Community Organizing Grant

The Community Organizing grant opportunity is offered by the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on advancing equitable economic and social mobility and dismantling structural racism in the Greater Hartford region. The Foundation seeks to support initiatives that create vibrant, resilient, and inclusive communities by investing in efforts that amplify the voices and leadership of historically marginalized populations. Through this funding opportunity, the Foundation aims to strengthen community power and promote civic participation, particularly among people of color and underserved groups. This grant program is designed to fund community organizing efforts that are led by individuals representing marginalized communities. The purpose of the funding is to support activities that engage residents in civic life, build collective power, and potentially influence public policy. The Foundation defines community organizing as a process that empowers individuals who are often excluded from decision-making to advocate for social, economic, and policy changes. Funded projects may include issue-based campaigns, leadership development, coalition building, and civic engagement strategies that result in increased community representation and systemic change. The scope of funding includes support for a wide range of activities such as community meetings, outreach efforts, research, leadership training, and advocacy initiatives. Funds may also be used to strengthen organizational capacity, including investments in software, consultants, shared infrastructure, and staffing support. However, the grant explicitly prohibits the use of funds to hire new permanent staff or to support partisan political activities. All funded activities must remain nonpartisan and cannot favor or oppose any political candidate or party. The typical project period is one year, and applicants are encouraged to propose initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact within that timeframe. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to organizations that meet specific criteria. Applications must be submitted by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, although community groups without nonprofit status may apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. Eligible organizations must have been established for at least one year and must demonstrate that their leadership and governance structures reflect the communities they serve. Additionally, applicants must show evidence of collaboration and community engagement, particularly in organizing or advocacy contexts. Certain organizations, including current recipients of similar funding from the Foundation, may be ineligible unless granted an exception. The application process includes a required eligibility interview for new applicants, during which prospective applicants discuss their proposals and receive an access code to submit a formal application. Previous recipients may bypass this step by contacting the designated Community Impact Officer. Applications are evaluated based on a rubric that considers factors such as community impact, feasibility, alignment with the Foundation’s priorities, and the strength of proposed outcomes and evaluation methods. Applicants must articulate clear goals and demonstrate how they will measure progress using relevant indicators. The funding opportunity is open from April 14, 2026 through September 23, 2026. Applicants can expect to receive notification of funding decisions approximately 9 to 13 weeks after submission. As part of the reporting requirements, grantees must either submit a written final report or participate in a follow-up conversation to discuss outcomes and impact. The Foundation encourages applicants to use existing data collection methods where possible and provides support for defining measurable outcomes during the application process. For additional support or inquiries, applicants may contact Senior Community Impact Associate Tiana Starks via email for assistance with proposal criteria or outcome development. Technical support for the application system is available through the Foundation’s grants administration team. This funding opportunity represents a strategic investment in grassroots leadership and community-driven solutions aimed at fostering equitable systems and inclusive civic engagement in the Greater Hartford area.

Ensure leadership reflects community served; prioritize racial justice outcomes; clearly define measurable impact; demonstrate collaboration and organizing experience