About Us

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that turns community dollars into community change. Established in 1927, it receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to address the region’s greatest needs. The foundation has invested more than $320 million in community projects that benefit Central New York. It also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives that foster a thriving and equitable region and address the most critical issues of our time.

What We Do

The gifts we receive come from those who want to give back to Central New York in some way – either during their lifetimes or as a legacy that carries on after they are gone. We then turn those community dollars into community change – by supporting and mobilizing nonprofit efforts around the region’s most critical needs.

Give

We provide a simple, powerful and highly personal approach to giving. We pride ourselves on offering flexible and customizable ways to give and helping create plans that fit the needs of each individual, family or business with whom we work.

Learn More

Grant

Our grantmaking and initiatives fuel programs that make a positive difference in the lives of Central New York residents. We strive to make our region a vibrant community by advancing the arts, improving education, protecting and enhancing the environment, ensuring vital human services for those in need, making healthcare and safe living spaces accessible to all and promoting community development that serves the common good.

Learn More

Grow

The gifts we receive create charitable funds and are invested over time. A percentage of each fund’s value is used annually to make grants while preserving the original gift. This means a charitable gift made today in the form of a permanent endowment can grow in pace with inflation and still provide consistent support in the future.

Learn More

Mission

Our mission is to foster a thriving and equitable Central New York region by leading and inspiring a community culture of giving, celebrating legacy and stewarding charitable resources for today and tomorrow.

Vision

We envision Central New York as a vibrant community with equal access to opportunity for everyone. Future generations will proudly inherit a hopeful, just region where generosity and collaboration ensure prosperity, well-being and lasting impact.

Pledge

We pledge to be a bold, courageous and enduring partner in philanthropy, investing in the people and potential of Central New York. We commit to collaborating with and giving voice to the individuals and organizations that seek to create opportunity and catalyze change. Our intentional community engagement and knowledge-sharing builds trust-based relationships that will transform the region. We open our doors to everyone and anyone who aspires to build upon the contributions of the past and present to shape our community’s shared future.

Your Community Foundation For All

The Community Foundation is committed to fostering a community of belonging where people of all backgrounds, races and identities feel safe, respected, and valued. Equity is embedded in everything we do—it is central to ensuring that all people have a fair opportunity to thrive. We practice these values from the inside out, walking our talk with trust, humility, and dedication. By honoring the dignity of all people, amplifying excluded voices, and collaborating with individuals and organizations where they are, we work to create a stronger, more connected community.