Community
Since 1921, the Junior League of Hartford has been committed to making a difference in our communities. We assess and identify community needs and develop projects and collaborations to address these needs. In short, we provide the volunteer and financial resources to support League developed projects.

The Junior Leagues emphasizes and supports leadership training (both structured and hands-on training) for our members. Our trained members benefit from working together with a diverse group of women who then become involved with Hartford area community issues and leaders.

Each year our League provides more that 100,000 volunteer hours and several thousand dollars to the Greater Hartford community.


Grants
The purpose of our Grants Program is to meet community needs and effect systemic change in areas that are consistent with the Junior League of Hartford’s mission.  We typically seek to fund organizations or programs that focus on hunger (our current focus issue), serve women and children and/or aid in the development of the arts.  

Our grants program and other community projects are funded by the proceeds raised during our Decorator Show Houses, held every three years.  The Junior League of Hartford will proudly host our next Decorator Show House in May 2009.  As we prepare for this event, the League has temporarily suspended our Grants Program for 2008.  The Grants Program will resume in 2009.  We will be pleased to welcome grant applications from community organizations for the 2009-2010 grant cycle. 

Click the link below for a copy of our grant application:

JLH Grant Application

The Junior League of Hartford’s Grants Program makes contributions to organizations in the Hartford region which have been granted exemption from the federal income tax code under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Grants Program does not allow the funding of:

• Individuals
• Capital fund drives
• Fund raising dinners by other organizations
• Camperships/scholarships
• “Dear Friend” requests
• Religious or sectarian activities
• Organization that discriminate on the basis of race, religion or national origin.

Programs within an organization which have received more than one JLH contribution from a specific fund may be ineligible for funding from the same fund.  In addition, an organization which has received a grant from JLH will be ineligible for consideration of another grant for a two-year period.

The following is a description of the various grants that may be available.

Community Grants Fund:
This is a grant with a maximum award of $3,000. It is intended to assist a community organization in addressing a specific program need in the Hartford region.
Deadline for application is February 15, 2010.

Holiday Gift Fund:
This grant program has a maximum award of $3,000. The fund is to be used to support basic human needs in the Hartford region during the winter holiday season.
Deadline for application is October 15, 2009.

Art Grants Fund:
This grant has a maximum award of $3,000 and is intended to assist arts organizations in meeting their mission of promoting the arts in the Hartford region.
Deadline for application is February 15, 2010.

Download the JLH Grant Application (.pdf)
Please note that staples should not be used on application materials.  If you have any questions prior to the submission of an application please contact the Junior League office.  Our phone number is 860-233-4300.  We look forward to considering your request.

Projects
The Junior League of Hartford develops women to develop communities through our projects. Current projects include:

Family/School Connection
A model family development program, Family/School Connection targets at-risk children and their families. The program, our League signature project, is being piloted at Betances Elementary School, in collaboration with Center City Churches and the Children's Trust Fund. League members and home visitors provide services that strengthen families, change behaviors and reduce the incidences of truancy and child abuse. League outreach services include tutoring, resume writing, life skills and excursions.

Saturday Science Sampler
In collaboration with the CT Valley Girl Scouts and Hillyer College (University of Hartford), the JLH developed this project in 1998 to expose Hartford adolescent girls to the world of science through a series of six hands-on workshops. The program also builds mentoring relationships and provides a safe, structured Saturday activity.

Done in a Day
Developed and organized in 1995, this committee plans and organizes single-day hands-on volunteer opportunities projects for League members. Previous Done In A Day activities include rehabilitating homes through Rebuilding Together Hartford, collecting food donations for Foodshare and collecting clothes, toys and non-parishable food items for the Salvation Army at the Holiday Store.

REBUILDING TOGETHER Hartford
The Junior League was a founding sponsor of Rebuilding Together Hartford (formerly Christmas in April*) in 1995. Rebuilding Together Hartford (RTH) is a national program utilizing thousands of volunteers for an annual one-day effort to repair and rehabilitate the homes of elderly, low income and disabled homeowners.

Souper Sustainers
Our members purchase, prepare and serve lunch monthly at Love & Fishes Ministries Soup Kitchen in Hartford.


Fundraising
The Junior League of Hartford also develops the financial resources to research, develop and implement our projects and other community initiatives. Current fundraisers include:

The Clothes Horse
The Clothes Horse is a resale shop at 175 Park Road in West Hartford staffed in part by League volunteers. For over fifty years, the shop has offered quality used clothing and household items to the community at affordable prices, while raising between $25,000 and $50,000 annually to support League projects and community grants.

Show House
Our decorator Show House is traditionally held every three years. We have raised more that $1,000,000 from our 10 previous Show House to support the projects and programs of the Junior League . The next decorator Show House is scheduled for the spring of 2009.

lEAGUE, LINKS & LAUGHTER
An annual golf outing and luncheon. It promises to be lots of fun for golfers and non-golfers alike.

.: Grants
.: Projects
.: Fundraising