Manchester Greater Together Community Fund

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund is part of a regional initiative established by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, which created $100,000 funds for each of the 29 towns in its service area, including Manchester, Connecticut. The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds is to support residents in taking ownership of their local needs, to encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement, and to ensure that the Foundation remains anchored within each participating community. The Foundation augmented these funds with an additional $50,000 per town in 2021 and another $20,000 per town in 2023 to support ongoing local grantmaking. The 2025–2026 grant cycle of the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund opens on September 2, 2025, and closes on October 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM. The fund seeks proposals for local projects that will enhance the quality of life for Manchester residents or address specific needs in the community. Grant awards will range from $250 to $5,000. Applicants may include registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or groups of Manchester residents working in partnership with a registered nonprofit or the Town of Manchester acting as a fiscal sponsor. For-profit businesses and civic organizations without 501(c)(3) status are not eligible. Proposed projects must provide an immediate and concrete benefit to residents of Manchester. Proposals should clearly describe the need for the project, the expected impact, the group’s qualifications to execute it, and a detailed budget. Funded activities must occur after the grant is awarded; retrospective funding or reimbursement is not permitted. A template for the required project budget must be completed and submitted with the application. Applications will be evaluated by the local Advisory Committee, which prioritizes projects addressing youth, basic needs, food insecurity, mental health and health promotion, technology and accessibility, arts and humanities, and diversity and equity. Reviewers will also consider the number of town residents impacted, project sustainability, cost-efficiency, and the applicant’s capacity to execute the project successfully. Each organization or resident group may submit only one application for this cycle. Awards are expected to be announced at the end of January 2026. All proposals and questions should be submitted via email to manchester@hfpgcommunityfunds.org, and the full application materials are available online at www.hfpg.org/manchestercf. Interested community members aged 14 and older are also invited to apply for open positions on the Advisory Committee to support the grantmaking process.

Use the budget template; submit by email before the deadline; ensure the project has a clear benefit to town residents and aligns with stated priority areas.