Who We Serve
As Greater Hartford’s community foundation, we serve nearly 800,000 residents across 29 towns in Connecticut.
Our Mission
Putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region.
Since our founding in 1925, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the region to help improve quality of life for residents. In 2024, we awarded 2,440 grants totaling nearly $55 million, including more than $1.45 million in scholarships.
What is a community foundation?
We are the largest community foundation in Connecticut and the only community foundation serving Greater Hartford.
We steward funds entrusted to us by thousands of donors since our founding in 1925. Our donors care deeply about Greater Hartford. We connect them with our deep knowledge of the region and help them direct their giving in a way that matches their philanthropic interests.
Our Foundation deploys resources to local nonprofits, who are best positioned to make change happen for the entire region.
Through our careful investment strategy, we ensure that our Foundation can be a steady source of resources even during financial downturns or challenging times.
What makes community foundations special?
- Our donors have access to our staff’s knowledge and expertise about the region and its challenges. You’re not alone in your giving.
- We create a network of giving — convening groups of donors through events, learning sessions, giving circles, and community funds, for greater impact.
- Community foundations exist in perpetuity — we’ve been here for 100 years and we’ll be here for the next century, too.
Greater Hartford residents share why they give:
Partnerships are the cornerstone of our work.
Building a thriving region is a long-term commitment that requires meaningful collaboration, strategic investment, and significant knowledge-sharing.
Over 100 years, we have built a powerful network of changemakers who are committed to improving the well-being and quality of life for all residents in our region.
Who we work with:
- Nonprofits: Values-aligned organizations committed to providing vital services to residents in need, dismantling structural racism and advancing social and economic mobility across our region
- Donors and Funding Partners: Generous individuals, families, and organizations that believe in our vision
- Community members: Residents dedicated to shaping their communities by sharing their voices to inform how we can support each town
- Businesses: Local companies that contribute to economic vitality and are committed to creating opportunities for people across the region
- Policymakers: Leaders who advance legislation to remove barriers and improve the quality of life for residents, especially underserved communities
How can you be a part of the change?
Community foundations exist for the residents of the community. We are YOUR community foundation and everyone has a role to play in creating change.
Let’s connect to build a stronger region. By partnering with us, you can engage with like-minded individuals and organizations who are eager to learn from one another and ready to invest in solutions that help all residents thrive.
Nonprofits:
Does your mission or project work align with our priorities and outcomes? Learn how to best position your organization for our grant opportunities. Explore grant opportunities, capacity building resources, and other ways we support organizations contributing to growing equity in our region.
Donors and Philanthropic Organizations:
We want to explore how we can invest in our region together. Your resources can enhance our Foundation’s efforts, and we are here to share our expertise on community issues, nonprofits, and effective grantmaking to maximize the impact of your giving.
Community Members:
Learn about our 29 Community Funds and how residents help address needs in their towns.
Policymakers:
We believe in the power of public-private partnership. We are eager to share our on-the-ground knowledge, collaborate to pilot innovation, and support learning and evaluation.
