Who We Are
THE AURORA FOUNDATION

WHO WE ARE.

THE AURORA FOUNDATION

MISSION

The Aurora Foundation serves as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Hartford, with the intended effect of unlocking the potential of their families and surrounding communities.

 

  • We conduct research and convene the community to promote understanding of gender issues, and to foster collaboration for effective solutions. 
  • We educate and engage men and women in the power of philanthropy through a gender lens to improve social and economic outcomes for women and girls, along with their families and communities.
  • We implement strategies — including targeted grantmaking — that take aim at obstacles to empower women and girls in Greater Hartford.

 

THE AURORA FOUNDATION

HISTORY

In 2000, a group of community leaders came together to lift up women and girls through focused philanthropy. Knowing that women and girls funds had succeeded in creating meaningful progress in other parts of the country, founders Leah Bailey Moon, Felice Gray-Kemp, Eileen Kraus, Paddi LeShane, and Marie O’Brien drew together with other women to establish the Aurora Foundation.

The growing foundation organized itself and raised funds, established priorities, and identified program opportunities. Aurora grew consciously and deliberately, building bridges in the community and delving into the issues to develop a deep understanding of both the potential and the challenges in our area. In early years, a “by women, for women” golf tournament hosted by Nykesha Sales supplemented community donations. In 2005 the foundation launched the Signature Breakfast, which became an important annual fundraiser. In 2004 Aurora started distributing micro-grants to Hartford area organizations and by 2016 it reached a distribution of nearly $500,000 in grants.
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    Due not only to the fundraising and grantmaking but also its groundbreaking research on the status of women and girls in Hartford County, the Aurora Foundation has become a powerful vehicle in addressing the needs of women and girls to ensure a level playing field for all.  Thanks to the vision of early believers and their discipline in building a solid financial base, Aurora today has a growing capacity to realize the founders’ dreams.

Aurora's 100 Men Campaign

Brings together male community leaders who are partners in supporting Aurora’s efforts to educate, engage, and empower the community to address issues facing women and girls in Greater Hartford. Since 2016, men in our community have raised over $80,000 to support women and girls. 

ENGAGE & EMPOWER 
THROUGH GIVING

Because women reinvest 90% of their earnings in their families, unlocking potential for women and girls starts a ripple effect in entire communities.
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  • Why Devote a Foundation to Women and Girls?

    In a perfect world, equal opportunity would ensure equal outcomes; but we are all not the same. When we fairly account for our differences and needs, we create equity — and equity is the means to achieving equality.


    Whether we are looking at education, economic security, health, crime and safety, or another issue, we can ask: what are women and girls’ distinct challenges and needs? Aurora works to meet those distinct needs to improve social and economic opportunities and outcomes for women, their families and community.

  • Why Should Men and Women and Businesses and Nonprofit Agencies Support Women and Girls, Specifically?

    When we create the conditions and means for women and girls to seize opportunity, we create immediate and sustained financial benefit. It’s good economics as well as good ethics.


    As we see it, and as the research convinces us, gender equity affects all of us. That’s why men and women, nonprofits, small businesses, and corporations with a stake in the Hartford area stand with us: Our community is healthier when we work together.


    Although women and their children make up nearly 80% of our nation’s poor—and the numbers grow each year—less than 7.5 cents of every dollar donated by organized philanthropy goes to programs that specifically address the needs of women and girls.


    The data shows significant economic and social benefits to the larger community when women are productive contributors. Healthy, educated, and secure women increase the quality, size and productivity of the overall workforce, tax base, and community capacity.


    Research and experience prove that “neutral” programs are less effective than programs that consider the nuanced needs of the people they serve.


    In other words, effective social strategies take into account that one size does not fit all. The needs and opportunities of women are distinct, and so their solutions should be too.

  • What Makes the Aurora Foundation a Great Way to Invest in Our Region’s Future?

    Thousands of nonprofit organizations provide valuable services in Greater Hartford. As a donor, how do you decide where to invest?


    Invest with purpose. Invest with confidence.

    The Aurora Foundation simplifies donor decision-making. We deeply understand the needs and potential of the region’s women and girls. As careful stewards, we identify both the problems and the groups working to solve them.


    Knowing the issues means we can target the issues. Knowing our community means we can explore programs and agencies to uncover the ones with proven results or innovative approaches that show the most promise.


    Through Aurora, you can make a thoughtful and strategic investment that will make an immediate difference to women and girls in need, collectively address systemic issues in our community, and build a better future for generations to come.


    Aurora advances local collaboration, investment, and impact. We are the only freestanding foundation in Connecticut focused exclusively on the needs of women and girls.


    Your generosity becomes a legacy of civic leadership.

    With social awareness and investment, you will help move women and girls into self-sufficiency and on to community involvement and leadership. You can unlock their potential, and in turn, the potential of our communities.


    Since 2004, the Aurora Foundation has distributed over $760,000 in grants that have made a difference to thousands of women and girls in our region. You can make a difference, too, with your contribution.

THE AURORA FOUNDATION

STAFF

THE AURORA FOUNDATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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