Hartford Foundation Awards More Than $344,000 in Grants to Support Food Programs, Other Basic Services

38 Nonprofits Receive Emergency Assistance Grants

The Hummingbird Project provides culturally specific, survivor-informed services to support individuals in the Black community healing from the deep-seated trauma caused by sexual violence, including sex trafficking, sexual assault, and exploitation. With a recognition that the Black community faces a disproportionate impact from sexual violence, the organization is committed to changing this narrative—with the ultimate hope that their work will no longer be necessary. The Hummingbird Project engages communities by offering awareness, training, resources, and practical guidance to reduce vulnerabilities to sexual violence. Additionally, they connect survivors with culturally competent services and provide data-driven insights to help organizations and systems make informed, culturally relevant decisions.

Access to housing is a significant barrier for many clients of The Hummingbird Project, including having sufficient funding to cover required security deposits and first-month rent. To assist in this effort, the organization has received an $8,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

“By meeting the emergency basic needs of survivors in crisis or those on their healing journey, we help them focus on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being,” said The Hummingbird Project executive director Jermika Cost. “Addressing survival barriers creates the space for survivors to take ownership of their healing journey, opening pathways for empowerment within marginalized and underserved communities. These funds will be used to provide one-time security deposit assistance or first-month rent assistance for survivors of human trafficking.”

Founded in 2022 by Lucinda Canty, PhD, Lucinda’s House seeks to address the racial disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. The organization draws on the existing strength and knowledge in communities of color. Historically, pregnancy and childbirth were honored and celebrated by the Black community. Women felt safe and cared for, even with minimal resources due to structural barriers. Lucinda's House exists to create environments where women of color feel safe and supported and provides individual consultations, health educational events, and information about community resources.

To support the women they serve, Lucinda’s House received a $7,500 grant from the Hartford Foundation to provide personal care items for pregnant or postpartum women and babies, including formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, ointment, sanitary items, and other personal care items.

“We are grateful for this grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving,” said Canty. “This support will allow Lucinda's House to support families with their basic personal needs." 

The Hummingbird Project and Lucinda’s House are two of 38 nonprofit organizations receiving a total of $344,300 to provide food and other basic needs to residents throughout Greater Hartford. In August, the Foundation awarded an additional $344,000 in emergency assistance grants to 33 organizations. Since 2022, the Foundation has made emergency assistance grants available twice a year, based on feedback from nonprofits that having access to funds earlier helps in planning and meeting community needs.

The Foundation’s Emergency Assistance grants focus on increasing access to food and addressing immediate needs such as personal care items (e.g., deodorant, diapers), utility assistance, emergency transportation, and other items essential to wellbeing (such as reading glasses and assistive canes). This grant opportunity prioritizes nonprofits that serve neighborhoods and towns in the region with a higher percentage of residents living in poverty, seek to reduce barriers to equitable access to basic needs and provide direct support to clients. Grants are made using an equity lens, acknowledging that many of these barriers disproportionately impact people of color.

These grants support both regional and local agencies in Greater Hartford. Grants range from $3,000 and $20,000 through support from the Foundation’s discretionary funding and in partnership with the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation.

Of the 38 grants, the primary need served include:

• Eighteen are primarily for food or food assistance ($151,500).

• Twelve are primarily for emergency financial aid assistance ($106,300).

• Four are primarily for personal care items ($25,500).

• Three are for organizations to provide emergency case management ($41,000).

• One is for emergency clothing needs ($20,000)

“When individuals and families cannot afford to pay for groceries, housing, medical care or other basic necessities, it is incredibly challenging for children to perform in school or for adults to go to work each and every day,” said Hartford Foundation Senior Community Investments Officer Cierra Stancil. “Providing the most basic of human needs helps individuals and families stabilize themselves on their way toward upward social and economic mobility.”

View the full list of grants given at Hartford Foundation’s website.