East Hartford Greater Together Community Fund

The East Hartford Greater Together Community Fund, established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, offers $100,000 in funding to support community-driven projects in East Hartford. The fund aims to encourage community ownership, foster civic engagement, and strengthen the Hartford Foundation's role in each town. The fund’s Advisory Committee has opened a call for grant applications to support projects that benefit East Hartford residents inclusively, without discrimination based on race, religion, or other protected characteristics. For this grant cycle, applications opened on August 1, 2024, and will close on December 1, 2024. Organizations may request between $250 and $5,000 per project, with each organization limited to one application. Upon project completion, a final report is required to account for the grant’s impact. To be eligible, organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits or partner with a fiscal sponsor. Private foundations and 509(a)(3) charities are not eligible, and for-profit businesses are excluded from applying. Religious organizations can apply if the project serves the broader community rather than promoting religious activities. Town agencies can also act as fiscal sponsors for other entities. Grant decisions will be made by early January 2025, with awards announced later that month. In previous cycles, grants have been awarded to various impactful projects, such as emergency energy assistance, youth engagement programs, and support for low-income ESL students in public schools. In 2023, a total of $25,000 was granted to local organizations addressing pressing community needs. The East Hartford Advisory Committee, composed of local residents, identifies community needs and guides the grantmaking process to ensure the fund has maximum positive impact. The committee actively seeks new members, aged 14 and older, to ensure it reflects East Hartford’s diverse population. Committee applications are accepted year-round and reviewed triannually.