What is Aligned Giving?
When you give through Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, you gain a partner who can multiply your impact.
Community foundations are uniquely positioned to make your philanthropy matter. We have decades of trusted relationships with organizations large and small across the nonprofit landscape, allowing us to see the entire ecosystem. Working together, we can spot patterns that aren’t always visible from the outside. Our strategic priorities are based on a data-driven approach that identifies the greatest community needs. We help our donors understand immediate needs and long-term root causes.
Aligned Giving is about the intersection of our donors’ passions and that strategic approach. We listen to our donors to find out what issues matter most to you, and together, we act on the most promising approaches to our region’s complex challenges. Through Aligned Giving, you can become part of something bigger — a community of donors committed to creating real, lasting change.
The Power of Aligned Giving: A Message from Greater Hartford Gives President and CEO Jay Williams
Areas of Focus
Earlier this year, we surveyed our donors about the issues that mattered most to them. There were three issues that resonated with our donors above all others. In 2026, we will focus our Aligned Giving on these issues.
Current Area of Focus: Food Security
Food insecurity affects a growing number of residents in Greater Hartford. Starting in April, we will make food security a focus of our Aligned Giving. We’ll share more information in the near future. If you’re interested in being part of the effort to address this issue, we’d love to hear from you.
Area of Focus: Greater Futures Scholarship Fund
The student debt crisis is holding young people back from achieving their dreams. In 2025, we launched a partnership with Hartford Promise to offer scholarships of up to $100,000. We’re asking our donors to join us in this effort to remove barriers to higher education and help transform our region in the process.
Upcoming Focus Area
Housing Stability: Beginning in September, we will focus our Aligned Giving efforts on providing stable and affordable housing for residents of our region.
Our Long-Term Outcomes
We are focused on five long-term outcomes that together guide our grantmaking and partnerships. These outcomes were determined through data, research, and listening to nonprofits and community residents.
We are always looking for partners who want to support these outcomes. If you have a strong interest in any of these areas, we welcome a conversation.
Employment Opportunities
Our goal: Increased employment opportunities.
Basic Human Needs
Our goal: Improved physical and emotional wellbeing of residents.
Thriving Neighborhoods
Our goal: Increased number of thriving Greater Hartford neighborhoods.
Civic & Resident Engagement
Our goal: Increased civic engagement, participation and awareness.
Arts & Culture
Our goal: Increased equity and inclusion in the arts and culture sector.
Are you passionate about any of these outcomes? Let’s work together.
- Start a fund to support one of our priority outcomes
- Consider a legacy gift to support our work
- Give to our Scholarship program
