In a recent op-ed piece, the author suggested the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving might lessen the burdens of government for the city of Hartford as it struggles with long-term budget deficits.
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In a recent op-ed piece (“Could Hartford Foundation help solve city's budget crisis?” June 13, 2016), the author suggested the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving might lessen the burdens of government for the city of Hartford as it struggles with long-term budget deficits.
The Hartford Foundation is the community foundation for the Capital City and 28 surrounding towns. While about one-third of the funds the Foundation allocates for grantmaking each year are restricted by the specific wishes of donors, a significant portion of the remaining funds are generally applied to benefit the neediest populations in this Greater Hartford region, in such areas as learning — birth through college, preparation for family sustaining wage jobs, and other long-term, systemic efforts.
Hartford, in fact, receives a significant portion of the Foundation's grant dollars. In 2015, the Hartford Foundation awarded in excess of $10 million to programs and initiatives that impact the lives of Hartford residents. In addition to our own resources, the Foundation has worked to develop public and private partnerships, resulting in millions in additional funding from national sources to benefit residents of Hartford. For example, $500,000 from the Aspen Institute and $900,000 from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to support job training and employment for Hartford youth and $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to support early childhood English language learners.
Just as the Foundation stepped forward to provide sorely needed resources to nonprofits during the economic downturn in 2008, we are prepared to once again help qualifying nonprofits affected by unexpected losses of support with our Transitional Operating Support grants.
Additionally, through our Nonprofit Support Program, we provide resources to area nonprofits and their boards of directors to help them address the changing funding environment in a strategic and sustainable way.
Our commitment to the Greater Hartford community is to be here in good times and bad — to serve this community in perpetuity. We do not take that commitment lightly.
The Foundation's spending policy and investment strategy are designed to work together to provide a predictable stream of dollars to support the region's current and future needs. This ensures that even during fiscal downturns the Foundation can continue to provide a stable level of support. The region's nonprofits depend on this. Our donors expect it.
Since its founding in 1925, the Hartford Foundation has provided in excess of $650 million in grants and received support from more than 10,000 generous donors in our community. Still, no single organization can solve all of the problems of the Capital City or region.
For this reason, the Foundation fosters partnerships and collaborations with state and local government, other funders, the business community, nonprofit providers and our donors to create opportunities for all residents in the Greater Hartford region to thrive now and into the future.
Linda J. Kelly is president of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
