CASE STUDY
Greater Hartford Gives Foundation’s Nonprofit Support Program
Strengthening the Nonprofit Ecosystem Through Long-Term, Collaborative Capacity Building
Greater Hartford Gives Foundation

The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation (formerly the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving) is a community foundation dedicated to strengthening the Greater Hartford region by supporting nonprofits, fostering collaboration, and investing in long-term community impact. Through its Nonprofit Support Program, the Foundation provides knowledge, peer connections, and technical assistance to help nonprofits build capacity, navigate change, and improve organizational effectiveness. 

For almost two decades, Greater Hartford Gives and Fio have partnered to support nonprofits at critical moments and build strategic leadership capacity. 

PROJECT OUTLINE
Greater Hartford Gives works with a wide range of nonprofits facing complex and evolving challenges. Fio Partners has been repeatedly engaged by the Foundation because of our broad base of experience, credibility in the nonprofit sector, and ability to work flexibly across programs, disciplines, and organizational needs. We have worked collaboratively with the Nonprofit Support Program staff to support multiple capacity-building strategies, adapting our approaches to different audiences, contexts, and levels of organizational readiness. The Foundation values that our team brings deep nonprofit expertise, alongside strong facilitation and relationship skills. 
“What makes Fio different? I think it’s the whole package. It’s the deep knowledge and expertise, but it’s also the collaborative way they work… It’s very co-created. And honestly, they’re just great fun people to work with too, which is kind of the icing on the cake.”
— MEHER SHULMAN, Associate Director, Nonprofit Support Program, Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
SOLUTION DETAILS
Over the years, we have consulted with the Foundation staff to develop and deliver:

  • Training and facilitation for nonprofit leaders, including workshops on strategic planning and strategic alliances, and sessions within the Executive Management Institute
  • Professional development for consultants working with nonprofits
  • Research and analysis, including an in-depth fiscal sponsorship study and report
  • Program co-design, such as the development of a short-term “rapid response” consulting model to help nonprofits navigate challenging external conditions
  • Internal organizational work, including a staff climate survey that informed concrete changes in Foundation communication and practices.

Dozens of nonprofits have also engaged Fio through the Foundation’s Technical Assistance Grants to support strategic planning, strategic alliances, board development, executive transitions, and more.
Meher Shulman, Associate Director of the Nonprofit Support Program, noted that across all engagements, Fio brings a consistent working style: deep listening, clear structure without rigidity, and the ability to facilitate complex or sensitive conversations with energy and care. The team adapts who is involved and how the work is structured based on the specific audience and goal—whether that is Foundation staff, nonprofit leaders, or consultants in the field.

RESULTS & IMPACT

Fio’s partnership with Greater Hartford Gives has contributed to sustained, ecosystem-level impact, including:

  • Stronger nonprofit capacity across the region, supported through training, facilitation, and targeted consulting
  • Improved program quality and relevance, with Foundation programs regularly refined based on participant feedback and shared learning
  • New capacity-building models, including rapid response consulting that emerged from ongoing dialogue about how nonprofits were experiencing the external environment
  • Internal organizational improvements at the Foundation itself, with consulting work leading to concrete changes in communication and practice
  • Expanded reach and effectiveness of the Nonprofit Support Program, supported by a consulting partner able to work across multiple issue areas and engagement types

Importantly, the Foundation notes that Fio’s presence brings capacity and expertise that would otherwise be difficult to access in the local nonprofit consulting market.

KEY TAKEAWAY
Effective nonprofit capacity building requires more than technical expertise—it depends on trust, adaptability, and shared learning. Fio Partners’ long-standing partnership with Greater Hartford Gives demonstrates how a collaborative consulting relationship can strengthen not only individual organizations but also an entire nonprofit ecosystem over time.
Exploring how to strengthen nonprofit capacity in your community?
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