The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving says it gifted more than $36.8 million in grants to the region’s not-for-profit and educational institutions in 2019.
That’s down slightly from the record $38.2 million the foundation, which supports Hartford and 28 nearby communities, awarded in 2018. But the total number of individuals grants in 2019 rose 23% to 3,332.
“At a time when our state and many of our towns face significant fiscal challenges, the Hartford Foundation was able to support our community with significant resources this past year,” Hartford Foundation President Jay Williams said in a statement.
The foundation said it increased its focus last year on addressing the region’s disparities in race/ethnicity, income and location. In particular, its grantmaking was aimed at supporting basic human needs, creating employment opportunities for black and Latinx residents, improving community safety in Hartford neighborhoods and eliminating barriers for student growth in distressed communities, among other goals.
In 2019, half of Hartford Foundation’s grants were made through “donor-directed” contributions that supported a variety of organizations that align with the foundation’s mission, officials said.
The foundation, which received $14 million in gifts and opened 31 new funds in 2019, also invested 20% of its grants in community leadership, followed by student progress (11%), special projects (6%), community safety and resiliency (5%) and employment opportunities (4%), among others.
The Hartford Foundation said it had assets totaling $1.06 billion to end 2019, according to an unaudited report. Since its founding in 1925, the organization says it has awarded over $795 million in grants.Â
Examples of grants awarded in 2019 include:
- $2 million to nonprofits supporting technology, financial management, evaluation and technical assistance.
- $1 million to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford in building a new $18-million recreation facility on land formerly housing the Alfred E. Burr Elementary School in Hartford’s South End.
- $810,000 for summer learning programs that supported nearly 8,000 young people.
- $560,000 to 69 nonprofits providing food and other basic human needs.
- $448,00 to 20 organizations supporting 2020 voter registration and census campaigns.
- $390,000 for nonprofit iQuilt Partnership to support the development of Hartford’s upcoming master plan.Â
