Manchester Nonprofits Receive More Than $39,000 From Greater Hartford Gives

The Manchester Community Fund at Greater Hartford Gives has awarded its fourth round of grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Manchester community, totaling more than $39,000 in the 2025-26 cycle.

Twelve Manchester organizations received funding in this latest grantmaking cycle, with individual grants ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, addressing a diverse array of community needs. The recipients of the latest grant cycle are:

• Community Child Guidance Clinic - $4,000 to update and replenish therapeutic play materials for participants in the North Star Program, serving children ages 5-12.

• Community Health Resources - $2,000 grant to support the homeless diversion, food pantry, and Promise House programs.
• Gentle Love Diaper Pantry - $2,000 grant to purchase and distribute diapers to Manchester children and families in need.
• The Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective - $2,000 to purchase nutritious food for a community food pantry.
• Junior Achievement of Southwest New England - $5,000 to support the JA Pathways to Careers program at Manchester High School.
• MHS Marching Red Hawks Boosters - $5,000 grant to support the growth and development of the Manchester High School Marching Band.
• MARC, Inc. of Manchester - $3,934 for wheelchairs, stand-up lifts, and other equipment to enhance accessibility and independence for community members.
• MARCH, Inc. of Manchester - $5,000 for the Growing Futures Indoor Hydroponic Farm Initiative.
• Pathfinders Association of Manchester - $5,000 to address technology and basic needs for community members.
• Rosal Cares, Inc. - $2,000 for the operation of an essential supplies pantry.
• Second Congregational Church Food Pantry - $2,000 for the operation of a food pantry that serves up to 100 families per week.
• Manchester Area Conference of Churches - $1,542 for a community outdoor lunch garden.

“We are glad to be able to support these local projects that address a broad range of needs in the Manchester community,” says Shea Riley, co-chair of the Manchester Community Fund at Greater Hartford Gives. “Through the generosity and vision of Greater Hartford Gives, the lives of thousands of Manchester residents will be positively affected by the work these groups do. It’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of our community that, even in the face of challenging times, there are so many people stepping up to provide assistance and inspiration to their neighbors.”

In 2019, the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation established the Greater Together Community Funds in each of the 29 towns it serves, including Manchester, with an initial investment of $100,000. In 2021, the Foundation awarded an additional $50,000 to each of the community funds. As part of the Foundation’s Centennial year in 2025, the Foundation unveiled a new $100,000 investment in each of its 29 town-specific Community Funds. This includes $50,000 immediately available for grantmaking and $50,000 allocated to endowment.

The Manchester Community Fund Advisory Committee manages the selection process and consists of Co-Chairs Shea Riley and Debbie Streeter, Tom Breen, Stephanie Mercado-Irizarry, Paola Sacchetti, and Alex Shan. The next grantmaking cycle will begin in the fall of 2026, and the Committee encourages nonprofits serving Manchester to consider applying. The Committee is also currently accepting applications from prospective new members.

The Community Funds program also creates an opportunity for organizations and individuals to make tax-deductible contributions to the Manchester Community Fund. All donations are welcome, both large and small. Visit the Committee’s web page for more information or to make a donation.