Up to $5,000 awards for folks connecting Fairfield County, CT

Some people weave us together. They are the folks most people know and trust, those we count on to get neighbors together when we need to tackle a shared problem or get something done. They show up for others and connect us. They are Weavers.

You probably are one of them or know a weaver. Let’s recognize and help them get between $2,500 to $5,000 and other resources to continue doing their important work.

What is weaving?

Weaving is the practice of building meaningful relationships that set the conditions for social trust to grow in communities.

It begins with a simple commitment: to see one another as equal in dignity, even when experiences and viewpoints differ.

Weaving invites people to:

• Discover what they have in common
• Learn how their differences can make the community stronger
• Work side by side toward common good.

Weaving can be formal or informal, and it is characterized by four qualities:

• Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood, town, or region
• Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
• Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
• Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards are part of a constellation of activities designed to celebrate and support weavers—everyday neighbors who are building relationships, strengthening belonging, and weaving trust into the social fabric of their communities. The up to $5,000 awards for neighbors working together are easy to apply for, require only simple reporting, and can go to individuals or small organizations.

What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?

Each Weaver Awardee will receive a financial award of between $2,500 to $5,000 to celebrate and recognize their contributions to their community. In addition, each awardee will receive:

• Local and National Recognition: Awardees will be recognized both locally and nationally by the United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut and the Aspen Institute alongside weavers from across the country.
• Learning Resources and Tools: Awardees will access learning resources and opportunities
• 1:1 Support: Awardees can access 1:1 support to implement their community-based activities
• Networks and Connections: Awardees will access a network of other local weavers and participate in regular meetings and networking events.

Who is eligible?

For someone, a group, or organization to be considered for an Award they need to:

• Be 18 or older
• Live, work, learn, operate, and serve in Fairfield County, CT
• Have a project that helps connect neighbors and fosters relationships between them
• The project be open to anyone in the community
• The project addresses a shared need in the community
• If the project is part of an organization or group, the organization must have an annual budget below $250,000
• Have a community recommendation, or be nominated by, a community member who lives in the area you serve.

Projects should not support a political party or policy and should not restrict participation based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or identity, political party, or faith.

Projects may serve specific affinity groups (ex. Veterans groups, language groups, women’s groups, student groups, etc.), however participation must remain open and inclusive and cannot be restricted based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference or identity, political party, or faith.

Supplemental Requirement for Organizations:

Grassroots or community-based organizations must upload an IRS verification Letter and their most recent Form 990 in the “Supplemental Documents” section of the application.

What makes a good candidate for a Weaver Award?

We are looking for people and groups whose work reflects the spirit of weaving:

• Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood, town, or region
• Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
• Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
• Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

Strong candidates often:

• Organize community gatherings or events
• Build trust across different groups
• Support neighbors through mutual aid or shared action
• Create spaces for dialogue, learning, or collaboration
• Strengthen informal networks of care and support

We are especially interested in efforts that connect people who might not otherwise engage with one another.

For examples of past weavers, please see this link.

How can you use the funds?

We believe that weavers know best how to use the funds to connect their communities. However, we do have a few restrictions:

Funds may not be used for:

• Regranting funds
• Large sums for items that are not for community use (i.e. building supplies for private use)
• Purchasing items that would be donated to individual people (i.e. wheelchairs)
• Tuition or certification fees
• Political party or policy advocacy activities

You can see a sample budget, as an example, here.

Who selects the Weaver Awardees?

A local advisory group, made up of community members, advocates, and leaders from Fairfield County, CT will choose the Awardees. These are people who know the spirit of the community and its neighborhoods. They care about weaving a strong social fabric and they know what it takes to do so.

A list of our local advisory group members will be provided below as we build it.

FAQ

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards recognize 20 people from across Fairfield County, CT who are leading efforts in their community to address local needs with between $2,500 to $5,000 awards.

Who can get a Weaver Award?

The awards are for individuals and small groups doing a project that brings people together, foster relationships with one another, and addresses a shared need in the community. The Awards are not intended for large organizations, though people who work for an organization can apply as long as their organization has an annual budget under $250,000. To get an award, you have to live and work in Fairfield County, CT, and be 18 or older. You don’t have to be part of a nonprofit organization.

How do I nominate someone for a Weaver Award?

Nominating someone is very simple. You only need to answer three questions that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. You can access the nomination form on this page, starting on August 3, 2026.

To nominate someone, you must be 18 and older and live, work or learn in Fairfield County, CT. You may not nominate someone if you are on our Advisory Group…

Once you submit the nomination, the person you are recommending will be notified via email and has to fill out some additional information for their application to be completed. Please let them know that you’ve nominated them for a Weaver Award so they are expecting an email from us.

The nomination form closes on Thursday, September 24, 2026, before the application due date to allow enough time for the person you recommend to complete the application.

How long does it take to complete the application process?

The application has two parts, the nomination by a neighbor and the application by the aspiring Awardee. Each part can be completed in as little as 30 minutes and you can even submit video recordings instead of a written application.

Do you have to be attached to a nonprofit to get an Award?

No. Anyone can get the Award. You don’t have to have a formal organization. Weaver Awards are meant for those who don’t have the time, experience, or resources to apply for traditional awards.

How do you apply and what's the deadline?

The Weaver Awards use a two-step process that combines community nomination and application.

Step 1: Nomination or Recommendation

Community members may nominate or recommend someone they believe is a weaver.

• A nomination or recommendation can be submitted by a neighbor, colleague, or community member
• Nominations are optional but encouraged

If you are nominated by someone, you will be notified and invited to complete an application.

Step 2: Application

Individuals or small organizations complete a short application describing their community work.

• Applications can be submitted by self-applicants or invited nominees
• Video responses may be used in place of written answers

Recommendation Requirement:

• If you were not nominated, you must include at least one community recommendation as part of your application.
• If you were nominated, you do not need to submit an additional recommendation.

Supplemental Requirement for Organizations:

Grassroots or community-based organizations must upload an IRS verification Letter and their most recent Form 990 in the “Supplemental Documents” section of the application.

Deadline

Completed applications with nominations have to be submitted by October 1, 2026 through the Fairfield County Weaver Awards application website.

If I'm submitting a video application, can I submit only one video?

No, you need to submit a video for each question that requires a video response. It’s the best way to make sure that the judges properly evaluate your answers. Please make sure you respect the guidelines of time limits. We only allow a maximum of 2 minutes per video response.

I’m having trouble completing the application or recommendation form, what should I do?

Send an email to fairfieldcounty@weavers.org and we’ll respond as soon as possible.

What happens after I submit my application?

A group of Fairfield County, CT local advisors will review and select the Weaver Awardees.

In the meantime, keep in touch with us at www.unitedwaycwc.org/weavers to stay connected.

How do I tell others in my community about the Awards?

Spread the word by sharing the Awards home page to folks you know and through your social accounts.

Have additional questions?

Contact us at fairfieldcounty@weavers.org and we’ll be happy to answer them!

About United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut

United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut (UWCWC) envisions a community where every person is healthy, safe, and economically secure. We work in partnership with community to address critical needs and advance equitable pathways to wellbeing and financial security for everyone. We are committed to improving the lives of the 40% of our neighbors who work hard but earn incomes below the ALICE® threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). We do so by focusing on the following priorities: Advocacy, Collective Action, Community Partnerships, Direct Service Programs, and strategic Grantmaking. UWCWC serves 27 communities across Fairfield (excluding Greenwich and Shelton) and Southern Litchfield County (which includes Bridgewater, New Milford, Roxbury, Sherman, Warren, and Washington) Connecticut.

About Weave: The Social Fabric Project

Weave: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. Weave supports everyday weavers—neighbors who show up for others, bridge divides, and build community. Through storytelling, online learning, community-building programs, and the Weaver Awards, Weave works to repair America’s social fabric from the ground up and lift up the people who are already leading this work in their neighborhoods. Learn more at weavers.org.