Summer Program

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is offering a competitive grant opportunity aimed at supporting summer programs that serve Hartford youth and individuals of all ages with disabilities within its 29-town Connecticut service region. The program focuses on creating safe, enriching environments during the summer of 2026, particularly for children of working families and youth seeking career development. Grants of up to $50,000 are available per organization, with a total of $750,000 expected to be distributed across all selected applicants. This year, the Summer Program application process has shifted to invitation-only due to increased demand. Organizations that received funding for similar programs between 2023 and 2025 will automatically receive invitations to apply. However, this invitation does not guarantee approval or full funding. New or previously denied applicants must schedule an eligibility interview with the Foundation by December 19, 2025, to determine alignment with program goals. The program supports several types of initiatives: summer camperships (reduced-fee or free programming including meals and transportation), enrichment activities hosted by third-party agencies (such as museum visits), tutorial experiences, and Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs focused on career exposure and leadership for older youth, typically ages 14 to 18. Programs must be held during traditional work hours to best support working families, and applicants are encouraged to include transportation for participants when necessary. Preference will be given to organizations led by Black or Latine individuals. Applicants must either be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a fiscal sponsor and demonstrate at least one summer of relevant experience working with either children in Hartford or individuals with disabilities. Organizations currently receiving core support from the Foundation are not eligible. All 2025 Summer Program grantees must have completed their final report to apply again. Applicants must complete the online submission by January 13, 2026, and award decisions will be announced in April 2026. Proposals will be evaluated using a published rubric. Funded projects will be required to track metrics such as total number of participants, number of Hartford and low-income participants, individuals with disabilities served, and number and outcomes of CITs involved. Contact for eligibility interviews includes Senior Community Impact Associate Tiana Starks ([email protected]) and Community Impact Officer Alexis Safo-Agyeman ([email protected]). Technical application questions should be directed to [email protected].

Emphasize alignment with program goals and demographic focus; use rubric to self-assess before applying