The Equality Fund

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is currently offering a competitive grant opportunity through its Equality Fund to support the wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ residents in the Greater Hartford region. The Foundation invites proposals requesting up to $50,000 for activities to be implemented over a one-year period, with a total of up to $200,000 expected to be awarded across all selected grantees. Applications are now open, with a submission deadline of May 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM. This grant program seeks projects that directly assist LGBTQIA+ individuals or provide tailored services in areas such as basic human needs, education, healthcare, housing, employment, and other efforts aimed at tackling systemic inequities and barriers. While all proposals that meet these broad objectives will be considered, priority will be given to projects aligning with recommendations from the Hartford Foundation and DataHaven’s LGBTQIA+ Resident Wellbeing study. These priority areas include enhancing the social connectedness of queer youth, creating third or community safe spaces, promoting LGBTQIA+ advocacy including inclusive legislation, improving access to culturally relevant and inclusive healthcare and mental health services, supporting community-based harm reduction practices, and expanding access to safe and affordable housing. Applicants are encouraged to design projects that clearly address one or more of the identified priority areas, though proposals outside these areas will still be eligible for consideration if they meet the broader mission of supporting LGBTQIA+ wellbeing. A downloadable rubric is available to guide applicants in preparing competitive submissions. The Foundation’s focus on equity and systemic change is reflected in this funding opportunity, aligning with its strategic commitment to dismantle barriers and create inclusive communities. Applicants will be evaluated according to criteria outlined in the rubric, including the alignment of their project to identified community needs, feasibility of the project plan, and expected impact. All applications must be submitted by the deadline, and grantees will be expected to implement activities over the course of one year following the award. Direct contact information for support is not included in the provided excerpt, but inquiries would typically be directed through the Foundation’s standard grants administration channels.