Hartford Foundation Announces Two Grant Opportunities to Support Community Organizing and Resident Engagement

In support of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving’s mission to advance equity in social and economic mobility and dismantle structural racism, the Foundation recognizes that civic participation is one of the most impactful ways people can create lasting and positive change in their everyday lives.

Inclusive civic participation and engagement allows decision-makers to address societal problems more effectively and comprehensively, coming up with solutions that incorporate critical input from the people they serve. The Foundation recognizes the need for community members to assemble, lend collective resources, skills, expertise, and knowledge to improve the overall quality of life locally.

To support these efforts, the Foundation has announced two Requests for Proposals for nonprofits or other community groups engaged in planning efforts to support local civic engagement, participation and change.

“Support for projects and programs through these two RFPs allow for the Foundation to broadly support the many ways people and organizations engage in the community,” said Hartford Foundation Senior Community Impact Officer Cierra Stancil.

The Community Organizing RFP 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.  The Resident Engagement RFP gives latitude for less structured forms of civic participation and is open to all leadership structures.

Successful Community Organizing proposals could support:

1) Community organizing efforts, broadly or around specific issue campaigns.
2) Increasing community organizing group or organizational capacity.
3) Community organizing infrastructure to benefit the field in Greater Hartford.

The Foundation acknowledges that while residents of all walks of life frequently assemble to achieve shared community goals, community organizing as a practice has the additional goal of increasing the collective power and internal capacity of people of color and traditionally marginalized and/or underrepresented populations.

The Community Organizing RFP will support organizations or community groups with a mission to increase power sharing between underserved communities and the institutions meant to serve them, for example, state or municipal governments. 

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. Work can take place over the span of one year or up to a 24-month period. Grant awards will range from $5,000 - $60,000. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 8, 2022. Interested parties can review the Request for Proposals to learn more. A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 10 a.m.

The Resident Engagement RFP seeks proposals from nonprofits or community groups engaged in efforts such as: hosting community meetings, forums, conducting workshops, or retreats, informational outreach campaigns and volunteerism projects. Efforts can focus on increasing racial/social justice issue awareness, increasing resident leadership on racial/social justice issues, increasing civic education/issue awareness. Projects can address issues such as housing, education, health care, the concerns of returning citizens, and issues affecting LGBTQIA+ persons among other things.

The Resident Engagement RFP will consider work that takes place over the span of one year or up to a 24- month period. Grant awards will range from $1,000 - $25,000 and proposals must be submitted by March 8, 2022. Interested parties can complete an online application and review the Request for Proposal for additional information. A virtual information session will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 10 a.m.

To discuss a project’s potential fit, eligibility, or the content of the application, including assistance with identifying outcomes, contact Cierra Stancil, Senior Community Impact Officer, at cstancil@hfpg.org.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns. Through partnerships, the Foundation seeks to strengthen communities in Greater Hartford by putting philanthropy in action to dismantle structural racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $849 million since its founding in 1925. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.