Quinnipiac River Fund - Grants to Study and Improve the River

About this program

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven administers the Quinnipiac River Fund, established from a 1990 legal settlement to improve the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River, New Haven Harbor, and surrounding watersheds; grant applications for 2026 are open and the Fund distributes more than $100,000 annually. Supported projects include studies of pollution and ecology, research into pollution-reduction and permitting, actions addressing point and nonpoint pollution, public education linked to environmental improvement, land acquisition for conservation or access, habitat restoration, and removal of debris that impedes river passage; the Fund also supports environmental advocacy but does not fund litigation. Eligible applicants are organizations working to improve the river, harbor, or watershed; educational projects for schoolchildren will be considered only if they demonstrably contribute to environmental quality. Contact Denise Canning, Director of Grant Operations, for application questions.