Mission

In 1998, Dime Bank established The Dime Foundation, enabling us to further our bank's mission of supporting and giving back to the communities we serve. We strive to improve the well-being and quality of life for members of our communities by funding organizations or programs that provide, strengthen, or enhance service to individuals.

About Us

  • The foundation has three grant cycles per year. The grant application can be downloaded here.
  • Grant applications for 2025 are due on March 10, June 12, and October 1.
  • 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.
  • For more information, call Dee Sullivan at 860-859-4300, or email [email protected].

Eligibility

Grants are awarded to:

  • 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.
  • Organizations that primarily serve the residents of New London County, the towns of Glastonbury, Manchester, and Vernon, 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)

Priorities

Our funding priorities are focused on projects and organizations that support the following:

  • Affordable housing
  • Basic human services for those considered most at-risk
  • Development/education, job training, or promotion of literacy, especially programs that encourage self-sufficiency
  • Opportunities for collaborative efforts
  • Services to at-risk or under-served children, families or the elderly, with emphasis on low/moderate income levels

Board of Directors and Officers

  • Nicholas Caplanson, President
  • John Lund, Vice President & Treasurer
  • Dee Sullivan, Secretary
  • Steven L. Bokoff, Director
  • Lee-Ann Gomes, Director
  • Peter Maneri, Director
  • Linda L. Mariani, Esq., Director
  • Paul Maxfield, Director
  • Bonnie Stewart, Director
  • Mark E. Tramontozzi, M.D.,Director

Recent Recipients

Organization Project
2nd Congregational Church Food Pantry  Support for the food pantry as well as the client emergency fund. 
Access Community Action Agency  Emergency furnace tune-ups, repairs, or replacements to residents of Vernon.
Always Home, Inc  Case management to secure housing and prevent homelessness and shelter stays. 
Children in Placement  Advocacy and support for abused and neglected children within CT's child welfare system. 
Community Health Resources  Personalized services for children, families, and adults whose lives have been touched by mental illness, trauma, and homelessness.
Connecticut College  Grants funds would support the Lab School's Kindergarten Readiness Family Initiative. 
Eastern CT Community Gardens  Support for the ECCGA Whitfield Giving Garden and Community Shared Agriculture project.
Eastern CT Symphony Orchestra  Grant funding to help bring students from local schools to the ECSO Young People's Concerts at the Garde Arts Center. 
Frank Olean Center  Support for the Job Training Program. 
Gentle Love Diaper Pantry, Inc  Purchase diapers and training pants for clients.
Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Inc  Funding will support the provision of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls from low-income families. 
Healing Therapies Thru Sharing  Supportive Oncology Services for adults and children.  
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc  Funds will be used to support the participation of underserved youth and adults from New London County.
Horizons, Inc  Support for Weekends in the Country and Summer Camp.
Lumibility (formerly SARAH, Inc) Support for the Kidstep Program.
Martin House, Inc  Meal expenses for clients.
Norwich Housing Authority Partial funding for the cost of providing a part-time Resident Services Coordinator. 
Operation Fuel  Funds will provide emergency energy assistance grants to low-moderate income families living in New London County.
Reliance Health, Inc.  Supportive 2 Housing Program. 
RI Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner - Westerly Education Center Career Exposure Day for high school students in southern RI and SE CT. 
Rose City Learning Center  Evening career-aligned English language programming to adult learners in the Norwich area.
Sacred Heart School  Build of a 10x10 sandbox with a pergola on the school playground.
The Connecticut Storytelling Center  Six week Littlest Listeners storytelling residency for six preschool classes in the TVCCA Headstart facility in Taftville.
The Furniture Bank  Funds will purchase beds for low-income families in southeastern CT.
The Manchester Area Conference of Churches, Inc. Support for the Community Emergency Food Pantry.  
The Salvation Army - Norwich Support for the Food Pantry and Seasonal Assistance programs. 
United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern CT  UCP's Inclusion & Advocay Program.  
United Community and Family Services, Inc.  Fashion Forward Project to ensure clients can obtain/maintain gainful employment. 
UR Community Cares Support for a UR Vision Support Station for individuals with low vision at their newly opened Tech Center. 
Wood River Health  Support for therapeutic wellness programming.