Central New York Community Foundation

About Us

The Central New York Community Foundation connects the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to enhance the quality of life of those who live and work in Central New York. The Community Foundation annually makes more than $5 million in grants and provides leadership support in the fields of arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environment, health and human services. Founded in 1927, the Community Foundation strives to inspire philanthropy in Central New York.

Learn about our home, the CNY Philanthropy Center.

The Community Foundation plays a number of roles in the Central New York community. We aim to enhance the quality of life for those who live and work within the community by:

Encouraging the growth of a permanent charitable endowment to meet the community's changing opportunities and needs;
Providing vehicles for donors with diverse philanthropic interests which make giving easy, personally satisfying and effective;
Serving as a catalyst, neutral convener and facilitator by stimulating and promoting collaborations among various organizations to accomplish common objectives;
Carrying out a strategic grantmaking program that is flexible, visionary and inclusive.

Learn About

Our 85th Anniversary

The Central New York Community Foundation is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with various celebrations and grantmaking opportunities over the course of 2012.

The CNY85 Giving Project

The CNY85 Giving Project will award grants to projects that are addressing Central New York's greatest needs. Winners will be decided by public vote. Learn More

The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize
The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize will award a special one-time grant of $85,000 to a project will that support the implementation of an innovative, collaborative, cross-sector solution to a critical community issue. Learn More

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