Greater Hartford Gives Foundation Announces Third SEAT Cohort, Empowering Community Residents for Nonprofit Board Leadership
Ten-Week Training Program Prepares Residents of Color to Serve on Nonprofit Boards
HARTFORD, CT — The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the third Hartford cohort of SEAT (Skills Educate Act Transform), a 10-week training program that prepares community residents of color to serve with confidence and purpose on nonprofit boards.
Of the Black and Latine residents who have completed SEAT’s annual cohort training, 82 percent have been recruited to board service; a placement rate that reflects both the quality of the program and the recognition that lived experience is an important component of nonprofit leadership.
Now in its fifth year of statewide delivery across six Connecticut cities, SEAT does not require participants to hold a professional title or have prior leadership experience. The program is designed for community residents of color who have heart and a desire to contribute to their community nonprofits. SEAT provides the skills and the capacity.
“The SEAT Program allows community residents who may otherwise not have thought about serving on a nonprofit board to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate in the SEAT program in order to affect change in their community,” said Meher Shulman, Greater Hartford Gives Associate Director of the Nonprofit Support Program.
Cohort Details
Start Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Format: Weekly in-person evening sessions for 10 weeks
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Who Should Apply: Black and Latine community residents living in the Greater Hartford area who have no prior board governance experience.
Throughout the program, participants will explore topics on nonprofit governance including board responsibilities, financial oversight, and board engagement. The experience culminates with a capstone event where program graduates will meet with curated nonprofit organizations committed to strengthening their boards with diverse voices and lived experience.
“What makes SEAT remarkable is that it is built on a mutual recognition,” said Kim Bianca Burgess, SEAT Curriculum Author and Lead Facilitator. “Nonprofit organizations are saying, ‘We see the value of what you have lived, and we want that at our table.’ And community residents are saying, ‘I am ready to step into a space where my voice carries real weight and my decisions shape what happens in my community.’ That exchange is powerful. SEAT is where those two commitments meet.”
Residents interested in participating in the next Hartford cohort are encouraged to complete the online application at www.seatct.org.
About the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
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.
About SEAT
SEAT is a program by VCL Consulting Group, Inc. SEAT is a cohort-based nonprofit board training program operating across six cities in Connecticut. Now in its fifth year, SEAT prepares Black and Latino community residents for first-time nonprofit board service.