The Black Giving Circle Fund Announces Successful Fundraising Campaign

The generous members and supporters of the Black Giving Circle at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving have successfully completed a $25,000 fundraising campaign making the Fund eligible to receive a $25,000, dollar-for-dollar matching contribution to support the needs of Greater Hartford’s Black community. 

Founded in 2015, the Black Giving Circle Fund seeks to create sustainable change in the Black community by leveraging the philanthropic efforts of donors and celebrating Black philanthropy. Donations (at least $365 annually per membership) are pooled together in a dedicated endowed fund at the Hartford Foundation. Members of the fund examine issues facing the Black community in Greater Hartford and, collectively, recommend grants to nonprofit organizations that work to address needs in the Black community. 

“From its genesis, the Black Giving Circle Fund’s membership has worked to create a giving circle that responds to the needs of Greater Hartford’s Black community,” said Jay Williams, president of the Hartford Foundation. “This successful matching grant campaign is just one example of how the Fund’s membership is invested in their community and is building the fund to create a lasting impact.”

Over the past two years, the Black Giving Circle has awarded grants to local nonprofit organizations working with Greater Hartford’s Black community. Last year the Fund awarded a $10,000 grant to the YMCA of Metropolitan Hartford to support financial literacy programming offered to over 200 youth participating in YMCA programs. In 2016, the Black Giving Circle Fund awarded its first grant of $10,000 to Catholic Charities’ Parker Memorial Family Center’s Fatherhood initiative which provided fathers with the education and supports they need to build strong social-emotional connections with their children in order to ensure that their children are reaching literacy proficiency. 

This year the Black Giving Circle Fund is scheduled to hold its members-only grantmaking meeting in December when the membership will review grant applications, hear proposals from area nonprofits and then vote to make a grant recommendation of up to $20,000.

For more information, or to join the Black Giving Circle Fund, visit hfpg.org/BlackGivingCircle or contact Chari Anderson at CAnderson@hfpg.org or 860-548-1888.

Donations to the Black Giving Circle Fund can be made online at https://www.hfpg.org/donate/view-fund/black-philanthropy-giving-circle-fund or by check, payable to HFPG, Inc., with the memo line indicating Black Giving Circle Fund 2018.

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 $720 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.