Greater Hartford Gives Foundation and Beta Iota Boulé Award $1M Grants to Support the Mental and Behavioral Health of Black Men and Boys

The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation (formerly the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving) in partnership with the Beta Iota Boulé Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $1 million focused on supporting mental and behavioral health direct service providers and strengthening the pipeline of practitioners committed to the mental health and well-being of Black men and boys. The partnership included collaborative learning and grantmaking with the Greater Hartford Gives’ Black Giving Circle.  

To understand community need, Foundation staff and the Greater Hartford Gives Black Giving Circle engaged with experts, practitioners, and community members to deepen their  understanding of the local mental and behavioral health landscape as it relates to Black men and boys. These conversations, informed by past learning and engagement, provided valuable insights into systemic barriers, community strengths, and culturally responsive solutions.

Foundation staff also drew lessons from statewide and community gatherings such as the State of Health Equity among Boys and Men of Color Virtual Summit (2021), CRA’s Community Conversation Series on Mental Health Disparities (2023), Getting Real About Men’s Mental Health (2024), and The 2024 Fatherhood Conference: The Next Level, all of which addressed the intersections of trauma, stigma, racism, and access to care. These events emphasized the importance of culturally grounded, community-based approaches that center whole-person wellness, resilience, and empowerment.

In 2024, the Foundation, Boulé, and Black Giving Circle Fund co-hosted Pathways to Wellness I and II, which brought together thought leaders, practitioners, and advocates to explore how race, masculinity, and systemic inequities shape mental health outcomes for Black men and boys. These sessions highlighted evidence-based and culturally responsive practices, community-driven solutions, and opportunities to strengthen local systems of care.

Following these learning sessions, the Greater Futures Black Giving Circle awarded five nonprofit organizations grants totaling $100,000 in 2024 to support projects related to promoting and expanding access to mental health services for Black boys and men.

In 2025, Greater Hartford Gives awarded grants totaling $407,000 were awarded to support five nonprofit mental and behavioral health service providers. The Foundation awarded a combination of two-year and three-year grants each totaling between $60,000 - $100,000. The RFP targeted providers that offered programmatic elements identified as particularly beneficial for the mental health and wellbeing of Black men and/or boys. The invitation was issued to a wide range of organizations, from small community-based grassroots groups to mid-size and large mental health service providers.

“Supporting the mental health and well-being of Black men and boys allows them to thrive which, in turn, benefits their families and the whole community,” said Greater Hartford Gives President/CEO Jay Williams. “This work requires a deep understanding of racism and its impacts, the Greater Hartford Gives and the Beta Iota Boulé Foundations brought together stakeholders and community partners to explore strategies for increased awareness, services and systems change. These grants are the result of this work, and we are confident these investments will encourage Black men and boys to feel comfortable seeking out and receiving culturally competent and effective mental health services.”

Those awarded grants through the RFP process include:

Organization Name	Project Description	Amount Recommended	Grant Period Recommended
Community Lighthouse, Inc.	Culturally Resonant Therapeutic Supports for Black Men and Boys - This program offers Black boys (ages 10–18) and men (ages 19–45) culturally responsive, trauma-informed healing experiences through movement, music, art, and nature over the course of a year. The program is designed for those navigating challenges like family incarceration, immigration-related stress, and cultural displacement. Participants will engage in activities like dance, drumming, creative arts, and outdoor retreats, alongside practical supports such as academic tutoring and life skills training.	$100,000	3 years
DT CARES	The BWYN (Be Who You Needed) Mentorship Program - This program provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed support through school-based and virtual sessions. Participants engage in weekly mentorship for the full academic year, monthly wellness workshops on mental health and mindfulness, and quarterly exposure events like college visits and career panels. The program offers relatable mentors, safe spaces for storytelling, and somatic practices such as exercise and guided breathing to build resilience, confidence, and leadership skills. All services are free, designed to affirm identity, reduce stress, and open doors to future opportunities.	$100,000	3 years
Integrated Health Services, Inc.	Building Resilience of Black Males through Innovative School-Based Therapeutic Engagement - This program integrates farm-based therapy, group counseling, and creative expression to strengthen emotional resilience and leadership among middle school boys throughout the course of an academic year. Through hands-on gardening sessions, therapeutic groups, and PhotoVoice storytelling, participants build coping skills, self-awareness, and connection to their peers and community. The program promotes mental well-being, nurtures cultural identity, and empowers boys to serve as advocates for health and resilience within their schools.	$75,000	2 years
Klingberg Family Centers, Inc.	Fatherhood Initiative - This multi-year program offers healing-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed mental and behavioral health care services for fathers of color ages 16 and older. Throughout the program, participants will join cohorts of 12–15 for support groups, therapeutic sessions, case management to support basic needs and address environmental circumstances and leadership development opportunities. Fathers engaged in cohorts at the beginning of the initiative will be asked if they would like to engage in mentoring relationships with fathers participating in later cohorts. The program helps participants strengthen identity, build connections, and develop practical skills for emotional health, parenting, and personal growth.	$72,000	3 years
Life Center, Inc.	Supporting our Community - This program provides ongoing recovery-oriented services, reentry support, fatherhood initiatives, and mentorship services to men and boys in an easily accessible and culturally responsive environment. The initiative fosters sustained recovery, strengthens family and community connections, and builds skills for resilience, healthy relationships, and personal growth.	$60,000	2 years

‍In addition, the Boulé–Greater Hartford Gives Partnership also made a two-year, $400,000 grant to the University of Connecticut (UConn) to support Girding the Roots: A Mentorship Model to Support Black Male Mental Health Wellbeing. UConn will support a two-year pilot initiative to strengthen the pipeline of practitioners committed to the mental health and holistic thriving of Black men and boys. Through mentorship, professional development, and mixed-methods research, the pilot seeks to inform strategies that foster career longevity and cultural responsiveness among mental health trainees and professionals, advancing equity in behavioral health systems statewide and beyond.

Designed by Greater Hartford Gives in collaboration with UConn; the pilot will engage 20 mental health trainees and 20 practitioners. Thisstructured mentorship model that pairs graduate students currently enrolled in mental health training programs and early career practitioners who are licensed or certified mental health professionals and whose work evidences a commitment to serving Black men, with established mental health mentors. Each mentor and trainee will receive a stipend to recognize their expertise and time ($4,500 for trainees and $4,000 for mentors).

Cohort activities include monthly mentor–trainee meetings focused on professional growth, case consultation, and reflective practice; regular check-ins and progress tracking using a structured mentorship activity tool; and twice-yearly retreats to strengthen community, align expectations, and advance shared learning. UConn will also host four professional development roundtables per year, led by expert speakers from counseling, social work, psychology, and marriage and family therapy departments.  Projected outcomes for this work include providing mental health trainees and practitioners with enhanced skills, stronger professional networks and a sense of belonging within the behavioral health community. The effort also seeks to enhance the regional behavioral health ecosystem’s capacity to meet the mental health needs of Black men and boys.

In December 2025, the Black Giving Circle awarded a total of $100,000 though the partnership to a second cohort of five nonprofits to support projects related to promoting and expanding access to mental health services for Black boys and men.  

The five recipients of 2025 Black Giving Circle grants included:

Organization Name	Description	Grant Amount
Missions of Mercy and Grace Inc.	Grace Outside the Walls was developed to support a six-month rolling program cycle that provides reentry support for 100 men returning from incarceration. Participants are primarily Black men returning from incarceration or in crisis who will enter a structured weekly program that will provide supports that address reentry, mental health, and fatherhood.	$20,000
MPact Mentoring Inc.	MPact Mentoring will offer 5 workshops addressing mental health for Black boys and men, plus one culminating family day. Topics will include workshops for Black fathers focused on mental health and building resilience and workshops for Black boys focused on normalizing conversations about emotions and recognizing when support is needed.	$20,000
Prison 2 Public Policy Corp	Prison 2 Public Policy Corp will conduct a monthly, in-person slam poetry and rap-based mental health awareness campaign designed to support Black boys and young men (ages 14–29) in Greater Hartford. The program will use rhythm, storytelling, and guided dialogue to challenge toxic masculinity, reduce stigma, and promote emotional wellness.	$20,000
Scissor Society Inc.	Scissor Society will conduct Barber Shop Talks, community events where participants can access services, share experiences, and receive culturally relevant mental health information. The campaign will provide 100 free haircuts to start conversations, provide 100 hygiene kits to meet basic needs and promote dignity, serve 100 meals, and provide resource packets. The campaign is designed to honor the barbershop’s historic role as a trusted cultural space, making mental health conversations accessible and relevant.	$20,000
SISTA Inspired Co., For the Community By the Community	In 2026 SISTA Inspired Co. will launch this pilot healing and support program for Black fathers who have lost a child. The initial cohort will be 15–20 men, providing a safe, culturally sensitive space where fathers can process grief, share experiences, and find community support. Recognizing that Black fathers often face societal pressures to “stay strong” while silently carrying immense pain, this program aims to honor their grief, validate their emotions, and support their journey toward healing.	$20,000

“The Beta Iota Boulé Foundation is grateful for the incredible collaboration with the Greater Harford Gives Foundation to study and support initiatives to address the mental health needs of Black men and boys,” said immediate past Sire Archon Christopher Cloud, Sire Archon of the Beta Iota Boulé. “Over the past two years, we have sought to identify and provide support to help meet the mental health and wellness needs of Black boys and men to allow them to thrive which in turn, benefits their families and the whole community. The members of Beta Iota Boulé applaud the Foundation for its commitment to this work and the development of creative, holistic approaches to ensure that our investments provide long-lasting and effective programming for those in need of support.”

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Greater Hartford Gives Foundation is a community foundation, a hub for community-driven change. We fuel impact throughout Greater Hartford and beyond by making connections, providing funding, and sharing knowledge. Our goal is to create an inclusive region where everyone prospers. Together, with a powerful network of changemakers, we identify our neighbors’ most pressing needs and invest resources in initiatives that dismantle racial and economic barriers and improve quality of life. In our 100-year history, we have invested more than $1 billion throughout the region. Join us in building a Greater Hartford full of opportunity. Learn more at greaterhartfordgives.org.