H A Vance Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity without an invitation should not send it a proposal cold.
- Other published sources give its priority as the Hartford area, and its stated focus is systemic education reform and innovative approaches to urban education, so a request should show a clear link to both.
- It paid $480,000 in its latest filing, and about 8 in 10 of its 26 grants fall between $25,000 and $100,000, with a median of $50,000; half were $50,000 or less across its three most recent filings, so a request near the lower end of that typical band suits it, though the band is not a ceiling.
- In its latest filing, all of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so a relationship with the foundation seems to matter more than a cold approach.
Overview
H A Vance Foundation is a US private foundation based in West Hartford, CT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (campaign.kingswoodoxford.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses on organisations and programmes in the Hartford area that support systemic education reform efforts and promote innovative approaches to urban education. Its grant record shows awards channelled through education and youth organisations for school-based work, including public-service pathways, post-secondary planning, teacher-pipeline programmes, enrichment and school operating support. The records describe support for organisations working with Hartford schools and students, including work on teacher development and post-secondary transitions. Its stated emphasis is systemic change and innovative approaches to urban education, while the filings show that support taking different forms across local education initiatives.
Themes
- Systemic education reform
- Urban education innovation
Geographic Focus
Priority: Hartford area. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 26 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation focuses on organisations and programmes in the Hartford area that support systemic education reform efforts and promote innovative approaches to urban education. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations H A Vance Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- ReadyCT · Support of public service pathway at bulkeley high school$100,0002025 tax year
- Connecticut Rise Network · Expansion of post-secondary planning at hartford high schools$75,0002025 tax year
- Hartford Promise · Support reaching back program$70,0002025 tax year
- Achievement First · Operating expenses of achievement first hartford high school$65,0002025 tax year
- Third Sector New England · Operating expenses of school + state finance project$50,0002025 tax year
- Hartford Youth Scholars · Support of beyond the books enrichment program$40,0002025 tax year
- Teach for America - Connecticut · For programs to strengthen hartford teacher pipeline$35,0002025 tax year
- Educators for Excellence · Operating support of hartford teachers$25,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary S Martin — Executive Director
- Carolyn A Paldino — Director
- Joseph Pace — Director
- Patricia D Vance — Director
- Nancy C Rion — Director
- Coleman H Casey Esq — Secretary & Treasurer
- H Alex Vance JR — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $578,554 | $440,000 | $10,932,262 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $593,869 | $440,000 | $12,914,436 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $672,893 | $480,000 | $14,419,844 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to H A Vance Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- West Hartford, CT
Applying to H A Vance Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- West Hartford, CT