Manchester Greater Together Community Fund News

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded its second round of grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Manchester community. Six Manchester organizations received funding in this second grantmaking cycle, with individual grants ranging from $3,600 to $5,000. Funded projects address a diverse array of community needs. December 2023 grant awards include:

• Building Healthy Families - $5,000 to support upgrading the kitchen facility at 20 Hartford Road
• Gentle Love Diaper Pantry - $5,000 to support the Community Partner Network Diaper distribution
• Invent the Summer, Inc.- $3,600 to support Manchester Community STEM Workshops
• Rebuilding Together - $5,000 to support Rebuilding Together 2024
• Second Congregational Church - $5,000 to support the 2nd Congregational Church Food Pantry
• UR Community Cares, Inc.- $5,000 to support Cycling Without Age Manchester

“The Committee is excited to support these six local projects that together address a broad range of needs in the Manchester community,” says Bambi Mroz, chair of the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee. “We sought projects aimed at addressing basic needs, diversity and equity, and youth, among others. The selected projects each address multiple focus areas, and we hope these investments will make a strong, positive impact on the lives of Manchester residents. We can’t wait to see the great work these local organizations will do over the course of the next year!”

In 2019, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving established $100,000 Greater Together Community Funds for each of the 29 towns in the Foundation’s region, which includes the town of Manchester. The purpose of the community funds is to support residents in taking ownership around the needs in their towns, encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town. In 2021, the Foundation provided an additional $50,000 to each of the 29 community funds to support their grantmaking and in 2022 an additional $10,000. In December 2023, the Foundation provided another $20,000 to each of the 29 community funds to support their grantmaking.

The Community Fund Advisory Committee manages the selection process and consists of Bambi Mroz, Shea Riley, Taylor Roy, Paola Sacchetti, Debbie Streeter, and Sounthaly Thammavong. The Committee issued a call for proposals on September 1, 2023 with applications due by October 15, 2023. The Committee then reviewed all proposals and had the difficult task of narrowing the pool to the six selected projects. The next grantmaking cycle will begin later in 2024, and the Committee encourages nonprofits serving Manchester to consider applying. Groups of town residents are also eligible to request funding through the program.

The Greater Together Community Funds program also creates an opportunity for organizations and individuals to make tax-deductible contributions to the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund. All donations are welcome, both large and small. Visit http://www.hfpg.org/manchestercf for more information or to make a donation. The Advisory Committee will also soon be soliciting applications for new members.

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The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $998 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit https://www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.