Endow Hartford 21  

Building endowments for Greater Hartford institutions

Greater Hartford is home to hundreds of nonprofits, educational and cultural institutions that keep us healthy, support our most vulnerable populations, inspire our creativity and care for our historical treasures. These institutions are a critical economic engine and an integral part of our region’s civic fabric.

Strong institutions establish endowments to secure their future. A well-managed endowment sends a message of long-term stability, fiscal responsibility and financial viability. 

Recognizing the importance of endowment giving, the Zachs Family Foundation has created a matching gift opportunity, Endow Hartford 21, for donors who will help build endowments for approximately 50 nonprofits and organizations in Greater Hartford. With administrative support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, the program is designed to incentivize endowment giving across the community and to ensure the long-term stability of our local institutions.

Visit the Endow Hartford 21 website

An endowment is a powerful tool that can:

• create a long-term resource that allows it to sustain programs and outreach through periods of revenue fluctuations;
• provide funds to capitalize on opportunities or expand strategically;
• respond quickly to urgent needs;
• launch new ventures otherwise not covered through annual operating revenue;
• serve as a repository to accept bequests and legacy gifts.

The need for endowments has become more pressing as nonprofit organizations navigate the COVID pandemic, uncertainty in the financial markets, and the unpredictability of annual giving.

Endow Hartford 21 Match Program

The Endow Hartford 21 Match Program will initially be funded with $1 million from the Zachs Family Foundation. The program seeks to encourage endowment giving across Greater Hartford and to establish endowment funds for dozens of local organizations who have agreed to participate and raise money from their constituency.

The Endow Hartford 21 Match Program will match any gifts made by an individual, family, business, or corporation for the benefit of one of the participating agencies, subject to the following guidelines:

Donate to the Endow Hartford 21 funds