Hartford Foundation Closes Phase Two of COVID-19 Response Fund with $350K in Grants, Fund Enters New Phase with Deeper Investments for 2021
The Hartford Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund has made more than 250 grants, distributing more than $9.6 million, since the start of the pandemic. The fund initially focused on basic human needs arising from the pandemic, then transitioned to supporting a wide variety of nonprofits to provide services safely, including personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning costs, technology and minor building enhancements. In the final round of grants in Phase Two, the Foundation awarded grants to 37 community-based organizations, totaling $350,003. In 2021, the COVID-19 Response Fund will continue to address some of the most urgent needs in the Greater Hartford community, in a proactive and focused way. This new phase of the Fund, the Foundation is seeking to make proactive, targeted and deeper investments related to the ongoing public health and economic crises. Examples of potential investments through the Fund this year:
- Vaccine education, outreach and distribution to reach residents who may be hesitant to vaccinate.
- Systemic approaches to help students catch up on lost learning with a focus on reducing inequities.
In considering grants, the Foundation will consider the following criteria:
- Priority level of the disparity addressed and target population expected to benefit.
- Strength of collaboration and coordination with existing nonprofit, state and local pandemic responses.
- Ability of the proposed strategy to leverage other resources.
- Cultural competency and agency governance diversity (board and staff leadership) that is representative of beneficiaries of the proposed efforts.
- Level of impact on residents of the Greater Hartford region.
Nonprofits wishing to provide feedback or propose an idea for a grant that potentially meets the outlined COVID-19 Response Fund criteria during this phase, can email the Foundation at applications@hfpg.org.“Our grantmaking through the COVID-19 Response Fund will be focused on collaborative and systemic efforts,” said Hartford Foundation President Jay Williams. “We encourage our nonprofits to provide us with their input and ideas, as the need to remain flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the community is paramount.”The final round of Phase Two of COVID-19 Response Fund grants totaling $350,003 have been awarded to more than three dozen community-based organizations that provide critical services for a total of $9,662,595 awarded from the fund. Additional information on the grants awarded below:
| Organization | Purpose | Grant Amount |
| Allied Rehabilitation Centers | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology. | $10,000 |
| Almada Lodge- Times Farm Camp Corporation Channel 3 Kids Camp) | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning supplies, PPE, and air filters. | $6,000 |
| Angel of Edgewood | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE. | $5,000 |
| Artists Collective | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including air filters. | $5,274 |
| Ballet Theatre of Connecticut | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, technology and minor building enhancements. | $3,000 |
| Camp Courant | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs. | $5,049 |
| Central Area Health Education Center | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and technology. | $5,000 |
| Community Child Guidance Clinic | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and PPE. | $15,000 |
| Continuum of Care | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and PPE. | $5,000 |
| Connecticut Radio Information System | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and minor building enhancements. | $7,575 |
| CT Students for a Dream | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology and sanitizing costs. | $2,140 |
| Elizabeth Park Conservancy | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including temporary part-time staffing costs to enforce safety guidelines. | $5,000 |
| Foundation for Educational Opportunities | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology. | $2,000 |
| Grace Episcopal Church, Hartford, CT | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and an air scrubber. | $4,950 |
| Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology. | $25,272 |
| Hartford Interval House | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs. | $20,000 |
| Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and sanitizing equipment. | $13,976 |
| Hartford Public AccessTelevision | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning costs, technology, and minor building enhancement. | $16,692 |
| Hartford Stage | Grant will provide partial support for PPE and touchless operations for the facility. | $12,000 |
| Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology. | $7,500 |
| Hockanum Valley Community Council | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs and minor building enhancements. | $13,200 |
| Homefront, Inc. | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE. | $3,000 |
| Know Thy Neighbor | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including distribution of PPE and cleaning supplies. | $10,000 |
| La Bodeguita de la Gente | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and cleaning costs. | $5,000 |
| Manchester Public Schools | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology to facilitate distance learning. | $25,000 |
| Mark Twain House and Museum | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology. | $12,000 |
| Noah Webster House | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and technology. | $10,000 |
| Northeast Neighborhood Partners, Inc. | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including small building enhancements, PPE and cleaning supplies. | $12,000 |
| Organized Parents Make a Difference | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including cleaning costs, PPE and technology. | $12,000 |
| Parkville Senior Center | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning supplies, and cleaning/safety equipment. | $7,500 |
| Rebuilding Together Manchester | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE and cleaning equipment. | $6,000 |
| The Salvation Army | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE, cleaning equipment and minor building enhancements. | $30,000 |
| Seniors Job Bank | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including minor building enhancements. | $700 |
| TLC Foundation | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including PPE. | $1,500 |
| Vernon Public Schools | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including technology to facilitate distance learning. | $25,000 |
| Wethersfield Academy for the Arts | Grant will provide partial support for reopening costs including air purifiers. | $675 |
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $837 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.