HARTFORD – The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford has surpassed its all time record for annual grant making, it was announced recently by the organization’s CEO Michael Johnston.

According to Johnston, in the fiscal year ended June 30, the Foundation awarded more than $4 million in grants, representing an increase of more than $660K over the largest grant-making year in the Foundation’s history. The $4 million was comprised of 909 individual grants, also an all-time record and an increase of 20 percent over the prior year.

In discussing the results, Johnston noted that “the Foundation’s mission is to strengthen the Greater Hartford Jewish community, but it is also to assist donors to fulfill their own unique philanthropic goals. This record-breaking year reflects the true impact that philanthropy can have in helping to repair our world. Through the generosity of our donors, I believe we had significant impact in assisting those in need and strengthening the ability of our most important nonprofit institutions to achieve their mission.”

“It is truly humbling to think of the donors, both old and new, who have entrusted their philanthropic dollars to the Jewish Community Foundation, and we are proud of the work we have done to ensure that those dollars are having the greatest possible impact,” Johnston added.

Johnston attributes the organization’s record breaking totals to several factors: the Foundation’s increasing asset base; an expanded awareness and understanding of the power of endowment; and a growing belief in the ability of philanthropy to make a difference in our community.

Although the foundation and its donors make grants throughout the United States, as well as across the globe, its primary focus is on Greater Hartford: $3.4 million of the total of $4 million in grants were awarded to programs and institutions in the Greater Hartford area – $2.41 million of which went to Jewish agencies, synagogues and students.

Established more than 40 years ago with an initial gift of $50,000, the Foundation has grown to more than $100 million in assets – up nearly 40% in the last three years alone. A member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, it is now one of the largest charitable foundations in the state.