Hartford Foundation Seeks Applications for Community Organizing and Resident Engagement

Foundation is accepting applications through September.

Last year, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving provided two grant opportunities in support of its strategic goals to advance equity in social and economic mobility and contribute to dismantling structural racism. Focused on community organizing and resident engagement projects, the Foundation awarded more than $500,000 in grants to support of the community organizing work of 10 community groups and nonprofit organizations and more than $110,000 in grants to support the resident engagement activities of six community groups and nonprofits.

Today, the Foundation announced two new Requests for Proposal to nonprofits and other community groups engaged in local civic engagement, participation and social change.

“The Foundation was overwhelmed by depth and breadth of the responses we received through last year’s community organizing and resident engagement opportunities,” said Hartford Foundation Senior Community Impact Officer Cierra Stancil. “Inclusive civic participation and engagement allows decision-makers to address societal problems more effectively, creating solutions that incorporate critical input from the people they serve. These grants support community members as they assemble and lend resources, skills, expertise, and knowledge to improve the overall quality of life locally.”

The Community Organizing RFP is a competitive grant opportunity for nonprofits or community groups conducting community organizing efforts led by people of color and/or people representing traditionally marginalized communities. Successful proposals could support community organizing efforts, broadly or around specific issue campaigns, increasing community organizing group or organizational capacity, and/or community organizing infrastructure to benefit the field in Greater Hartford.

Successful Community Organizing can lead to:

  • Advocates representing marginalized/underrepresented populations who are comfortable speaking to people in positions of power.
  • Persistent community coalitions built to address or monitor a local problem.
  • Policy changes more reflective of a broader community voice.
  • Legal action to correct actions or seek damages for a negatively affected population.

Requests can address issues such as housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons, or other issues identified by community members, with preference given for efforts related to the advancement of racial justice.

The scope of work considered could take place over the span of one year. Grant awards will range from $5,000 - $60,000. The Foundation estimates applicants will hear whether they received a grant approximately 4 to 7 weeks from the date they submit their application. The application deadline is rolling through September 26, 2023.

Prospective applicants can review the Request for Proposal to learn more.

The Resident Engagement competitive grant opportunity is for nonprofits or community groups engaged in or planning local civic participation efforts with the potential to increase civic trust, increase social issue awareness and promote allyship with marginalized communities. Resident engagement efforts might include activities such as: hosting community meetings or forums, conducting workshops, retreats or informational outreach campaigns; and volunteerism projects.

Efforts can focus on increasing racial/social justice issue awareness, increasing resident leadership on racial/social justice issues, and increasing civic education and issue awareness. Projects can include efforts to address issues such as housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons.

Examples of eligible resident engagement projects include:

  • Community conversations or workshops designed to engage and challenge residents in their personal thinking around attitudes and beliefs aligned with the Hartford Foundation’s mission.
  • Volunteerism designed to build goodwill among varying groups of people.
  • Informational outreach campaigns that encourage social cohesiveness in alignment with the Foundation’s mission.
  • Projects with civic and municipal leaders on behalf of marginalized/underrepresented communities.

Scope of work considered could take place over the course of one year. This is to acknowledge the shifting nature of community work. Grant awards will range from $1,000 - $25,000. The Foundation estimates applicants will hear whether they received a grant approximately 4 to 7 weeks from the date they submit their application. The application deadline is rolling through September 26, 2023.

Prospective applicants can review the Request for Proposal to learn more.

An access code is required to complete this application; please contact Tiana Starks at tstarks@hfpg.org to determine eligibility and receive the access code.

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 $948 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.