Bristol is filled with arts and culture organizations that help the city thrive and greatly enhance the quality of life. Unfortunately, those organizations and the entire sector, have been hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why Main Street Community Foundation partnered with one of its donor advised funds, The Broad View Fund, to award $12,800 to eight local organizations.

These grants will provide a game-changing initiative or service to help the nonprofits combat the effects of the pandemic. Grants will support video production consultants, virtual programming assistance, fundraising consultants and marketing assistance among other things specific to each organization.

To determine exactly what these organizations needed most, Main Street Community Foundation asked for their input via survey. “We recognized that there are certain challenges they face during the response and recovery periods,” stated Bob Boudreau, co-Founder of The Broad View Fund along with Bob Alim and Kevin Prior, collectively known as BBK.

“When recommending grants from The Broad View Fund, we look for programs or initiatives that create game-changing opportunities to support emerging issues and the social needs of the diverse cultures of Bristol residents,” said Boudreau. “Arts and culture organizations do just that, and we wanted to help expand their capacity in these challenging times so they could continue to meet their mission well into the future.”

The grants were made possible from the proceeds of Cocktails@Eight, an annual event hosted (virtually) by BBK. “This is about the spirit and energy of community and the people who come together for one night to get behind a cause that will benefit those among us who need it the most,” said Kevin Prior.

Each organization received a $1,600 grant and are as follows:

• American Clock & Watch Museum
• Bristol Historical Society
• Bristol Sports Hall of Fame
• Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble
• Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut
• Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center
• Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra
• The New England Carousel Museum

“Partnering with donor advised funds at the Foundation to award innovative grants like this is a striking example of the collective power of philanthropy,” stated Susan Sadecki, President & CEO of Main Street Community Foundation. Donor advised funds can be established at the Foundation and allow the donor(s) to actively participate in grantmaking by recommending charitable organizations to receive grants.