Hartford Foundation Closes Phase Two of COVID-19 Response Fund with $350K in Grants

Fund Enters New Phase with Deeper Investments for 2021

The Hartford Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund has made more than 250 grants, distributing more than $9.6 million, since the start of the pandemic. The fund initially focused on basic human needs arising from the pandemic, then transitioned to supporting a wide variety of nonprofits to provide services safely, including personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning costs, technology and minor building enhancements. In the final round of grants in Phase Two, the Foundation awarded grants to 37 community-based organizations, totaling $350,003.

In 2021, the COVID-19 Response Fund will continue to address some of the most urgent needs in the Greater Hartford community, in a proactive and focused way. This new phase of the Fund, the Foundation is seeking to make proactive, targeted and deeper investments related to the ongoing public health and economic crises. Examples of potential investments through the Fund this year:

  • Vaccine education, outreach and distribution to reach residents who may be hesitant to vaccinate.
  • Systemic approaches to help students catch up on lost learning with a focus on reducing inequities.

In considering grants, the Foundation will consider the following criteria:

  • Priority level of the disparity addressed and target population expected to benefit.
  • Strength of collaboration and coordination with existing nonprofit, state and local pandemic responses.
  • Ability of the proposed strategy to leverage other resources.
  • Cultural competency and agency governance diversity (board and staff leadership) that is representative of beneficiaries of the proposed efforts.
  • Level of impact on residents of the Greater Hartford region.

Nonprofits wishing to provide feedback or propose an idea for a grant that potentially meets the outlined COVID-19 Response Fund criteria during this phase, can email the Foundation at applications@hfpg.org.

“Our grantmaking through the COVID-19 Response Fund will be focused on collaborative and systemic efforts,” said Hartford Foundation President Jay Williams. “We encourage our nonprofits to provide us with their input and ideas, as the need to remain flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the community is paramount.”

The final round of Phase Two of COVID-19 Response Fund grants totaling $350,003 have been awarded to more than three dozen community-based organizations that provide critical services for a total of $9,662,595 awarded from the fund. Additional information on the grants awarded below:

Organization

Purpose

Grant Amount

Allied Rehabilitation Centers

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology.

$10,000

Almada Lodge- Times Farm Camp Corporation Channel 3 Kids Camp

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning supplies, PPE, and air filters.

$6,000

Angel of Edgewood

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE.

$5,000

Artists Collective

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including air filters.

$5,274

Ballet Theatre of Connecticut

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, technology and minor building enhancements.

$3,000

Camp Courant

 

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs.

$5,049

Central Area Health Education Center

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and technology.

$5,000

Community Child Guidance Clinic

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and PPE.

$15,000

Continuum of Care

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and PPE.

$5,000

Connecticut Radio Information System

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and minor building enhancements.

$7,575

CT Students for a Dream

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology and sanitizing costs.

$2,140

Elizabeth Park Conservancy

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including temporary part-time staffing costs to enforce safety guidelines.

$5,000

Foundation for Educational Opportunities

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology.

$2,000

Grace Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and an air scrubber.

$4,950

Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology.

$25,272

Hartford Interval House

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs.

$20,000

Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and sanitizing equipment.

$13,976

Hartford Public Access Television

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning costs, technology, and minor building enhancement.

$16,692

Hartford Stage

 

Grant will provide partial support for PPE and touchless operations for the facility.

$12,000

Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology.

$7,500

Hockanum Valley Community Council

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and minor building enhancements.

$13,200

Homefront, Inc.

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE.

$3,000

Know Thy Neighbor

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including distribution of PPE and cleaning supplies.

$10,000

La Bodeguita de la Gente

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and cleaning costs.

$5,000

Manchester Public Schools

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology to facilitate distance learning.

$25,000

Mark Twain House
and Museum

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology.

$12,000

Noah Webster House

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and technology.

$10,000

Northeast Neighborhood Partners, Inc.

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including small building enhancements, PPE and cleaning supplies.

$12,000

Organized Parents Make
a Difference

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology.

$12,000

Parkville Senior Center

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning supplies, and cleaning/safety equipment.

$7,500

Rebuilding Together Manchester

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and cleaning equipment.

$6,000

The Salvation Army

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning equipment and minor building enhancements.

$30,000

Seniors Job Bank

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including minor building enhancements.

$700

TLC Foundation

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE.

$1,500

Vernon Public Schools

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology to facilitate distance learning.

$25,000

Wethersfield Academy
for the Arts

 

Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including air purifiers.

$675


The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $837 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.