Since arriving at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in 2017, Jay Williams has significantly lifted the profile of the organization, which sits on a $1-billion community fund.
Williams himself has gained notoriety as a key community leader. He was appointed in November to help lead Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s transition team.
A key program launched under Williams’ leadership was the “Access Grants” initiative to support nonprofits aligned with the foundation’s strategic priorities: dismantling structural racism and increasing social and economic mobility for Greater Hartford’s communities of color.
Through five rounds of funding, the Foundation has awarded more than $2.2 million in Access Grants to 62 organizations. The latest funding round, announced in December, supported 11 organizations with nearly $370,000.
One of the recipients was the Charter Oak Boxing Academy, which offers an array of programs, including one that promotes high school completion, and technical career training or college among youth in Hartford.
Find out who else is in the 2024 Power 50.
The Foundation is also promoting “get-out-the-vote efforts” in an important presidential election year.
Since 2018, the Hartford Foundation has provided nearly $1 million in grants to encourage greater civic engagement and increase voter participation across Greater Hartford. This year, it will be providing grants of up to $25,000 to support nonpartisan efforts that engage underrepresented voters.
Williams, a former mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, has served on the boards of the MetroHartford Alliance, AdvanceCT and is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Council.
Prior to joining the foundation, Williams served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, where he led the federal economic development agenda for the United States.