Our grant making prioritizes under resourced communities in Connecticut working to create positive change in the lives of youth. It is targeted to programming that occurs outside the traditional school day.

In order to build alliances and avoid duplication of effort, we seek organizations partnering, coordinating, and cooperating with other non-profits in similar areas. These programs should have long-lasting and measurable impacts.

Organizations we would consider funding must show evidence that they believe that Youth Voice is an essential component in helping to build healthy communities.

Focus Areas:

Direct Services »

Skill Building »

Social Change »

Fairfield County only

Youth Voice is Encouraged.

Fairfield County only

Youth Voice is Developed.

State Wide

Youth Voice is Prominent.

Anticipated Goals: Critical Services are provided to and for youth urgently in need of physical and/or mental intervention. Youth are involved in programs which focus on enhancing their individual strengths and talents, not just confronting their challenges and issues.

Youth make decisions, and have demonstrated opportunities to enhance their program.

Youth identify complex social and environmental issues in their community they want to address.

Youth organize in collective partnerships with adults in researching the root causes, and raising awareness in their community or throughout Connecticut.

Anticipated Outcomes: Youth have basic needs met and barriers removed. They are developing into healthy and thriving beings within a nurturing, safe environment. Youth are more confident and better able to express themselves in a positive manner. Youth are developing healthy relationships, and actively participating in school and community activities. Youth acquire civic minded skills, and are developing into their communities' next generation leaders. Adults recognize these youth as social activists, and will provide ongoing pathways for youth voice to flourish.
Types of organizations we would consider funding:

Direct Services

(Fairfield County)

We will consider organizations which seek to improve the mental and physical health of young people through clinical services. We will also consider organizations which support healthy families through mentoring and parent support programming.

Skill Building

(Fairfield County)

We will consider organizations that provide the services, opportunities and support systems necessary for youth participants to develop as individuals and as team members. These organizations have out of school programs which build individual academic knowledge, peer mentoring skills, and leadership roles for youth. They can demonstrate ongoing youth input in program design and evaluation.

The types of program activities that can encourage these goals and outcomes include:

  • Developing expanding literacy & other academic skills.
  • Creating artistic expression & experiences.
  • Promoting environmental education & practices.

Social Change

(State Wide)

We will consider organizations where youth are partnered with adult allies with demonstrated knowledge of youth development principles and youth led organizing practices. For many young people in under-resourced communities, this will be the first time their ideas have been included in real decision making. The adult allies need to have the ability to teach advocacy skills, while encouraging the youth to be the driving force in the process. This type of partnership allows for both generations to learn from one another. We are interested in funding programming that centers on the process. The selected social issue is secondary.

The types of program activities that can encourage these goals and outcomes include:

  • Youth deciding on what social issues they want to research and evaluate.
  • Youth having the opportunity to learn and practice networking, presentation, and public speaking skills.
  • Youth showcasing their civic engagement projects at community stakeholders meetings.
  • Youth recruiting and organizing younger members to promote continuity in a program.
  • Experienced youth activists sharing their knowledge and experiences with other youth groups, in creating alliances and partnerships in Connecticut.

Additionally, PFF will consider supporting nonprofits and grassroots organizations which seek to protect and promote the rights of youth. When it is possible, advocacy efforts will include youth as active leaders.

The Perrin Family Foundation  •  4 Prospect Street  •  Ridgefield, CT 06877-4510
Phone: (203) 438-7349  •  Fax: (203) 438-5062  •  E-mail: info@perrinfamilyfoundation.org