J. Walton Bissell Foundation Grant

The J. Walton Bissell Foundation is a private foundation that provides funding to nonprofit organizations advancing change and delivering direct services to individuals and families, with a primary focus on the Metro Hartford area. The Foundation honors the legacy of J. Walton Bissell, whose values of humility and dedication to inclusion guide its mission. The Foundation’s Board and staff are committed to using its resources in ways that reflect Mr. Bissell’s principles and to focusing on communities that have historically been unseen and excluded. The Foundation offers two types of funding opportunities: General Operating Support and Seed Investment. General Operating Support grants are prioritized in 2025 and are intended to support both new and existing leadership within organizations. Organizations that have an established relationship with the Foundation and are launching new initiatives should use the General Operating Support form, where they can isolate the specific initiative seeking funding. The Seed Investment form is designed for recently created organizations and features distinct application questions. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and leaders of fiscally-sponsored new initiatives. The application process is conducted through an online portal. The portal allows multiple team members to collaborate on a single application. Organizations with existing accounts can access previous applications submitted since 2016 through the portal. However, older portal records will become inaccessible after August 15, 2025, and applicants are advised to download any important historical records before this date. The application timeline for 2025 includes two terms. The first term has an application deadline of February 28, with a grace period through March 5. Decisions for the first term are made by May 31. The second term has an application deadline of August 31, with a grace period through September 5. Decisions for the second term will be made by November 30. The application forms are being rebuilt during the spring of 2025 to enhance usability, based on user feedback. New forms will allow for multiple logins per form and additional features, and they will remain active online throughout the year. Applicants are encouraged to watch a video tutorial available on the Foundation’s website before starting their application. This tutorial provides guidance on how to navigate the new forms and portal. Reporting requirements may be requested in specific circumstances. The Foundation emphasizes the importance of applicants telling their story and encourages applications that seek both General Operating Support and project-specific support. The Foundation does not specify award amounts, funding ceilings, or matching requirements in the public information provided. Contact details for the Foundation, including a specific contact name, email, or phone number, are not listed on the website. However, applicants can reach out via the portal for assistance and can expect further updates and instructions on the Foundation’s homepage as the new forms are published later in the spring of 2025.