New Positions at Hartford Foundation

February 2012

Mainly to strengthen the capacity to implement our new strategic plan, Accelerate Success, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has announced four new positions and one new hire.

Sharon O’Meara of Avon has been named Director of Workforce Investments and Sara Sneed of South Windsor has been promoted to Director of Education Investments. In their new positions, they will oversee research, development and coordination of grantmaking in the areas of education and workforce development, the two key goals of Accelerate Success.

Ms. O’Meara, previously a senior program officer, joined the Hartford Foundation in 1997 after serving as executive director of the Massachusetts Psychological Association. Her duties have included leading the Hartford Foundation’s Adult Literacy Project and Arts Marketing Initiative. She has also directed grantmaking projects in the areas of homelessness and housing. She is a member of the Council on Adult and Basic Education and Funders Together to End Homelessness.

Ms. Sneed, previously a senior program officer, joined the Hartford Foundation in 1999 after five years with the Foundation for the Mid-South. She was instrumental in developing the Hartford Community Schools initiative.  Former roles include director of maternal and child health with the Medical Foundation in Boston; health and human services advisor to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts; and director of the Southern New England Network for Black Families and Children with the Urban League.  She has served on the Board of Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families, an affinity group of the Council on Foundations. A licensed clergywoman, Sara is chair of the board of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Also, Alison Granger of Farmington, who joined the Hartford Foundation eight years ago, has been promoted to Chief Investment Officer and Gretchen Fountain of West Hartford, a member of the philanthropic services department since 1997, is now Senior Donor Services Officer.

In addition, Chris Senecal of Bloomfield has been hired as communications and marketing officer. Previously he was Public Affairs Manager for Cashman + Katz Integrated Communications.

“These individuals, whose accomplishments and dedication are recognized by these promotions, are part of the alignment of Hartford Foundation staff as we develop Accelerate Success, our strategic plan, to help close – with the aid of our many partners – the educational achievement gap and increase workforce development in Greater Hartford,” said Linda J. Kelly, president of the Hartford Foundation.

Other staff promotions include:

Meet the whole team >>

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartford region, dedicated to improving the quality of life for area residents.  The Hartford Foundation receives gifts from thousands of generous individuals and families and in 2011 awarded grants of more than $28 million to a broad range of area nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Hartford Foundation, and its strategic plan, Accelerate Success, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.