The Connecticut Project (TCP) is a think tank focused on promoting left-of-center policies in Connecticut. It promotes the idea that “inequity” in America is the result of oppressive forces like systemic racism, a notion derived from critical race theory. It is the charitable education partner to the Connecticut Project Action Fund (TCP Action Fund) which is a “social welfare” organization that engages in lobbying. ^{1  2}

Financials

The Connecticut Project was founded in 2021 and as of 2025 had ramped up its activity significantly, having received over $33 million in funds in 2022. ²

In 2023, the Connecticut Project reported $1,148,997 in revenue, of which $3,421 was received from contributions and grants and $1,145,576 from investment income. In contrast, in 2022 the project received a very large amount of grants totaling over $33 million. It reported $9,065,129 in expenses, of which $5,793,304 were paid out in grants and contributions and $2,021,050 in salaries. It ended the year with a loss of $7,916,132 and net assets of $22,792,710. ²

In 2023, TCP did not report any government funding. ³

Partner Organizations

The Connecticut Project has a sister advocacy organization called the Connecticut Project Action Fund (TCP Action Fund). The organizations are governed by two different boards, but share the same staff, website, and advocacy priorities. TCP Action Fund is specifically involved in lobbying on the state level to advance the organizations’ positions on legislation dealing with its core issue areas. ¹

Organization Philosophy

The Connecticut Project claims that oppression, including the left-of-center concept of systemic racism, infects American cultural, social, and political institutions. It goes on to argue that this is why identity and geography-based “inequity” continues to exist in Connecticut. ¹

Projects and Initiatives

Democracy and Governance

The Connecticut Project has several priorities under the heading of “Democracy and Good Governance.” Notably, the project works to make it easier for people to vote, and focuses on early voting efforts. It touts that its efforts to educate people about early voting helped contribute to the fact that 43 percent of all votes in Connecticut during the 2024 election were reportedly cast early. ⁴

TCP also provides grants to activist organizations within Connecticut that work to mobilize people for political action. Similarly, the project funds various data crunching organizations, with the goal of making it easier to cross-reference people’s eligibility for welfare programs. ⁴

Early Education

Aside from promoting information on various programs and best practices related to early childhood education and child care, TCP has provided grants to a state-initiated child care business incubator. TCP Action Fund lobbied for the expansion of the program across the state. ⁵

Housing

TCP claims that housing is a human right. It has provided funding to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut to create a center focused on equity and affordable housing. It has also funded the Connecticut Tenants Union which lobbies on behalf of tenants against landlords. ⁶

Economic Policy

TCP claims that a “high quality of life” is a human right. It promotes awareness of eligibility for the earned income tax credit and funds several local organizations focused on economic policy. This includes organizations focused on promoting awareness of the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program, stating that by the end of the media campaign 7,750 government workers had had a cumulative total of $507 million in student loans written off. ⁷

Leadership

As of 2025, Garth Harries was the president and CEO of both the Connecticut Project and the Connecticut Action Project Action Fund, positions he has held since the organization was founded in 2021. He has a long history of working in education-related jobs, including as a managing partner for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s school consulting arm, as superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, and as the chief portfolio officer of the New York City Department of Education. ^{8  9}

Stephen Mandel Jr., the hedge fund billionaire and founder of the Zoom Foundation (which is not related to the video call platform) was on the board of TCP as of 2025, along with his wife Susan Zadek Mandel. The Mandels are major donors to left-of-center causes and organizations. ¹⁰

1. “Mission.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/mission. 
2. The Connecticut Project, Return from an organization exempt from taxation, (Form 990) 2023, Part I
3. The Connecticut Project, Return from an organization exempt from taxation, (Form 990) 2023, Part IX
4. “Democracy & Good Governance.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/democracy-good-governance. 
5. “Early Education.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/early-education. 
6. “Housing & Community Development.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/housing-community-development. 
7. “Economic Opportunity.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/economic-opportunity. 
8. “Garth Harris.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://tcpactionfund.org/garth-harries. 
9. “Garth Harries.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/garth-harries-53525a114/. 
10. “Our Boards.” TCP. Accessed May 4, 2025. https://ctproject.org/our-boards.