About the Community Funds

In 2018, the Foundation embarked on a listening tour to hear from the residents of the 29 towns we serve.

Residents shared what they loved about their communities, what changes they would like to make and how the Foundation might help. One common theme was the idea that residents understand the challenges they face in their communities, but are often constrained by a lack of resources. This lack of resources included the need for more opportunities to meet with one another, share concerns and work together with all members of the community to develop solutions. These community conversations led us to create the Community Funds.

The concept of community funds is not unique to Greater Hartford. The Foundation has learned from several other community foundations and community-based participatory decision-making models, adapting these experiences to the realities in Greater Hartford.

In 2019, the Foundation Board allocated $100,000 for each Community Fund. Half of the fund’s money – $50,000 – became available for current use grantmaking. The other $50,000 became be endowed, meaning a percentage of the dollars will be available every year to grant, following the Foundation’s spending policy.

Since then, the Foundation has allocated annually to each community fund’s current use grantmaking funds. Community Fund committees have the discretion to determine the maximum amount of their town’s current use funds to make available for grantmaking each year.

Each town within the Foundation’s region has a volunteer Community Fund committee that is composed of town residents. The committee is inclusive, representative, and reflective of all the residents of that community.

The Foundation’s Community Funds program takes a participatory philanthropy approach that involves community members and other stakeholders in the grantmaking process.  The role of the Community Funds committee is to design and lead a process to identify community needs; evaluate which needs will be funded through town Community Funds grants; make grant recommendations to the Foundation; provide updates to the Foundation; publicize grants after Foundation approval; and assist in tracking available funds for grantmaking.

Individuals and organizations can make tax-deductible contributions to any of the 29 Community Funds through our website or by sending a check written out to Greater Hartford Gives with the memo line indicating “(name of town) Greater Together Community Fund”. Contributions can be mailed to:

Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
10 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford CT 06106

If you’d like to talk with us about your contribution, feel free to reach us by email at CommunityFunds@greaterhartfordgives.org or by phone at 860-548-1888.

Minimum requirements to volunteer on a committee include individuals:

• Who reside in the town they are looking to serve;
• are at least 14 years of age (anyone younger than 18 must gain parental/guardian consent through the Parent/Guardian Permission Form);
• and agree to adhere to the Foundation’s policies and guidelines in the Community Funds Volunteer Handbook.

Candidates for elected office, elected officials, and their immediate family members may not serve on a committee.

To learn about volunteering with Community Funds or to nominate a community member, email communityfunds@greaterhartfordgives.org or call 860-548-1888.

More information about volunteering and a volunteer application can be found on the Community Funds Volunteer Information page.

This is not a fund for municipal town governments. Grants will not be administered or awarded by a town or municipal authority.

All dollars will be held at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation until they are awarded as grants.