H A Vance Foundation Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $536,485 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available - invitation only
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000
Geographic Focus: Hartford, Connecticut region
Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 65 Lasalle Road, West Hartford, CT 06107
EIN: 06-1355463
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available
Website: None

Note: The foundation operates through preselected organizations and does not maintain a public-facing website or application portal.

Overview

The H A Vance Foundation Inc was established in 1993 as a private foundation focused on education and social services in the Hartford, Connecticut area. With assets of approximately $7.9 million (2023), the foundation distributed $536,485 in grants in 2023. The foundation is led by President H. Alex Vance Jr. and operates with an executive director, Mary S. Martin. The foundation's grantmaking centers on education reform, college access, teacher development, and youth enrichment programs specifically within Hartford's public school system. Unlike many foundations, the H A Vance Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, instead selecting grantees through the trustees' discretion and existing relationships within Connecticut's education sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a single discretionary grantmaking program rather than multiple structured grant streams. Based on 2023 giving patterns:

Major Education Initiatives: $75,000 - $100,000 (multi-year partnerships with established organizations)
Mid-Level Program Support: $30,000 - $50,000 (operational and programmatic support)
Small Enrichment Grants: $10,000 (targeted youth programs)

Funding Method: Invitation only, awarded through trustee discretion on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on Hartford-area education initiatives:

Primary Focus Areas:

High school reform and college pathway programs at Hartford public high schools (particularly Bulkeley High School)
Post-secondary planning and college access programs
Teacher recruitment, development, and retention pipelines
Charter school operational support
Education policy reform and school finance research
Youth enrichment and mentoring programs

Target Beneficiaries: Hartford public high school students, teachers in Hartford schools, and organizations serving the Hartford education ecosystem.

Specific Interest: Programs that create measurable pathways from Hartford high schools to college and careers, with emphasis on supporting underserved student populations.

What They Don't Fund

Based on their 2023 grantmaking pattern, the foundation does not fund:

Organizations outside the Hartford, Connecticut region
General K-8 education programs (focus is on high school and post-secondary transition)
Capital campaigns or building projects
Endowment contributions
Arts, health, or environmental programs
Direct service programs unrelated to education
Religious organizations
Individual students or scholarships administered directly

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

H. Alex Vance Jr. - President
Founding family member who provides strategic direction for the foundation's Hartford education focus.

Coleman H. Casey, Esq. - Secretary & Treasurer
Serves dual governance roles managing foundation compliance and financial oversight.

Additional Directors:

Patricia D. Vance
Nancy C. Rion
Joseph Pace
Carolyn A. Paldino

Staff

Mary S. Martin - Executive Director (Compensation: $65,667 in 2024)
Manages day-to-day operations and grant administration.

Governance Characteristics

The board maintains a family foundation structure with close Connecticut ties. The foundation operates as "Conifer Investments" for some business purposes. The board size of six trustees plus one executive director reflects a lean, focused operation making strategic investments rather than administering a large grant portfolio.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The H A Vance Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their official policy statement: "The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grant Selection: Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations they have identified and pre-selected. Organizations cannot apply directly or submit unsolicited proposals.

Current Grantees: The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with established Hartford education organizations, many receiving multi-year support.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests trustees identify potential grantees through:

Connecticut Education Networks: Board members appear to be connected to Hartford's education reform community. Organizations visible in forums like the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Connecticut RISE Network collaborations, and Hartford education policy discussions may be more likely to come to trustees' attention.

Hartford Foundation for Public Giving: The Vance family maintains an "Alex and Wendy Vance Fund" at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, suggesting connections to that community foundation's network. Organizations working with HFPG may be more visible to the trustees.

Established Organizations: All 2023 grants went to incorporated nonprofits with track records—no startup organizations were funded. The foundation appears to prefer partnerships with organizations that have demonstrated impact in Hartford schools.

Indirect Contact: While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, nonprofits working directly in Hartford public high schools (particularly Bulkeley High School, which received the largest 2023 grant) and demonstrating measurable student outcomes may naturally come to the foundation's attention through shared networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation operates on its own internal timeline without published deadlines or notification schedules.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept applications from which to calculate a success rate. Organizations must be selected by trustees for consideration.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only structure. Organizations receiving grants appear to receive multi-year support based on the pattern of repeat grantees in publicly available records.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their 2023 grantmaking reveals characteristics that appear to attract foundation support:

Characteristics of Funded Organizations

Hartford Public High School Focus: Seven of eight 2023 grants supported organizations working directly in Hartford public high schools or with Hartford high school students. The foundation shows particular interest in Bulkeley High School and other Hartford district schools.

Measurable College/Career Pathways: Every major grant supported programs with clear metrics around post-secondary outcomes:

ReadyCT's Public Service Pathway program at Bulkeley ($100,000)
Connecticut Rise Network's post-secondary planning expansion ($75,000)
Hartford Promise's "Reaching Back" program connecting college students to high schoolers ($50,000)

Teacher Pipeline and Quality: Multiple grants supported teacher recruitment and development:

Teach for America Connecticut's Hartford teacher pipeline ($35,000)
Educators for Excellence operating support for Hartford teachers ($30,000)

Policy and Systems Change: The foundation funded systemic research alongside direct service:

Third Sector New England's School + State Finance Project ($50,000)

Established Track Records: All grantees are incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations with multi-year operating histories and demonstrated impact. None are startup organizations.

Operational Support: Grants explicitly support "operating expenses" and core programs rather than capital or one-time projects, suggesting the foundation values sustainability.

Foundation's Documented Interests

While the foundation has not published explicit application guidance, their Form 990-PF mission statement notes interests in:

Supporting work with homeless populations during emergencies
Food security during pandemics
Peer mentoring at community colleges

However, 2023 grantmaking focused exclusively on Hartford K-12 education pathways, suggesting these earlier interests may have evolved or were addressed through different channels.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation Only: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. Do not send unsolicited proposals.
Hartford High School Focus: The foundation's 2023 giving was laser-focused on Hartford public high schools and college access. Organizations working outside Hartford or at other education levels are not aligned with current priorities.
Relationship-Based Grantmaking: All 2023 grantees are established organizations likely known to trustees through Connecticut education networks. Building visibility through shared networks (Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Connecticut education reform circles) may be the only path to consideration.
Substantial Multi-Year Grants: When the foundation does commit, grants are significant ($30,000-$100,000) and appear to support multi-year partnerships rather than one-off projects.
Outcomes-Focused: Funded programs have clear, measurable goals around college enrollment, teacher recruitment, and student achievement. The foundation favors evidence-based approaches with trackable results.
Systems + Service: The foundation supports both direct service organizations (Hartford Promise, ReadyCT) and policy/research organizations (Third Sector New England), indicating interest in comprehensive approaches to education reform.
Not a Fit for Most Organizations: Given the invitation-only structure and narrow Hartford education focus, this foundation is not a realistic prospect for the vast majority of nonprofits, even those working in education elsewhere in Connecticut.

References

H A Vance Foundation - Cause IQ Profile - Accessed December 2025
H A Vance Foundation Inc - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Accessed December 2025
H A Vance Foundation Inc - Grantmakers.io Profile - 2023 grant recipients and board information, Accessed December 2025
H.A. Vance Foundation - Connecticut Council for Philanthropy - Member listing, Accessed December 2025
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving 2024 Annual Report - Alex and Wendy Vance Fund reference, Accessed December 2025
Form 990-PF Tax Filings (2023-2024) - Financial data and grantee information via ProPublica and Cause IQ databases