Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc is a public charity based in Hartford, Connecticut, formed in 1971. It supports arts organizations and artists and presents community arts programs across Greater Hartford. Its 2024 filing describes grants primarily supporting nonprofit organizations in Hartford, including festivals and events, programs promoting local and regional artistic talent, and public art projects.
Key facts about Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc
In short: Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc gave $417K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Connecticut. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 23-7111486
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $417,200
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $17,383
- Median grant
- $12,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (13 of 24, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,148,028
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For Arts Impact Grants, an eligibility meeting is required before applying. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$2.1M
-44.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$417K
-58.0% YoY
Grant Count
24
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-54.5% YoY
Is Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 24 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Council’s stated mission is to be a catalyst for the arts and promote an equitable arts ecosystem in Greater Hartford. Its website describes grantmaking priorities that include community, equity, advocacy, leadership, creativity, accessibility, collaboration, and reducing barriers while increasing representation and inclusion.
Its 2024 grants supported a range of arts and community activities. For example, Hartbeat Ensemble, which received $12,000, describes its mission as creating provocative theater that connects the community across traditional barriers of class, race, geography, and gender. Hartford Public Library, which received $39,000, says its mission is to provide free resources that inspire reading, guide learning, and encourage individual exploration. Trinity College, which received $14,800, describes its mission as providing excellence in liberal arts education.
Grantmaking
The Council reported 24 grants totaling $417,200 in 2024. Grants ranged from $7,200 to $51,400, with a median of $12,000. The largest awards included iQuilt Partnership ($51,400 for Winterfest), Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce ($48,000 for Hartford for the Holidays and a purpose listed as “fisca”), Hartford Public Library ($39,000 for All Season Events), The Hartford Dance Collective ($26,800 for Hartford Dance Festival), and Hartford Jazz Society ($25,000 for Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz). Other listed awards included CLARO Inc. ($20,000 for Hartford PrideFest) and Taste of the Caribbean Inc. ($20,000 for Taste of the Caribbean Festival).
Review Cycle
is stated.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Council says it serves 34 towns in the Greater Hartford capital region. Its 2024 filing says grant support was primarily directed to Hartford, and all reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $417K (2024) to $1.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $417K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was iQuilt Partnership ($51K). Together the top 10 received $280K.
Grant Size Distribution
181 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 167 grants of 181 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| iQuilt Partnership Hartford, CT | Winterfest | $51,400 |
| Greater Htfd Chamber of Comme Hartford, CT | Hartford for the Holidays and fisca | $48,000 |
| Hartford Public Library Hartford, CT | All Season Events | $39,000 |
| The Hartford Dance Collective Hartford, CT | Hartford Dance Festival | $26,800 |
| Hartford Jazz Society Bloomfield, CT | Paul Brown Monday Night Jazz | $25,000 |
| CLARO Inc Hartford, CT | Hartford PrideFest | $20,000 |
| Taste of the Caribbean Inc Hartford, CT | Taste of the Caribbean Festival | $20,000 |
| The Conference of Churches I Hartford, CT | Gallery Activation/Dance Program | $20,000 |
| Central CT Celtic Cultural Co Glastonbury, CT | St. Patrick's Day Parade | $15,000 |
| Connecticut Blues Society Enfield, CT | Black Eyed and Blues Festival | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,148,028 | $1,166,657 | $1,438,260 | $417,200 (24 grants) |
| 2023 | $3,883,918 | $3,200,800 | $2,743,372 | $993,016 (26 grants) |
| 2022 | $2,978,532 | $2,039,809 | $2,480,249 | $1,024,048 (54 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,148,028 | $3,883,918 | $2,978,532 |
| Revenue | $1,166,657 | $3,200,800 | $2,039,809 |
| Expenses | $1,438,260 | $2,743,372 | $2,480,249 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,398 | $35,413 | $3,875 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amanda Roy as Interim CEO and Shelley Best as former CEO. Directors listed on that filing are Stanley Harasimowitz, Michael A. Pignatella, Chip McCabe, T’Challa Williams, Stephen Jackson, Brian Refici, Ashanti Osborne Martin, and Rev. Miguelina Howell.
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc is led by Amanda Roy, Interim CEO on the 2024 filing; 2 of 19 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amanda Roy
Interim CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$80K (2024)
Robert Braswell
President
Bod Member → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Refici
Director
Bod President → Bod Member, 2023
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael A Pignatella
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Jackson
Director
Bod Treasurer → Bod Member, 2023
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
T'Challa Williams
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chip McCabe
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanley Harasimowitz
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashanti Osborne Martin
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
June Archer
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Perez Brown
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miguelina Howell
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick McGloin
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rose Curiel
Director
Bod Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Best
Ceo-Former
CEO → Ceo-Former, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$104K (2022) → $107K (2024)
Eric Goldstein
Secretary
Bod Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Kay Curtiss CPA
Treasurer
Bod Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Haneef Nelson
Vice President
Bod Member → Bod Vice President, 2022
Bod Vice President → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Hill CPA
Audit Cmte Chai
Bod Member → Audit, 2023
Audit → Audit Cmte Chai, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Christopher J. Delello (2020–2022) — Bod Member
- Former: Janet Link (2020–2022) — Bod Secretary
- Former: Jason Gutcheon (2020–2022) — Bod Member
- Former: Kate McOmber (2020–2022) — Former CEO
- Former: Melanie Tucker (2021–2022) — Bod Member
- Former: Chris McGoldrick (2020–2021) — Bod Member
- Former: Donald Seifel Jr. (2020–2021) — Bod Member
- Former: Janee Woods Weber (2020–2021) — Bod Member
- Former: Karen Eisenbach (2020–2021) — Past Bod Cha
- Former: Brett Thompson (2020) — COO
- Former: Carol Garlick (2020) — Bod Member
- Former: Carol Terry (2020) — Bod Member
- Former: Catherine Malloy (2020) — CEO
- Former: Emma Ladd (2020) — Bod 2nd Vice
- Former: Kevin Smith (2020) — Bod Vice President
- Former: Pat Shirley (2020) — Bod Member
- Former: Paul E. Guzzardi (2020) — Bod President
- Former: Richard Caporaso (2020) — Bod Member
- Former: William Fish Jr. (2020) — Bod Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $107K, to Shelley Best (CEO-Former). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 525-8629
Website: https://letsgoarts.org
Frequently asked questions about Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc
How much does Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc give each year?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc gave $417K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $993K across 26 grants.
What is Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's typical grant size?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's median grant in 2024 was $12,000, and its average grant was $17,383, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc give grants?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hartford, CT (17 grants), Glastonbury, CT (2 grants) and West Hartford, CT (2 grants).
Does Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's largest grantees?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's largest 2024 grantees include iQuilt Partnership ($51,400), Greater Htfd Chamber of Comme ($48,000) and Hartford Public Library ($39,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc fund?
The Council’s stated mission is to be a catalyst for the arts and promote an equitable arts ecosystem in Greater Hartford. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc?
For Arts Impact Grants, an eligibility meeting is required before applying. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's EIN?
Greater Hartford Arts Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7111486. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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