FY 2026 Enterprise Capital Grants Strengthen Services for Hartford Graduates and Stamford Youth
August 14, 2025 – The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA) is proud to announce $857,000 in grant awards through its FY 2026 Enterprise Capital Grant Program. The initiatives proposed by Hartford Promise and Boys & Girls Club of Stamford were selected not only because of the projected impacts within the communities they serve, but also for the strategic efforts to strengthen the organizations themselves.
Over the course of more than a decade, Hartford Promise has helped more than 1,300 Hartford Public School graduates pursue postsecondary education through a combination of scholarship support and wraparound services. Their success is evident: Today, the organization supports approximately 500 scholars in college annually and has celebrated more than 400 graduates. Now, with support from a $475,000 Enterprise Capital Grant, Hartford Promise will launch its “Reaching Beyond” initiative to help scholars transition from college to the workforce. The program offers mentorship, career readiness training, and professional networking — all aimed at ensuring students are not only academically prepared but professionally connected and career-confident. This initiative also enhances the local talent pipeline at a time when Connecticut employers urgently need skilled, diverse workers. This targeted philanthropic investment will deepen the career-aligned services Hartford Promise offers, expand its employer partnerships, and better position hundreds of Hartford students for long-term career success.
The Boys & Girls Club of Stamford (BCGS) is more than an after-school program — it’s a leadership incubator, a workforce development engine, and a safe space for more than 550 young people every day. It provides academic support, wellness programming, and opportunities for creative expression while fostering a strong sense of community. The $382,000 Enterprise Capital Grant awarded to BCGS will support the organization’s ambitious effort to diversify its revenue model through enhanced individual giving and digital engagement. This initiative will allow BGCS to better track outcomes, streamline operations, and engage donors in more meaningful ways. These kinds of upgrades are often overlooked but critical — allowing organizations to work smarter, not just harder. With this focused approach to long-term sustainability, BGCS is well positioned to expand programming and provide life-changing services for even more of Stamford’s young people.
CHEFA’s Enterprise Capital Grant Program reflects a growing recognition that public-private partnerships, coupled with strategic philanthropic initiatives, are essential to creating sustainable change. The three-year investment is designed to do just that by helping nonprofit organizations build internal capacity, evolve their business models, and broaden their impact within Connecticut communities.
