The program formerly known as the Greater Together Community Fund has some exciting updates to share with the community.
Why “formerly known as?” The Hartford Foundation, which runs this program, has rebranded itself for its Centennial. It is now the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation (GHGF), and its participatory grantmaking programs across 29 Connecticut towns are now “Community Funds.” Our program is now called, “The Granby Community Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation.” It’s important for town residents to know that this is not the decades-old, pre-existing Granby Community Fund that carries out important fundraising efforts for the town’s non-profit organizations.
The local program of GHGF acknowledges and shares the awkwardness of the naming overlap, which was out of its hands. To help the community make the distinction, it will use the nickname “Granby Fund” (at Greater Hartford Gives). The Granby Fund is fully funded through Hartford Foundation—it will never compete for funds but rather it will exist as another organization helping with the never-finished work of supporting important community groups.
So, what are we? The Community Funds program is rooted in the belief that communities know what they need. Each of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation’s 29 towns operates a committee of residents managing the local competitive process to allocate funding across non-profits and community groups that contribute to their towns. With last year’s launch, it set a strong foundation by allocating over $103,000 to 12 wonderful organizations in town.
The Granby Fund is excited to announce it is welcoming applications for new neighbors to join the committee. Committee members will help promote grant opportunities, review applications and participate in deciding which projects receive funding. By helping direct funding to programs that support community needs, such as education, housing, food insecurity, youth, arts and culture, the environment, veterans and senior services, volunteers help strengthen the Granby community while gaining a deeper understanding of the organizations doing vital work every day.
The Granby Fund is looking for candidates with a belief in Granby’s potential, vision to grow it and a desire to play an active role in co-creating it. It hopes to hear from diverse applicants, including students (aged 14+) and community members of all backgrounds and interests, along with folks with insights and direct experience working across lines of difference. Overall, it seeks a broad representation to help ensure the grantmaking process reflects the needs and priorities of the entire Granby community.
We welcome anyone to check out our landing page at greaterhartfordgives.org/granbycf. Feel free to direct any questions to Nancy Costopulos at ncostopulos@gmail.com