The West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund will hold virtual information sessions on April 8 and April 15 to provide details about the upcoming grant process which has a deadline of April 30, 2025.

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Greater Together Community Fund. Courtesy image (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

The West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund – one of 29 town-specific funds seeded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in 2019 to provide grants to nonprofits to improve the quality of life in the towns or directly address a need in the community – is beginning the process of awarding a fifth round of funds. The Hartford Foundation is celebrating its centennial year in 2025, and in January announced an additional investment of $100,000 in each of its towns.

The West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee will evaluate the applications and plans to award grants of $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 each in this round.

The WHGTCF said funding can be awarded for the purpose of supporting innovative new initiatives and inventive ideas to effect change, as well as improvements to current projects or programs that will benefit the lives of West Hartford residents, and partnerships and collaborations are encouraged. “Preference will be given to programs/projects that build an inclusive West Hartford community by addressing mental health, social, and/or basic human needs,” stated the announcement of the grant process.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving originally seeded each of the funds with $100,000, and in the first round, a total of $25,000 was granted to seven West Hartford nonprofits. Grant amounts provided to each organization in 2021 ranged from $1,850 to $5,500, with the amount of the award determined after review of the scope and focus of the project proposals.

In its second round of grant funding, which took place in 2022, the West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee awarded 10 grants. The following organizations were recipients: Autism Families CONNECTicut; Children’s Reading Partners ; Connecticut Alliance for Victims of Violence and Their Families, Inc. (CT-ALIVE); Dignity Grows, Inc.; Golden Door: A Center for Immigrants; Jewish Teen Learning Connection (JT Connect); Seniors Job Bank, Inc.; Voices of Hope; Volunteers in Psychotherapy; West Hartford Parent Community Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Groups (WH EDI).

The third round, in 2023, provided funding in excess of $20,000 to five local organizations, including Dignity Grows, Inc.; For All Ages, Inc.; Golden Door: A Center for Immigrants; Seniors Job Bank, Inc.; and West Hartford Parent Community of Concern.

In 2024, a total of $29,000 was awarded to five recipients, including Dignity Grows, Inc.; Golden Door; Greystone Foundation; Volunteers in Psychotherapy; and West Hartford Parent Community of Concern.

Applications are currently being accepted and proposals must be submitted by April 30, 2025 at 5 p.m. EDT. Questions must be submitted by April 15, 2025 to [email protected].

Eligible applicants include any nonprofit registered as a 501(c)(3) organization that serves or benefits the residents of West Hartford. Organizations do not need to be headquartered or based in West Hartford. Groups of residents may also partner with a registered nonprofit that will save as a fiscal agent for a proposed project, the announcement states. Organizations must have an operating budget not exceeding $2 million to be considered for a grant award.

The West Hartford Community Fund welcomes donations, which are tax deductible and will be used to support West Hartford residents. For additional information, email [email protected].

The West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund will also hold two virtual information sessions, and those interested in attending can register by clicking here. The sessions are on Tuesday, April 8, from 7 to 8 p.m., or Tuesday, April 15, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Applications must be submitted online through the 2025 Application form. unless there are accessibility issues and prior arrangements are made by calling 860-548-1888. Awards will be made at the sole discretion of the West Hartford Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee with the support of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Notification of awards will be provided by mid-June.

The all-volunteer West Hartford Community Fund Advisory Committee was established in 2020. The current Advisory Committee includes West Hartford residents Bryson Carter, Jaclyn Carter, Christopher Clark, Viviane De Oliveira Rinaldi, Debbie Ducoff-Barone, Candace Fisher, Mike Fournier (co-chair), Jacob Jackson, Shuruti Mwajirani, Krista Schroth-Bylsma, Penny Smith, and Holly Williams.

Members of the WHGTCF Advisory Committee. Courtesy photo

Updates and further information can also be found on the WHGTCF Facebook page.

For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.

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