Greater Hartford Gives Foundation

The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, formerly known as the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, is a community foundation based in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1925, it was established as a responsive charitable resource for the community and has grown over a century into the largest community foundation in Connecticut. It serves approximately 800,000 residents across the 29 towns that make up the Greater Hartford region. The Foundation stewards funds from thousands of donors who care about Greater Hartford and deploys those resources to nonprofits to address community needs both today and in the future. Its mission is "putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region." Equity sits at the center of its work: it is committed to dismantling structural racism and advancing economic and social mobility, aiming to remove barriers to opportunity so all residents can reach their potential. A signature initiative is its Community Funds program. In 2019 the Foundation created 29 community funds, one for each town in its region, with grantmaking recommended by volunteer residents who reflect their communities. The initiative, which grew out of a 2018 listening tour across the 29 towns, is described as among the most ambitious participatory grantmaking programs in the nation. It supports communities in taking ownership of local needs, encourages broad and inclusive civic engagement, and anchors the Foundation in each town. The organization works through partnership with nonprofits, donors, businesses, policymakers, and residents. It offers donors a range of ways to give — establishing a legacy, creating a fund, or supporting strategic priorities — and provides nonprofits with a grantmaking process informed by its vision for a more racially just and economically inclusive Greater Hartford. In its centennial era the Foundation rebranded from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, reflecting its role as the place where the entire region comes together to give.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving was founded in 1925 to serve as a responsive charitable resource for the community. Over the following century it grew a powerful network of changemakers — donors, nonprofits, residents, businesses, and policymakers — committed to the success and wellbeing of Greater Hartford. It became the largest community foundation in Connecticut, serving 800,000 residents across the 29 towns that make up the Greater Hartford region. A pivotal moment came in 2018, when the Foundation embarked on a listening tour to hear from residents of the 29 towns it serves. Residents shared what they loved about their communities, what changes they would like to make, and how the Foundation might help. A common theme was that residents understand the challenges they face but are often constrained by a lack of resources — including the need for more opportunities to meet, share concerns, and work together to develop solutions. Those community conversations led the Foundation in 2019 to create 29 community funds, one for each town in its region. Grantmaking from these funds is recommended by volunteer residents who reflect their communities and are passionate about driving change. The Community Funds initiative is described as among the most ambitious participatory grantmaking programs in the nation, supporting communities in taking ownership of local needs, encouraging broad and inclusive civic engagement, and anchoring the Foundation in each town. In its centennial era, the organization rebranded: the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving became the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, a name chosen because it is where the entire region comes together to give. Throughout its 100-year history as Greater Hartford's community foundation, it has brought together residents with nonprofits to create change from the ground up. Its mission remains putting philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities within the Greater Hartford region, with equity at the center of its work and a commitment to dismantling structural racism and advancing economic and social mobility.

• 2019

  Created 29 community funds, one for each town in the region, launching a participatory grantmaking program.

• 2018

  Embarked on a listening tour across the 29 towns it serves, gathering resident input that shaped future grantmaking.

• 1925

  Founded to serve as a responsive charitable resource for the community.

• Rebranded from Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to Greater Hartford Gives Foundation in its centennial era.

The largest community foundation in Connecticut and a regional force for equity, participatory grantmaking, and lasting local change.

• Community Funds

  29 town-level funds created in 2019 with grantmaking recommended by volunteer residents; among the most ambitious participatory grantmaking programs in the nation.

• Donor funds and legacy giving

  Ways for donors to give their way, establish a legacy, or support strategic priorities.

• Strategic priority grantmaking

  Grants to nonprofits addressing community needs, informed by a vision for a more racially just and economically inclusive Greater Hartford.

1. 1Home - Greater Hartford Gives Foundationgreaterhartfordgives.org
2. 2Our History & Mission - Greater Hartford Gives Foundationgreaterhartfordgives.org
3. 3About the Community Funds - Greater Hartford Gives Foundationgreaterhartfordgives.org
4. 4Hartford Foundation for Public Giving - Wikidatawikidata.org