Regional Giving Foundation In Hartford Plans Big Centennial Push

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford-based foundation announced a new initiative in 2025 to fund special endowments earmarked to help all of its member towns.

To mark its centennial year in 2025, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has announced a new $2.9 million investment in the Greater Together Community Funds.

This is the first of several major investments that will be announced over the course of the foundation’s 100th anniversary year.

“The Greater Together Community Funds were created to engage and empower community residents; the people who are best equipped to respond to the needs of their towns,” said Hartford Foundation President/Chief Executive Officer Jay Williams.

“When we set up a program rooted in inclusion, participatory decision making, and community resident leadership, we knew the work would be both rewarding and challenging."

The foundation is based in Hartford, but it serves 28 other towns surrounding Hartford, making it a truly regional operation.

As of December 2024, the 29 town committees have made 659 individual grants totaling $2.48 million.

As a result of this success, community funds have become a permanent program at the foundation.

“Being a part of the Bolton Greater Together Community Fund effort has been such a rewarding experience,” said Bolton committee member Shandra Scott-Brown. “It is a way for me to really connect to the community that I live in, and it was an opportunity for me to just get involved and help others.”

In 2019, the Hartford Foundation announced an initial investment of $2.9 million to create the Greater Together Community Funds.

Those funds supported each of the towns in the foundation’s region: Andover, Avon, Bloomfield, Bolton, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Hebron, Manchester, Marlborough, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Somers, South Windsor, Suffield, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks.

Each fund is administered by a volunteer committee of town residents who must be reflective of the makeup of that community.

The purpose of the program is to support communities as volunteers identify local organizations that are addressing the unique needs in their towns.

Each committee received $50,000 for grantmaking and $50,000 for endowment, allowing a percentage of those dollars to be available annually.

Avon and West Hartford are two of the towns happy with the results.

“The Avon Greater Together Community Fund is more than just a checkbox—it’s a platform that embodies selflessness, humility, and focus,” said Avon committee member and Avon High School student Panya Khattar. “The inspiring people I work alongside dedicate their time and effort because they genuinely believe in the betterment of our community."

“If you want to make a difference, if you want to learn more about your town and the good work that's being done in the in town and play a part in supporting those organizations financially, I'd say being on a Community Fund committee is a great way to do that,” added West Hartford committee member Mike Fournier.

“Giving $5,000, $10,000, $2,500 and then hearing the stories of the impact right within your community and about the good that the organization is able to do with that money. It's a special feeling.”

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888. To learn more about the Greater Together Community Funds or to donate to any of the town funds, log onto //www.hfpg.org/communityfunds.