In 2019, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving established $100,000 Greater Together Community Funds for each of the 29 towns in the Foundation’s region, which includes the town of Manchester.  In 2021, the Foundation provided an additional $50,000 to each of the 29 community funds to support their grantmaking.  In December 2023, the Foundation provided another $20,000 to each of the 29 community funds to support their grantmaking. 

The purpose of the Greater Together Community Funds is to:

  • support the community in taking ownership around the needs in their towns
  • encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and
  • anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

Manchester has formed a committee to manage a participatory process to identify your town's needs and allocate community funds.

Manchester Greater Together Community Fund Seeks New Members

In preparation for its next cycle of grantmaking, the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is seeking new members for its GTCF committee.  Manchester is a community rich in culture, diversity, youth and civic involvement. The committee welcomes candidates who reflect the wide range of backgrounds represented throughout the town.

Candidates must be a resident of Manchester, at least 14 years of age, with a desire to make a difference in the community.  Meetings are typically once a month for an hour with additional time commitments during the actual grantmaking process.

If interested in becoming part of this exciting opportunity please apply at GTCF Volunteer Application. For any questions please contact us at manchester@hfpgcommunityfunds.org 

It’s so much fun to give away money to good causes!

2025 - 2026 Grant Cycle

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund is looking for more local projects to support with awards of up to $5,000 for the 2025-2026 grant cycle, which begins September 2 and ends on October 10.  The Manchester Community Fund welcomes proposals that will improve or enhance the quality of life of Manchester residents or otherwise contribute to solving a direct need of the Manchester community. Individual grant awards range from $250 to $5,000.

In order to be considered for grant funding, projects must benefit the residents of Manchester in an immediate, concrete way. Any nonprofit registered as a 501(c)(3) organization that serves the residents of Manchester is eligible to apply. Groups of town residents may also prepare an application in partnership with a registered 501(c)(3) or municipality that has agreed to serve as a fiscal sponsor for the proposed project.

Project applications and grant proposals will be accepted until 11:59 P.M. on October 10, 2025.

For more information and to submit proposals please click on the links below.  Questions and Project Budgets can be submitted to manchester@hfpgcommunityfunds.org .

2025-26 RFP

2025-26 Grant Application

2025-26 Project Budget Template

 

2024-2025 Grant Awards

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has awarded its third round of grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Manchester community. Nine Manchester organizations received funding in this latest grantmaking cycle, with individual grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Funded projects address a diverse array of community needs. 2024-25 grant awards include:

A grant reporting form is available for organizations that have completed projects. 

Past Grant Awards

2023 - 2024 Grant Awards

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving awarded its second round of grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Manchester community.  Six Manchester organizations received funding in this second grantmaking cycle, with individual grants ranging from $3,600 to $5,000. Funded projects address a diverse array of community needs. December 2023 grant awards include:

2022 - 2023 Grant Awards
  • Building Healthy Families - $5,000 to quadruple the number of families served by the group’s community garden located at Main Street and Hartford Road
  • Gentle Love Diaper Pantry - $5,000 to purchase and distribute two pallets of diapers to Manchester children and families in need
  • Manchester CT HOPE Initiative - $5,000 to support Manchester families of individuals going through opioid addiction, distribution of NARCAN and training on its use
  • Manchester Women’s Club - $365 to support a community garden plot at the Spruce Street Community garden with produce donated to a local food pantry’s community kitchen
  • Operation Fuel - $5,000 to support emergency fuel and utility bill assistance efforts for Manchester residents
  • Rebuilding Together - $5,000 to support the group’s efforts to rehabilitate the houses of lower-income homeowners in Manchester
  • Second Congregational Church Food Pantry - $5,000 to support the purchase of food items not available through other partners and the installation of an internal ramp for volunteers to safely offload pallets of food/supplies
  • Trinity Covenant Church Hope 4:10 - $5,000 to support the purchase of cleaning supplies and toiletry items for distribution through the group’s food pantry

Manchester GTCF Committee Members

The role of the Committee is to design and lead an inclusive process to identify the needs in your community and design and manage a grantmaking process aimed to ensure that the Community Funds can have the greatest impact for the benefit of town residents.

The Committee members for Manchester currently are:

Co-Chairs Shea Riley and Debbie Streeter, Tom Breen, Samantha Creamer, Stephanie Mercado-Irizarry, Alivia Roy, Paola Sacchetti and Alex Shan.  

Click here to read the Committee Conflict of Interest Policy

For more information about the Committee, please review the FAQ.

For media inquiries, please contact Chris Senecal at csenecal@hfpg.org.