- In 2018, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving launched its first nonpartisan voter registration initiative for Greater Hartford, known as Get Out the Vote (GOTV), to reach populations least likely to participate in federal, state and local elections. Thirteen community-based nonprofits successfully registered more than 1,000 new voters and received 1,500 pledges to participate in the 2018 elections.Building from the success of the 2018 effort, the Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $448,400 over 18 months to support voter engagement in 2019 and 2020, as well as Census participation activities in a Get Out the Count (GOTC)
Through these grants, nonprofits will reach several underrepresented demographic groups and geographic areas using a mix of strategies, including canvassing, phone banking, outreach and neighborhood events, internet and text messaging, special events such as voter registration drives, one-on-one assistance and embedding conversations into ongoing operations. Six of the grants focus on GOTV activities, three on GOTC activities, and eleven include both.
In addition to providing grant support for nonprofit Census outreach efforts, Hartford Foundation staff also serve on state and local Complete Count Committees to share information and resources, and collaborate on Census activities.