Women's Giving Circle

Aurora Women's Giving Circle

Organization: Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Inc

Geographic Scope: Greater Hartford, Connecticut

What is it?
A welcoming and diverse group of women—moms, professionals, activists, and everyday changemakers—who pool resources collectively to fund local organizations supporting women and girls in Greater Hartford.

Key Features:

No minimum donation - Participate with $1 or $1,000

100% of funds go directly to local nonprofits

No red tape - Just impact

Four purposeful, inspiring sessions held virtually each spring where members:

- Dive into a pressing issue affecting women and girls
- Hear directly from community organizations tackling that issue
- Learn how collective giving can make the greatest impact
- Topics informed by Aurora's relationships and research

2026 Focus: Supporting Human Trafficking Survivors

Context: 508 known trafficking cases in Connecticut since 2007, impacting over 1,000 survivors; 27.6 million people trafficked globally; majority of sex trafficking victims are women and girls

Community needs: Safe housing, legal aid, pathways to healing and independence

Funding for services addressing survivor support

2025 Focus: Supporting Immigrant & Refugee Women with Safety, Stability & Strength

Raised: $40,000 from 70 members (donations ranged $5-$5,000)

Grant Awards:

- CT Students for a Dream: $10,000
- Make the Road CT: $10,000
- Hartford Deportation Defense: $10,000
- Angel of Edgewood: $10,000

2024 Focus: Reproductive Equity

Raised: $30,000 from 70 members (donations ranged $30-$5,000)

Grant Awards:

- Mutual Aid Hartford: $10,000
- Diaper Bank: $7,500
- Reproductive Equity Now: $7,500
- Planned Parenthood of Southern New England: $5,000

2023 Focus: Women in the Workplace: Moving from Covid to Economic Security

Grant Awards:

- YMCA - Family Childcare Incubator: $6,000
- Girls for Technology - Building for Equity Program: $6,000
- Dignity Grows: $4,000
- Dress for Success Hartford: $4,000

2022 Focus: Programs addressing pandemic effects on girls, particularly girls of color; education, mentors, role models, social/emotional intelligence

Grantees: YMCA House of Teens Program, Horizons, Ethel Walker School, Grace Academy, Girl Scouts of CT Strong Program, Hartford Girls Rock

Total raised: $20,000+

2021 Focus: Childcare, housing, and mental health

Child Development Center (Childcare): $12,000

My Sister's Place (Housing): $7,000

The Bridge Family Center (Mental Health): $4,000

Past Focuses:

2019: Strong Girls Camp at Hartford Public Library ($5,500) - 6-week summer program for 25 girls on gender inequality, body image, self-esteem, intersectionality

2018: Girls for Technology ($6,500) - Math and Science Academy for 100 low-income girls

COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund: Interval House ($3,500), Journey Home ($3,500), Malta House of Care ($3,000), Village for Children & Families ($3,000), Horizons at Ethel Walker ($2,500), Community Renewal Team ($2,500)

Benefits of Membership:

Social networking

Leadership development

Peer support

Personal engagement

Learning opportunities

Collaboration with other women who share values

Participation in warm, inclusive, action-oriented community

Contact:

Anisah Colon: anisah@aurorafoundation.org

Phone: (860) 969-3435

Address: PO Box 370537, West Hartford, CT 06137