History

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CFECT) traces its history to a small group of visionary community leaders who, in 1982, organized to establish a permanent endowment to serve New London and its ten surrounding towns in perpetuity. It was incorporated as the Pequot Foundation, with seed money of $225,000 contributed by the Shea, Palmer and Bodenwein Funds. The Foundation's first grant awards were awarded in 1984. The Foundation later became known as the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut (CFSECT). Two years after celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2008, CFSECT merged with its counterpart to the north, the Community Foundation of the Tri-County Area, resulting in the geographically largest community foundation in Connecticut. A larger service area of 42 towns* inspired the change to the current name of Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.  

Over 27 years, CFECT has awarded more than $20 million has been awarded to local nonprofit agencies and student scholarship recipients. Donors have given more than $45 million and set up over 325 individual funds. The Foundation's assets stand close to the $40 million mark. 

Local giving, local grant making.  For good.  For ever.

Pequot/CFSECT Founding Trustees

William R. Attridge
Mary Doherty
Kenneth W. Johnson
Benjamin A. Levinson
Harvey Mallove
John T. MacDougall
Robert W. Marrion
Dwight Norris
Francis J. Pavetti

*Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Stafford, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, and Woodstock