Hampshire Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17,667,337 (2023)
Total Assets: $116.9 million
Number of Grants: 61 awards (2023)
Grant Range: $9,000 - $1,000,000
Median Grant: $100,000
Average Grant: $289,628
Geographic Focus: International (primarily Peru, Myanmar, East Africa, India) and Connecticut (U.S.)
Application Method: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Address:
151 New Park Ave, Suite 7
Hartford, CT 06106

Note: Email and phone contact information requires subscription access to view on GuideStar/Candid platforms

Overview

Hampshire Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in Connecticut that focuses on funding organizations tackling poverty and building resilience in harmony with nature. The foundation deploys its resources through grants, loans, and impact investments to maximize its philanthropic impact. With assets totaling approximately $116.9 million, the foundation awarded $17.7 million across 61 grants in 2023. The foundation's strategic approach centers on two primary program areas: the Peru Opportunity Fund, which supports smallholder farmers in rural Peru, and energy efficiency initiatives in Connecticut through collaborative funding partnerships. The foundation focuses on supporting economically disadvantaged people, farmers, education, agriculture, and human services, with work spanning from rural Peru to East Africa, Myanmar, India, and Connecticut.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hampshire Foundation operates through strategic partnerships with carefully selected organizations rather than open grant programs. Their two main funding areas are:

Peru Opportunity Fund

Focus on sustainable agriculture in rural Peru
Links smallholder farmers to information, simple technologies, and capital
Supports farmers to enhance productivity while preserving natural resources
No public application process

Connecticut Energy Efficiency Initiative

Collaborative funding with Common Sense Fund and Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation
Supports Sustainable CT and municipal sustainability programs
Promotes smart energy use and energy efficiency across Connecticut
Invitation-only funding

Grant Size:

Range: $9,000 to $1,000,000
Median: $100,000
Average: $289,628

Priority Areas

The foundation funds organizations working in the following areas:

Rural Livelihoods

Smallholder farmer support and agricultural development
Sustainable agriculture practices
Rural poverty reduction in developing countries
Climate-resilient farming techniques

Livelihood Enablers

Infrastructure connecting rural communities to markets
Access to essential services (eyeglasses, legal support)
Land rights and environmental protection

Jobs for Youth

Skills-based education and entrepreneurship in East Africa and India
21st-century skills training
Job placement programs for youth

Climate and Environment

Energy efficiency and sustainability
Climate resilience building
Nature-based solutions
Environmental justice

What They Don't Fund

Based on their focused approach and invitation-only model:

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals for its smart energy initiative or for special funding
Organizations not aligned with their specific focus areas (rural poverty, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience)
Projects outside their established geographic priorities

Governance and Leadership

The Hampshire Foundation operates as a private foundation with governance through a board of trustees. Specific information about trustees and senior staff is available through GuideStar and Candid platforms but requires subscription access.

The foundation's approach reflects a strategic, partnership-driven model where trustees and staff identify organizations aligned with their mission rather than responding to public applications.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Hampshire Foundation explicitly states that it "does not accept unsolicited proposals for its smart energy initiative or for special funding." The foundation operates through a proactive identification model where they:

Identify and select partner organizations based on internal research and strategic priorities
Develop ongoing relationships with a curated portfolio of grantees
Make grants through trustee discretion and strategic alignment
Deploy resources through grants, loans, and impact investments

Organizations cannot submit applications through an online portal or formal process. All grants are awarded by invitation only or through pre-existing relationships.

Current Partners

The foundation's website lists their active and past partner organizations, providing insight into the types of organizations they support:

Active Partners in Rural Livelihoods:

Proximity Designs (Myanmar) - farmer products and services
Raising the Village (Uganda) - rural community development
Spark Microgrants (East Africa) - community-driven development

Active Partners in Livelihood Enablers:

Bridges to Prosperity (Africa) - footbridge construction
VisionSpring - global access to eyeglasses
Namati - land rights and legal support

Active Partners in Jobs for Youth:

Educate! (East Africa) - skills-based education
The/Nudge (India) - skills training and job placement

Past Partners: myAgro, BOMA, Village Enterprise, Medha

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications. Grant decisions are made internally by trustees based on strategic priorities and identified opportunities.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The foundation made 61 grants in 2023 to carefully selected partner organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process. The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with partner organizations and may provide multi-year or repeat funding to successful partners.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application process, understanding what the Hampshire Foundation values can inform whether an organization might be a strategic fit:

Mission Alignment: The foundation explicitly states they fund "non-profit partners who help people build resilience against poverty, in harmony with nature." This dual focus on poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability is central to their identity.

Geographic Focus: The foundation has clear geographic priorities:

Rural Peru (primary international focus through Peru Opportunity Fund)
East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya)
Myanmar
India
Connecticut (U.S.) for energy efficiency work

Approach to Poverty Alleviation: The foundation favors organizations that:

Empower local communities and smallholder farmers
Provide information, technology, and capital access
Support sustainable livelihoods in harmony with nature
Build climate resilience
Create pathways to economic self-sufficiency

Strategic Investment Philosophy: The foundation uses diverse funding mechanisms including grants, loans, and impact investments, suggesting they value organizations capable of:

Achieving measurable impact
Financial sustainability
Scalable models
Demonstrable results in poverty reduction

Collaborative Approach: The foundation's willingness to form funding collaboratives (as with the Connecticut energy efficiency initiative) indicates openness to partnerships with other funders and coordinated philanthropic strategies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: Hampshire Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates entirely on an invitation-only basis
Narrow geographic and thematic focus: Organizations must work in their priority regions (rural Peru, East Africa, Myanmar, India, or Connecticut) and align with poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability
Partnership model: The foundation maintains a curated portfolio of long-term partners rather than making one-off grants
High grant values: With a median grant of $100,000 and average of $289,628, this is a significant funder when they do engage with partners
Beyond grants: The foundation uses loans and impact investments alongside traditional grants, requiring partners who can work with diverse funding structures
Climate lens: All work must build resilience in harmony with nature - environmental sustainability is not optional but integral to their theory of change
Relationship-driven: Getting on the foundation's radar requires building visibility in their focus areas and among their existing partner networks

References

Cause IQ - Hampshire Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hampshire-foundation,454291634/
Hampshire Foundation Official Website. Retrieved from https://hampshirefoundation.org/
Hampshire Foundation Partners Page. Retrieved from https://hampshirefoundation.org/our-partners/
Instrumentl - Hampshire Foundation Inc 990 Report. Retrieved from https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/hampshire-foundation-inc-a00b30e2-90e1-4231-9dba-940f3953750d
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hampshire Foundation Inc. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/454291634
GuideStar Profile - Hampshire Foundation Inc. Retrieved from https://www.guidestar.org/profile/45-4291634
Devex - Hampshire Foundation Profile. Retrieved from https://www.devex.com/organizations/hampshire-foundation-20077
GrantExec - Hampshire Foundation Inc. Retrieved from https://grantexec.com/foundations/454291634
Grantable - Hampshire Foundation Inc Foundation Profile & Grants. Retrieved from https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/hampshire-foundation-inc-us-foundation-454291634
Connecticut Insider - West Hartford awarded Sustainable CT bronze status. Retrieved from https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/West-Hartford-awarded-Sustainable-CT-bronze-status-16878504.php