Alaska

The Juneau Community Foundation has announced that its Capitol Fund has purchased and donated 11 historically significant oil paintings to the state legislature to be exhibited in the Capitol Building. Purchased over the last couple of years from a collection formerly displayed in the Baranof Hotel, the paintings of iconic early Alaska scenes by Eustace Ziegler and Sydney Laurence were delivered in February and earlier this month. Since 2014, the fund has provided more than $3.5 million for improvements to the Capitol complex area, including $182,000 for the purchase of the artwork.

Arizona

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) in Tucson has announced that its Nonprofit Solar Project is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations based in Pima County. The project offers eligible nonprofits the opportunity to meet a significant portion of their energy needs through solar power, thereby reducing their carbon footprint and energy costs and freeing up resources for programming or other infrastructure needs. The project is the first initiative of CFSA’s Environmental Sustainability Impact Fund, which provides funding for conservation and restoration programs, climate justice, habitat protection, community gardens, watershed management, and solar initiatives.

Connecticut

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has announced the first round of 2022 grants awarded through its Access Grants program, which supports nonprofits aligned with the foundation’s strategic priorities to dismantle structural racism and increase social and economic mobility for Black and Latinx residents of Greater Hartford. In two rounds of funding in 2021, the foundation awarded more than $1.1 million to 33 organizations. The latest grants, totaling more than $250,000, will support eight nonprofits, including the Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association, End Hunger CT!, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and the Spectrum in Motion Dance Theater Ensemble.

Kansas

The Central Kansas Community Foundation has announced that its Hesston Community Foundation awarded a $2,000 grant to team 7862D to attend the World’s Robotics Championship in Dallas. The team of Jones Braker and Madi Tozier, sophomores at Hesston High School, are the first from their town to participate in the competition.

Ohio

The Columbus Foundation has announced Joanna M. Pinkerton and the team at Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) as the recipients of the 2022 Spirit of Columbus Award. Created in 2013 in honor of pilot Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world, the award recognizes those who exhibit exemplary community spirit through their efforts and accomplishments. During 2021, COTA implemented enhanced digital and mobile customer service solutions and artificial intelligence to improve traffic safety and reduce travel time. Its on-demand mobility service, COTA//Plus, was expanded to offer more than 62,000 point-to-point rides and its first all-electric, zero-emission transit vehicles were introduced. Pinkerton joined COTA as president and CEO in 2018.

Texas

The Greater Houston Community Foundation has announced the appointment of Pooja Shivangi Amin as general counsel. Most recently, Amin served as associate general counsel at CenterPoint Energy, where she also chaired the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and served as board secretary for the CenterPoint Energy Foundation.

Communities Foundation of Texas has announced that Joe May will serve as chancellor in residence of its Educate Texas program. For the past eight years, May has served as chancellor of Dallas College.

Washington, D.C.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has announced the launch of Let’s Go DMV!, a guaranteed income pilot in the Washington, D.C., region designed to give $1,000 a month—no strings attached—to 75 hospitality workers who lost their jobs during COVID. All but one of the workers are individuals of colors. The pilot, which recently began its first cash distributions, is expected to last five years and is funded by regional partners including Greater Washington Community Foundation, Amalgamated Foundation, and the Meyer Foundation.

Wisconsin

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation has announced the launch of an updated website based on its brand commitment Good Grows Here. The impact section of the site highlights the foundation’s work to build strategies that connect resources, drive change, and make lasting impact.