Four Nonprofits Join the Hartford Foundation’s Social Enterprise Accelerator 2025

Past Participants have generated more than $16 million to Support Their Missions

Since 2019, 24 local nonprofit organizations have participated in the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA), a 30-month process to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity by launching or growing revenue generating ventures that are mission-aligned. Administered by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s Nonprofit Support Program, each organization developed and implemented business plans to boost revenue and heighten their mission impact, with the guidance of No, Margin, No Mission, a national consulting firm that helps nonprofits become stronger and more vibrant through earned income, social enterprise, and entrepreneurial practices. To date, these 24 organizations have collectively generated more than $16 million in revenue from their social enterprise ventures.

Now, four additional nonprofits have been chosen to participate in the Social Enterprise Accelerator 2025. Each organization attended a series of learning labs and consultations with No Margin, No Mission over the fall and winter, after which they applied to join this group. Over the next two and a half years, the four organizations will learn from one another as they build and execute their business plans, raise start-up capital, and launch or grow their ventures.

One of the participants in the third round of the SEA was the Stowe Center for Literary Activism, an organization that is committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities by fostering a deep connection between literature and social change. Drawing inspiration from Harriet Beecher Stowe, the center is dedicated to preserving her legacy while advocating for justice and equality through literature, education, and community engagement. By hosting programs, workshops, and events, the center empowers individuals to explore the intersection of literary works and social activism, creating a space where stories ignite conversations and inspire action.

Stowe on the Go, the Center's new social enterprise, brings literary activism directly to people, organizations, and communities through a unique set of offerings not available elsewhere. With a menu of facilitated experiences designed to help hone deep listening and constructive conversational skills that lead to better understanding of each other, Stowe on the Go uses a variety of museum collection items to ground each conversation in historical context and provide a springboard for discussion that helps lead to common ground. This approach not only helps participants practice skills for engaging in difficult conversations with open minds and respect for differences but also leads to more cohesive groups that better understand one another. The goal is for each person to say: “I will think about what you just said.”

"Launching an entrepreneurial new venture and embracing a more business-minded approach has given us the opportunity to expand our work in a way that will help us support and extend our other programs," said Karen Fisk, Executive Director of the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. "We are grateful for the Hartford Foundation’s support, and our team is excited about the future of Stowe on the Go. This initiative is just the beginning, and we envision additional mission-driven enterprises that will further our efforts to promote justice, equality, and social change through literature, education, and community engagement."

The following organizations have been selected to participate in the Social Enterprise Accelerator 2025:

“The Social Enterprise Accelerator has served as a platform for nonprofits to learn and raise unrestricted dollars necessary to become thriving, sustainable organizations with greater impact in our region,” said Hartford Foundation’s Associate Director of the Nonprofit Support Program Meher Shulman. “The leadership, readiness, and culture demonstrated by this cohort will facilitate their efforts to strengthen their entrepreneurial capacity through this exciting 30-month process. Congratulations to these enterprising nonprofits.”

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns. Through partnerships, the Foundation seeks to strengthen communities in Greater Hartford by putting philanthropy in action to dismantle structural racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $1 billion since its founding in 1925. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.