Hanover Cooperative Community Fund

The Co-op Food Stores Announces the HCCF Community Project Grant Awards.

The Hanover Cooperative Community Fund (HCCF) was established by the Co-op’s Board of Directors in 2001. The HCCF helps fund co-op development nationally and non-profits locally with help from our friends at the Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation.

The Community Project Grants are available to local 501[c]3 organizations whose work is aligned with the Co-op’s charitable giving goals: supporting food assistance and access; community building, including support for agriculture; enhancing cooperative principles and activities; or promoting sustainable environmental practices.

2020 HCCF Award Winners

In 2020, the HCCF awarded Community Project Grants to nine local non-profits:

• West Central Behavioral Health’s inShape Program ($2,500)—Offering healthy lifestyle (diet/exercise) coaching for those with severe mental illness
• Grafton County Senior Citizens Council ($1,000)—Providing pet food to Meals on Wheels clients with pets
• Friends of Mascoma ($2,500)—Supporting the food pantry window remodeling project for COVID-19 safe operations
• COVER Home Repair ($2,000)—Providing urgent home repairs through the ramps and roofs fun
• Hartford Community Coalition ($2,000)—Providing daily meals to low-income children during summer school breaks
• Upper Valley Haven ($1,500)—Making equipment upgrades to the Caruso Café kitchen
• Spark! Community Center ($1,300)—Providing materials for virtual classes held in place of in-person activitie
• Kearsarge Food Hub Food Security Program ($2,500)—Contributing to local food pantries and schools
• New Hampshire Community Loan Fund ($2,000)—Offering training at Mascoma Valley Cooperative’s Resident-Owned Community

For more information on the awards or about the HCCF program, please contact Co-op board member and Chair of the HCCF Advisory Committee, Kevin Birdsey at kbirdsey [at] board.coopfoodstore.com

HCCF Community Projects Fund Application

2021 Application Deadline: TBD
2021 Awards Announced: TBD

The purpose of the HCCF Community Projects Fund is to offer financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that strengthen, food access or food production, sustainable environmental initiatives, community services or cooperative principles and activities.

HCCF Gerstenberger Scholarship Fund Application

2021 Application Deadline: TBD
2021 Awards Announced: TBD

The Gerstenberger Scholarship Fund (GSF) offers scholarships to members and employees of cooperatives in the Upper Valley who seek to further the cooperative movement through education, training, and/or business development. The Fund is named in honor of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society’s long-serving General Managers, Harry and Arthur Gerstenberger, and first Education Director, Sally Gerstenberger.

The HCCF Review Committee will review proposals seeking between $500 and $2,500 in aid, with exceptions for noteworthy need. All applicants will receive notice of the status of their applications.
NOTE: awards will be made directly to qualifying educational organizations to observe the Fund’s 501[c][3] status.