The Madison County Rural Poverty Fund is an effort to support poverty-related causes in Madison County, where 10 percent of the population was living below the federal poverty rate in 2018, according to CNY Vitals. The Community Foundation is committed to tackling this issue through multiple approaches including funding, impact investing and community leadership.

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, publicly supported organizations such as schools and municipalities, and organizations using a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
  • Organizations serving residents of Madison County

Grants from the Madison County Rural Poverty Fund support the following types of projects:

  • Capital – including large scale capital campaigns, repairs and replacements, technology upgrades, and equipment/furnishing purchases that address poverty
  • Program – support for new and innovative programs, or the expansion of proven existing programs that address poverty
  • Applications to the Madison County Rural Poverty Fund are accepted year-round.
  • Prospective applicants are asked to discuss their grant request with Community Foundation staff before beginning the application process. Please call our office at (315) 422-9538 or email us at grants@cnycf.org.
  • The use of a fiscal sponsor is allowed.

If your nonprofit has received a grant from us, we request that you submit a report on the outcome of your project. This report assists us in assessing our grantmaking efforts. Please contact us at grants@cnycf.org for a report form.

The Community Foundation can only pay grants to registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations (including churches) or to a public entity such as a town, public school or state agency. All others will need to use a fiscal sponsor.

Learn More

Community Investment Stories

News Releases June 26, 2026

Madison County Rural Health Council Chosen by Madison County Residents to Receive $75K for Housing Stability Efforts

The winning grant will help the council combine emergency financial assistance with education, resource navigation ...

News Releases May 29, 2026

Oswego Health Chosen by Oswego County Residents to Receive $75K for Youth Mental Health Efforts

The winning proposal, focused on expanding the organization’s outpatient behavioral health programs, school-based therapy services, ...

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Publications May 27, 2026

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Winning Project to be announced at May 28 Community Celebration

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News Releases September 16, 2025

Five Local Organizations Graduate from Leadership Training Program

Leaders from five local groups completed The Leadership Classroom (TLC), a monthly training series that ...

News Releases June 26, 2026

Madison County Rural Health Council Chosen by Madison County Residents to Receive $75K for Housing Stability Efforts

The winning grant will help the council combine emergency financial assistance with education, resource navigation ...

News Releases May 29, 2026

Oswego Health Chosen by Oswego County Residents to Receive $75K for Youth Mental Health Efforts

The winning proposal, focused on expanding the organization’s outpatient behavioral health programs, school-based therapy services, ...

woman standing and smiling
Publications May 27, 2026

Finding Independence, One Step at a Time: Aurora of CNY

Giving Voice Spring 2026: Cover Story

News Releases May 26, 2026

Oswego County Residents Invited to Vote on Community-Designed Projects

Winning Project to be announced at May 28 Community Celebration

Person Boxing
Blogs April 22, 2026

Building Strength, Inside and Out: OptionZero’s B-Squared Initiative

A new initiative at OptionZero is helping people build strength in more ways than one. ...

Group of people
News Releases September 16, 2025

Five Local Organizations Graduate from Leadership Training Program

Leaders from five local groups completed The Leadership Classroom (TLC), a monthly training series that ...

View More