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Community Match Fund - Project Eligibility

To be eligible for Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund your project must:

1. Be located in a Sustainable CT registered town (or towns).

Check here to see registered towns. Registering is easy, so if your town isn’t already registered, reach out to our Sustainable CT Community Partnership Manager at [email protected], and he can help you get your town registered.

2. Align with Sustainable CT’s mission of creating equitable, sustainable communities.

See the eligible project examples below to get an idea of possible projects.

3. Align with Sustainable CT actions.

By aligning with Sustainable CT your town will be able to earn points towards Sustainable CT Town Certification when the project is complete. Our Community Outreach Manager will help you determine which action your project aligns with.

4. Have a public benefit and be inclusive to members of your community(ies).

Projects cannot be aimed at securing private profit for a specific individual, family, or business.

5. Be specific and concrete.

Projects must be well-defined and specific, and your capacity to implement the work once funding is secured should be clear.

6. Have a detailed budget.

We anticipate that project budgets might range from several hundred dollars to thousands. There is no minimum project budget size and this program is designed to support projects of widely varying scale. The size of your final budget goal should be based on the costs for a specific, defined project, and take into consideration what is feasible for you to crowdfund from your networks.

7. Be determined eligible by Sustainable CT staff.

When you share your project idea, you will be contacted by Sustainable CT’s Community Outreach Manager to discuss your project and be sure that it fits within the criteria above.

8. Be your or your group’s only Sustainable CT Community Match Fund project that is actively fundraising.

While there is no limit to the number of projects that you can undertake through the Community Match Fund or to the total number of projects that can be happening in your city or town at any one time, you or your group cannot begin a new project until you have completed the prior one's fundraising campaign and have begun implementation.

9. Be implemented in a short time frame after fundraising.

The Community Match Fund is intended to support projects with immediate funding needs, so you should be planning to start work on your project in the near-term after your crowdfunding campaign is complete.


In addition, before accessing Sustainable CT Community Match Fund dollars, project leaders must:

1. Be available for a conversation with your city or town’s Sustainable CT Sustainability Team or municipal representative.

Once your project has been approved, our Community Outreach Manager will connect you to the primary contact for your town’s Sustainability Team so that you can discuss opportunities to collaborate.

2. Run a public crowdfunding campaign through our Web-based platform partner, Patronicity, that exceeds a predetermined donor threshold.

To calculate the number of donors that your campaign must reach, take your fundraising goal (this does not include Sustainable CT's match) and divide it by 100. Ex: your crowdfunding goal is $5,000. $5,000/100=50 donor minimum.

3. Commit to beginning work on the project within a specific time-frame...

and to completing the project and expending the funds within 12 months of receiving funding.


Eligible Project Examples

NOTE: For all projects, we encourage project leaders to minimize adverse environmental impacts by following environmental best practices and using environmentally responsible products and services.

Arts and Culture and Local Economies

Projects that promote local arts and creative culture, enhance community spaces, and/or support local business and tourism.

 

Renewable and Efficient Energy Use

Projects that utilize or increase the use of renewable energy and reduce energy use in community facilities and public spaces.

 

Public Transportation

Projects that improve or create sustainable mobility options, including walking, biking, and public transit.

 

Land and Natural Resource Protection

Projects that promote the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of lands, waterbodies, and other natural resources.

 

Healthy & Sustainable Food Networks

Projects that provide food & health education, increase food security, and promote local food production.


Waste Reduction

Projects that promote reuse and reduce waste.

 

Equity and Inclusion

Projects that create more equitable, inclusive, and connected communities.


Ineligible Project Examples

  • Planning exercises and other municipal projects that are not public-facing and will have no aspect of community engagement.

  • Projects that are already funded through an organization or municipality’s budget.

  • Events limited to the membership of a specific organization that are not reasonably accessible to community residents.

  • Fundraising for a pool of funds to be re-granted to others or used for an unspecified purpose in the future.

  • Fundraising for a business startup costs, or for projects through which a local business is charging a fee for a product.

  • Political advocacy focused on an individual politician or party or a specific piece of legislation.


Questions on Eligibility?

The Sustainable CT Community Match Fund is a dynamic program that provides fast, flexible funding and support for engaging your community on wide-ranging sustainability projects. For a complete list of Community Match Fund Requirements please view our eligibility worksheet and or contact [email protected].