Grants

The Hartford Area Foundation exits to fund projects that enhance the Greater Hartford Community in the geographical area of the Hartford Union School district.

The Hartford Area Foundation awards most of the available grant monies at their first quarterly meeting of the year in January. The total money available for community needs is determined by earnings on the investments from the calendar year just prior to the January meeting.

The Hartford Area Foundation does hold back a portion of the earnings to be available for “immediate need” grant requests that might arise later in the year. These special requests are considered at quarterly meetings which are scheduled for April, July and October.

Please follow the link to the HAF grant application and either email the application or mail your grant application. You will be contacted by a member of the board and you may be asked to make a presentation to the board at one of the scheduled quarterly meetings.

Please submit your grant application:

By Email: Dr. Mark Lindborg

By Mail:
Hartford Area Foundation
P.O. Box 270082
Hartford, WI 53027

Grant Guidelines

Most HAF grants are awarded to serve charitable purposes.  Typically, grants
are awarded to registered 501c3 organizations or other public entities (such
as schools and the local government) that qualify under IRS guidelines.

HAF funds projects in the following categories,
with the goal of responding to community needs.

EDUCATION – Projects that develop the untapped capacities of
individuals of all ages, families or communities

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – Projects that can achieve a
positive change in the conditions that adversely affect the
elderly, disabled, or economically disadvantaged

RECREATION – Projects that create or expand family-oriented
leisure time opportunities

ARTS AND CULTURE – Projects that encourage and stimulate the
arts and historic preservation

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – Projects that generate
an increased level of volunteerism, development of human
capital, new leadership,  and economic development

ENVIRONMENT – Projects that will help protect or enhance the
environment that must support our life systems over the next
century and beyond

PASS THROUGHS – Some examples are The Schauer Center, Chandelier Ballroom, Jack Russell Memorial Library and a few local area citizens who needed special medical attention. The HAF acts as a collection agency to receive tax deductible dollars from individual donors. We hold the money until the benefiting organization requests the money.

We are particularly interested in innovative approaches to solving community problems and maximizing unexpected opportunities.  The Hartford Area Foundation will show preference for funding areas such as start-up costs for a new or expanded project, one-time projects that address a critical need, capital improvement projects that are beyond an applicant’s means, and leveraged funding that will enable applicants to obtain matching funding from
other sources.

The HAF may also, from time to time, identify other specific areas for special consideration when emerging needs in our area require attention.

PROGRAM PRIORITIES

Priority is given to projects that,

1.  Reach as many people as possible.
2.  Identify and address an immediate community need.
3.  Improve the ability of the organization to serve the community over the long term.
4.  Serve the Immediate Hartford area.
5.  Are run by non-profit organizations.
6.  Demonstrate evidence of fundraising from sources other than HAF as well as support from within the requesting organization.

PROJECTS NOT FUNDED

Foundation Policies preclude funding the following from “unrestricted funds:”
•  Projects outside the geographic boundaries of the Hartford Union High School District.
•  Projects that are normally fully funded by units of local government.
•  Projects to fund an endowment, ongoing operating budgets, existing deficit, debt   reduction.
•  Religious activities or programs that are serving or appear to serve predominantly one denomination and not the community at large.
•  Festivals and sporting activities.
•  Political organizations or campaigns.
•  National and State fund raising efforts.
•  Projects that indicate discrimination.

The Hartford Area Foundation can only fund a portion of the grant requests
received.  In some instances, well-developed proposals which fall within our guidelines may not be funded due to prior funding commitments.

We invite you to apply to help the Hartford Area Foundation enhance the Harford area!