Hartford Foundation Makes Steady and Responsive $8M Investments in Food Security and Basic Needs

Urges Community to Join Local Efforts to Support Neighbors Now

As the federal shutdown compounds the burdens faced by people striving to afford the most basic necessities, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving continues to make long-term and emergency investments in nonprofits addressing food insecurity, homelessness, and wellbeing. 

This year to-date, the Hartford Foundation has awarded $2.5 million to key nonprofits throughout Greater Hartford specifically addressing hunger. By year end, the foundation will have awarded nearly $8 million in grants for a range of basic needs. These grants include the Foundation’s annual Basic Human Needs Emergency Assistance grants where more than 60 percent of funding supports food assistance. This year, a total of $755,000 has been granted to 70 nonprofits, including faith-based and mutual aid organizations. All Foundation grants are made using an equity lens, acknowledging that barriers to meeting basic needs disproportionately impact people of color and women.

Foundation-directed dollars are further enhanced by generous donors who prioritize basic needs through their donor advised funds. Above beyond the $8 million referenced above, the Foundation deployed $3 million earlier this year to the 29 Greater Together Community Funds  where resident volunteers have chosen to award much of these funds to organizations supporting the immediate, basic needs of their neighbors.  

“Our investments support the entire food security ecosystem – from organizations that tackle systemic issues, distribute and coordinate food across our region, and mobilize community partners and volunteers to work on long-term solutions to food insecurity to the hundreds of hyper-local food pantries that directly provide food to residents,” said Vice President, Community Impact, Elysa Gordon. “We strive to provide stable, steady support while ensuring that we are nimble to help community partners navigate an uncertain and rapidly changing environment.”

As a community foundation, the Hartford Foundation’s grantmaking uniquely focuses on individual nonprofits and the adjacent systems and services that impact food security and other basic needs. This includes nonprofits that provide rent and utility assistance and accessible health services, knowing that too many residents must make untenable choices between paying for food, housing costs, and health care. It means investing in the region’s legal aid and advocacy organizations that address the root causes of poverty. The Foundation also provides ongoing support to DataHaven and CT Data in providing current, actionable data on food security and basic needs in the Greater Hartford region and towns. 

The Foundation will continue to balance sustained and emergency support across the region – please join us in making a difference in your local community. You can give directly to the community partners working every day to improve food security, or, if you prefer, you can contribute to our Action Fund for Basic Human Needs. When you donate to this fund, we partner with local nonprofits and quickly put your support to work where it is needed most.

Foundation partners helping to address food security and emergency needs include:

Connecticut Foodshare is the food bank serving the people of Connecticut and a partner food bank of Feeding America’s nationwide network. In Connecticut, more than 516,000 or 1 in 7 people are food insecure. That includes more than 122,000 or 1 in 6 children. Connecticut Foodshare distributes food to 480+ agency partners (food pantries, community kitchens, shelters) and more than 100 mobile food pantry locations. In 2025, Foodshare received more than $210,000 in Hartford Foundation-designated and donor-advised grants. 

End Hunger Connecticut! is a statewide anti-hunger and food security organization. By focusing on advocacy, outreach, education and research, EHC! serves as a comprehensive anti-hunger resource for policymakers, community organizers and low-income families. At the end of 2024, the Hartford Foundation awarded End Hunger Connecticut a $120,000 core support grant. 

Midwest Food Bank New England began serving neighbors from its facility in Manchester in 2021. Its mission to nourish body and soul galvanizes a dedicated community of volunteers who donate over 35,000 hours annually. Midwest Foodbank rescues and distributes millions of pounds of food to 155 agencies across Connecticut and beyond, without cost. Over the past several years, Midwest Food bank has received nearly $128,000 in Foundation designated, donor-advised, and community funds grants, including a $100,000 core support grant. 

Hands On Hartford is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in Hartford by providing a range of services that address basic needs and promote long-term stability. This includes programs such as the MANNA Community Pantry, Gather55, a participation model restaurant open to all, regardless of ability to pay, and a Backpack Nutrition Program that provides Hartford students with weekend meals, snacks, and additional essentials. In 2025, Hands On Hartford received nearly $660,000 in Foundation designated and donor advised grants, including a three-year, $600,000 core support grant. 

Chrysalis Center helps individuals living below the poverty level and struggling with food insecurity, dealing with substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, release from incarceration and homelessness. Chrysalis Center’s Food Hub includes a variety of programs and initiatives which address the critical issue of food insecurity and the lack of fresh and nutritious foods in the community, The nonprofit employs innovative and hands-on approaches including its Freshplace  client-choice, fresh food, and case management food pantry located on its main campus in Hartford. Over the past several years Chrysalis has received nearly $500,000 in donor advised and foundation designated grants, including a three-year, $300,000 core support grant. 

Chicks Ahoy Farm is a Bloomfield based nonprofit working to increase the number of farmers of color in Connecticut. This work includes the Co-op2Kitchen a farmer-supported mutual aid project helping people meet immediate needs around food and basic human needs by providing fresh produce, chicken eggs, and other items. Since 2023, Chicks Ahoy has received nearly $124,000 in Hartford Foundation grants. 

The Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Grants focus on increasing access to food and addressing immediate needs such as personal care items (e.g., deodorant, diapers), utility assistance, emergency transportation, and other items essential to wellbeing (such as reading glasses and assistive canes). 

The Foundation released the first round of its 2025 Emergency Assistance grants in July; the second round of grants was approved in October. These grants support both regional and local agencies in Greater Hartford. Grants range from $2,000 and $20,000 through support from the Foundation’s discretionary funding and in partnership with the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation.

Hartford Foundation Second Round of 2025 Basic Human Needs Grants

 The first round of 2025 Emergency Assistance Grants were awarded in July to the following organizations:

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 $1 billion since its founding in 1925. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.