Mission Statement
Town Fair Tire Foundation, Inc. (“TFTF”) is a private, not-for-profit philanthropic organization established by Neil Mellen in 2000. The mission of TFTF is to financially support entities and institutions that help people in need of social, health, welfare, educational and other human services throughout New England - Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island – and beyond.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation is dedicated to helping create and sustain vibrant and healthy communities, families and individuals. To accomplish this purpose, TFTF invests in community-based organizations that promote self-reliance, economic and social advancement, and improved quality of life. The Town Fair Tire Foundation is especially committed to helping individuals and families who struggle daily with the effects of poverty.
An essential theme underlying the Town Fair Tire Foundation’s approach to giving is to “pay-it-forward” -- respectfully asking those who benefit from grants to pay the kindness forward to others in need. TFTF’s ultimate objective and mission is to promote positive change in the lives of those less fortunate to an exponential degree.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation performs its mission by funding proven or unique approaches from not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organizations.
What We Do
Town Fair Tire Foundation, Inc. (TFTF) is dedicated to helping create and sustain vibrant and healthy communities, families and individuals. To accomplish this purpose, TFTF invests in local community-based organizations that promote self-reliance, economic and social advancement and improved quality of life.
TFTF is committed to helping individuals and families who struggle daily with the effects of poverty. Our initiatives are highly grassroots in nature, with the goal of giving back to the local and community levels.
TFTF’s ultimate objective is to promote positive change in the lives of those less fortunate and create greater societal good through the thousands of organizations we support across the region.
An essential theme underlying Town Fair Tire Foundation’s approach to giving is to pay it forward - respectfully asking those who benefit from grants to pay the kindness forward to others in need when they are able.
Guiding Principles
TFTF supports local and regional organizations primarily throughout New England – the region where Town Fair Tire Centers, Inc. has grown its business from two stores in Fairfield and Stratford, Connecticut in 1967 to over 97 stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island in 2018.
Town Fair Tire Foundation’s goals are to support direct services to individuals, families and communities, as well as to effect change through advocacy, research, public education and policy work.
While TFTF’s primary focus is in New England, we will consider grants to other areas of the United States if the purpose of the organization or program is aligned with our mission.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation operates no programs of its own, but performs its mission by funding proven or unique approaches of not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organizations.
In order to maximize the positive effect of giving, the Town Fair Tire Foundation primarily structures its gifts as multi-year or matching grants.
“Paying-it-forward” is an important feature and expectation of Town Fair Tire Foundation’s giving. Accordingly, we respectfully ask those who benefit from our grants to pay the kindness forward to others in need in any meaningful way.
TFTF strives to promote maximum positive change in the lives of communities, families and individuals to an exponential degree.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation considers general operating grants and grants to specific programs of start-up, small and well-established not-for-profits; endowments and capital campaigns are also considered.
Procedures in grant giving include due diligence, evaluation and assessment of potential grantees, analysis of the purpose of grant requests and the use of funds awarded, as well as site visits.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation welcomes taking an active role with its grantees through guidance, direction, board involvement and other support, in addition to providing funds.
The Town Fair Tire Foundation encourages collaborative funding and would also consider public-private partnerships to optimize development efforts.
For-profit discipline is part of the Town Fair Tire Foundation’s core approach to philanthropy.
Accountability and sustainability are also integral elements to our grant giving methodology.