Grant Opportunities
Requests for Proposals: 2025 calendar
We periodically issue a call for proposals from organizations serving Greater Hartford to contribute to advancing our strategic priorities in specific ways.
2025 Community Organizing
Now OpenThe Hartford Foundation for Public Giving seeks proposals from nonprofits or community groups conducting community organizing efforts led by people of color and/or people representing communities traditionally marginalized as they engage and activate residents locally for the purpose of more inclusive civic participation often with the potential for policy change.
Successful proposals could support 1) community organizing efforts, broadly or around specific issue campaigns, 2) increasing community organizing group or organizational capacity, and/or 3) community organizing infrastructure to benefit the field in Greater Hartford.
Requests can address issues such as housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons, or other issues identified by community members with preference given for efforts related to the advancement of racial justice.
Timing: This opportunity is available from April 8, 2025 – September 9, 2025. The Foundation estimates applicants will know whether they got a grant approximately 9 to 13 weeks from the date they submit their application.
Application Deadline:September 9, 2025
2025 Resident Engagement
Now OpenThe Hartford Foundation for Public Giving seeks proposals from nonprofits or community groups engaged in or planning of efforts to increase local civic participation in support of community wide social and/or civic change for the benefit of residents in Greater Hartford.
Requests can address issues such as the advancement of racial/social justice, increasing awareness of racial/social justice issues, housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons, or other issues as identified by the community.
Timing: This opportunity is available from April 8, 2025 – September 9, 2025. The Foundation estimates applicants will know whether they receive a grant approximately 9 to 13 weeks from the date they submit their application.
Application Deadline:September 9, 2025
The Equality Fund
Now OpenThe Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is pleased to announce a competitive grant opportunity through its Equality Fund to support the wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ residents in the Greater Hartford region. The Foundation welcomes requests of up to $50,000 for grant activities implemented over one year and expects to award up to $200,000 in total across all grantees.
While the Hartford Foundation will consider all submitted proposals that provide direct assistance or tailored services to LGBTQIA+ Greater Hartford residents in the areas of basic human needs, education, healthcare services, or other programs that may tackle inequities or barriers in housing, employment, healthcare, etc., the Foundation will prioritize proposals that align with the recommendations set forth in the Foundation and DataHaven’s LGBTQIA+ Resident Wellbeing study:
- Social connectedness of queer youth
- Third or community safe spaces
- LGBTQIA+ advocacy (e.g., inclusive legislation that protects LGBTQIA+ individuals)
- Improved access to quality, culturally relevant, and inclusive medical and mental health services (e.g., reducing transportation or cost barriers, gender affirming care, training and support for affirming communication and care approaches)
- Community-based harm reduction practices
- Accessing safe, affordable housing and shelter (e.g., addressing discrimination and safety concerns including survivors of intimate partner violence, educating community on housing rights and resources, housing systems navigation)
Application Deadline:Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 11:59pm
Basic Human Needs Emergency Assistance - Round 2
Opens: Tuesday, July 22, 2025The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is pleased to announce a competitive grant opportunity to support nonprofits as they increase access to emergency services and immediate assistance for the most basic of human needs for vulnerable residents in Greater Hartford.
Items and services can include food, personal care items, emergency financial aid (e.g., rental assistance, utility assistance), one-time easily distributable, non-prescription durable medical equipment or medical aid assistance, immediate or informal case management services, or other critical basic needs you see in the community you serve.
This is the second of two rounds of funding to occur in 2025. Applicants may submit one application each round but may only receive one grant a year.
Deadline:August 26, 2025
Norma and Natale Sestero Fund for the Town of Glastonbury
Opens: Tuesday, August 26, 2025The Norma and Natale Sestero Fund seeks to support organizations that benefit people and institutions from the Town of Glastonbury in the areas of culture, health, education, social welfare and the environment (including town beautification and preservation of heritage).
Maximum grant request of $25,000.
Deadline:October 2025
2026 Summer Programs
Opens: Wednesday, October 29, 2025This Summer Program RFP, to be released in late 2025, will support programs occuring in summer of 2026.
Summer Program funding supports summer campership, enrichment, and CIT programs for Hartford children and youth as well as individuals of all ages with disabilities across the Hartford Foundation’s 29-town region.
Deadline:January 2026
Past Opportunities
John E. Blair Fund for the Visually Impaired
ClosedThe John E. Blair Fund provides support to organizations that assist individuals with visual impairments throughout the Foundation’s 29-town region.
The Hartford Foundation will award grants ranging from $1,000 to $40,000, depending upon the scope of work to be performed through the proposed project. Grants awarded through this Request for Proposals may support a wide range of needs for organizations with programs dedicated to serving residents with visual impairments in Greater Hartford
To apply for a grant, please log into our online system using the link below. Applicants should complete all required questions of the online application and submit it by 11:59 p.m. on April 2nd, 2025 in order to be deemed eligible. Each organization is invited to submit one proposal. We expect to announce grant awards in mid May.
Before applying, please read through our Request for Proposals document to learn more about this opportunity and eligibility requirements.
Deadline:April 2nd, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST
Neighborhood Beautification RFP - Love Your Block (Call for Ideas)
ClosedIn partnership with the City of Hartford, this opportunity is an open “Call for Ideas” from organizations and residents engaged in, or well positioned to undertake, efforts that contribute to the beautification of Hartford neighborhoods and are grounded in community need and resident interests and engagement.
Love Your Block Hartford is a grant program that supports neighborhood beautification and strengthens neighborhood pride. It encourages partnerships from city leaders, organizations, neighborhood groups, and residents to improve their community one block at a time.
A call for ideas is being held from February 14 - March 14.
Full information on how to submit an idea can be found on the City of Hartford website.
Deadline:March 14
Basic Human Needs Emergency Assistance - Round 1
ClosedThe Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is pleased to announce a competitive grant opportunity to support nonprofits as they increase access to emergency services and immediate assistance for the most basic of human needs for vulnerable residents in Greater Hartford.
Items and services can include food, personal care items, emergency financial aid (e.g., rental assistance, utility assistance), one-time easily distributable, non-prescription durable medical equipment or medical aid assistance, immediate or informal case management services, or other critical basic needs you see in the community you serve.
This is the first of two rounds of funding to occur in 2025. Applicants may submit one application each round but may only receive one grant a year.
Deadline:Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Greater Together Community Funds: Open Grant Cycles
Information Sessions
2025 Grant Opportunities Info Session
The Foundation held an information session on Tuesday, February 4 to share details on upcoming grant opportunities and other resources for Greater Hartford nonprofits. Here is the recording.
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