Somers Greater Together Community Fund

The Somers Greater Together Community Fund, established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (HFPG), is inviting applications for its 2025 competitive grant round. The Foundation created community funds in each of the 29 towns it serves in response to feedback collected during a 2018 regional listening tour. Residents consistently cited the need for more resources to address local challenges and foster inclusive community engagement. In response, HFPG initiated the Greater Together Community Funds to support grassroots solutions by directly empowering local communities through financial support. This grant opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and municipalities that serve Somers, Connecticut. Civic organizations or groups of town residents may also apply in partnership with a qualified nonprofit or municipality that will act as a fiscal sponsor. While organizations do not have to be headquartered in Somers, all proposed projects must directly benefit the town’s residents. Individuals, for-profit businesses, and sectarian or religious programs are not eligible to apply. Eligible projects must address one or more of the following priority areas: youth engagement, after-school or outdoor activities, local sports (for both youth and adults), small business enrichment in Somers, community classes and senior activities, environmental projects, or arts, entertainment, and cultural programming. Projects must be inclusive and nondiscriminatory. While projects may serve a subset of the population, they must clearly explain the targeted need and show that no eligible residents will be excluded based on protected characteristics. Applicants may submit more than one proposal. Each submission must include a program description, a needs assessment, anticipated benefits, relevant priority areas, a sustainability plan, a contingency plan for partial funding, and information on organizational experience. A detailed budget is also required, for which a template is provided. Grantees must submit a final report detailing how funds were used upon project completion. The maximum award amount per grant is $10,000, with a minimum request of $250. Awards will be evaluated based on estimated number of residents impacted, sustainability of the proposed benefit, feasibility of project implementation, organizational capacity, and cost-effectiveness. Projects addressing multiple priority areas will receive greater consideration. The application and budget forms can be accessed via www.hfpg.org/somerscf. Key dates for the 2025 grant cycle include the release of the Request for Proposals on May 28, 2025. All application-related questions must be submitted by July 1, 2025, to somersac@hfpgcommunityfunds.org. Final applications are due July 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of awards by September 30, 2025. Pending final approval by HFPG, the anticipated grant start date is November 1, 2025. Grantees are expected to expend awarded funds within one year of the grant start date.