Melanie Littlejohn

President & CEO
PHONE 315.883.5530 EMAIL Send

Communications

Katrina M. Crocker

Vice President of Communications

Katrina develops and leads the implementation of a comprehensive communication strategy that builds and sustains awareness of the Community Foundation’s philanthropic voice in Central New York. She is happy to respond to media inquiries and answer your questions regarding overall communications.

PHONE 315.883.5542 EMAIL Send

Juliet R. Maloff

Senior Communications Officer

Juliet champions and guides the Community Foundation’s brand management to internal and external audiences by overseeing and producing media relations and print, digital and social media communications. She is happy to respond to media inquiries and answer your questions regarding any of our externally facing digital or print content.

PHONE 315.883.5547 EMAIL Send

Leila Moghadasi

Communications Associate

Leila provides communications support to attract and deepen relationships with scholarship seekers, current & potential donors, professional advisors, nonprofit organizations and civic leaders.

PHONE 315.883.5557 EMAIL Send

Cory Schad

Senior Events & Communications Manager

Cory plans and executes Community Foundation events and provides general communications support. He is happy to answer your questions regarding events, advertising and sponsorships, and affiliate fund communications.

PHONE 315.883.5561 EMAIL Send

Community Investment

Darrell Buckingham

Program Officer

Darrell provides support with planning and implementing the Community Foundation’s strategic initiatives that enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities in the Central New York region. He is happy to answer your questions regarding CNYCF’s literacy, early childhood, LeadSafeCNY initiatives, and Black Equity & Excellence fund.

PHONE 315.883.5559 EMAIL Send

Colby Cyrus, CAPM

Senior Program Manager

Colby assists with the development, implementation and monitoring of grantmaking and programs. He is happy to answer your questions related to the Community Grant program, grant reporting and affiliate fund grants.

PHONE 315.883.5552 EMAIL Send

Elisia Gonzalez

Grants Manager

Elisia provides administrative, initiative and grantmaking support. Elisia is happy to answer your questions regarding grants, programs and the online grant application portal.

PHONE 315.883.5538 EMAIL Send

Danielle Johnson

Senior Director of Grants & Programs

Danielle oversees the Community Grantmaking program and nonprofit development programs. She is happy to answer your questions regarding Community Grantmaking, NEWS, IDEA, Madison County Rural Poverty Fund, and Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders.

PHONE 315.883.5554 EMAIL Send

Kanischa Miller

Program Associate

Kanischa assists with the Community Grant, Affiliate Funds, Black Equity & Excellence, and Community Engagement programs.

PHONE 315.883.5545 EMAIL Send

Frank M. Ridzi, PhD

Vice President of Community Investment

Frank oversees and monitors the grantmaking process, conducts research on issues or concerns of importance to the Community Foundation, shares expertise with donors and manages special projects and strategic initiatives. He is happy to answer your questions related to building, sustaining and sharing community knowledge and measuring impact through such initiatives as CNY Vitals, the Community Data Group, The Human Services Leadership Council, and Work Train.

PHONE 315.883.5553 EMAIL Send

Qiana Williams

Program Officer

Qiana engages directly with community residents and nonprofit staff to assist in the design and implementation of the Community Foundation’s strategic initiatives and grantmaking. She is happy to answer your questions regarding neighborhood and resident engagement and The Leadership Classroom (TLC).

PHONE 315.883.5568 EMAIL Send

Development

Elizabeth Gagné

Philanthropic Services Officer

Liz provides support to donors and staff related to fund administration by connecting them, and their professional advisors, to resources within the Community Foundation. She also co-manages the Foundation’s gift acceptance and acknowledgment processes. She is happy to answer questions about how to give to our existing funds, and can provide documentation of past contributions for you and your professional advisors.

PHONE 315.883.5560 EMAIL Send

Thomas M. Griffith, AEP®, CAP®, ChFC®

Vice President of Development

Tom creates and implements custom charitable giving plans for individuals, families and companies in coordination with their professional advisors. He also helps local nonprofits create and build endowments. Tom is happy to answer questions about your charitable planning.

PHONE 315.883.5544 EMAIL Send

Tori Hart

Philanthropic Services Officer

Tori provides support to donors and staff related to fund administration by researching giving opportunities within the Community Foundation and the broader nonprofit community. She also co-manages the Community Foundation’s gift acceptance and acknowledgment processes. She is happy to answer questions about your giving and research organizations and causes you would like to support.

PHONE 315.883.5564 EMAIL Send

Jan L. Lane, CAP®

Senior Philanthropic Advisor

Jan supports charitable planning for individuals, families and companies and facilitates the Foundation’s legacy planning program. She is happy to answer your questions regarding lifetime and legacy giving options, multi-generational engagement, fund succession planning and legacy preservation.

PHONE 315.883.5546 EMAIL Send

Monica M. Merante, CAP®

Senior Director of Philanthropic Services

Monica serves as the primary contact for donors, connecting them with the many resources available through the Community Foundation. She is happy to answer questions about your fund, help you identify areas of charitable interest, and research organizations and causes that you would like 
to support.

PHONE 315.883.5541 EMAIL Send

Pragya S. Murphy, MBA, CAP®

Senior Philanthropic & Impact Investment Advisor

Pragya supports charitable planning for individuals, families and companies and provides outreach to the local professional advisor community and nonprofit organizations. She is happy to answer your questions regarding the financial advisor program, nonprofit agency funds, affiliate fund development, lifetime giving and legacy giving.

PHONE 315.883.5540 EMAIL Send

Finance & Administration

Gerianne P. Corradino, SHRM-CP

Human Resources & Operations Officer

Geri is responsible for providing operational and human resources related support to staff as well as overseeing the Central New York Philanthropy Center (CNYPC) building. She is happy to answer your questions about renting space in the Central New York Philanthropy Center.

PHONE 315.883.5536 EMAIL Send

Terri M. Evans

Administrative Associate

Terri provides administrative support to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Community Foundation. She is the first person to welcome constituents, visitors and staff when they arrive at the Philanthropy Center.

PHONE 315.883.5531 EMAIL Send

Dana Fiel

Finance Manager

Dana is responsible for the grant distribution and accounts payable processes. She is happy to answer your questions about accounts payable.

PHONE 315.883.5550 EMAIL Send

Jenny E. Green

Senior Information Systems Officer

Jenny is responsible for the integration, maintenance, and processes of the Community Foundation’s information systems and cybersecurity, and serves as the liaison to the foundation’s database and other supporting systems.

PHONE 315.883.5539 EMAIL Send

Elizabeth T. Hartman, CPA

Senior Director of Finance

Liz manages the day-to-day accounting activities of the Foundation. She is happy to answer your questions about the audited financial statements or the 990, and is the main contact for auditors’ requests for confirmations.

PHONE 315.883.5534 EMAIL Send

Davona Lawrence

Finance Associate

Davona assists in the grant distribution and accounts payable processes.

PHONE 315.883.5537 EMAIL Send

Dana E. Lyons-Canty

Special Projects Officer

Dana oversees projects and supports cross-departmental initiatives that drive innovation and align with CNYCF’s mission & strategic goals. She is happy to answer any questions about staff community engagement.

PHONE 315-883-5543 EMAIL Send

Yeisha Núñez-Denson

Accountant

Yeisha is responsible for financial reconciliations and board reporting, and provides general accounting support. She is happy to answer questions about affiliate fund financial statements and budgeting.

PHONE 315.883.5535 EMAIL Send

Kimberly P. Sadowski, CPA

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Kim oversees finance, accounting, investments, information technology, human resources and operations. She is happy to answer your questions regarding investments, foundation operations and talent recruitment.

PHONE 315.883.5533 EMAIL Send

Scholarships and Student Success

Ahmeed Turner

Vice President of Scholarships & Student Success; Executive Director of Say Yes Syracuse

Ahmeed is happy to answer your questions about scholarships and Say Yes Syracuse.

PHONE 315.883.5551 EMAIL Send

Deraretu Abubeker

Scholarships & Student Success Manager

Deraretu assists in the administration of the Community Foundation’s scholarship program, including the Say Yes Syracuse (SYS) initiative. She cultivates relationships with external stakeholders including families, students, Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and partnering colleges and universities to develop programs that support the completion of degree programs among students. 

PHONE 315-883-5555 EMAIL Send

News & Stories

Headshot of man
Blogs February 13, 2025

Creating Access to Nature and Safeguarding Water Quality

Hear from Andy Zepp, executive director, Finger Lakes Land Trust, about the importance of the ...

Orchestra performing on a stage
News Releases February 5, 2025

More Than $680,000 Distributed To Local Nonprofits

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed $682,050 in grants to local nonprofits. The ...

Man and woman standing in front of church
Stories January 28, 2025

Holistic Giving: Jeff & Rachel Roney

Jeff and Rachel embrace giving in every facet of life—through faith, family and community. Their ...

Blogs January 23, 2025

Bushenge Hunde USA-Canada

Refugee communities encounter a number of barriers when attempting to establish relationships with law enforcement ...

News Releases January 22, 2025

CNY Community Foundation Receives $400,000 for Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

This is the largest grant the Community Foundation has received to date from the Cabrini ...

Topics December 24, 2024

What We Are Up To | CNYCF Staff Updates

Our staff takes pride in not just serving our community, but actively shaping its future. ...

News Releases December 19, 2024

CNY Community Foundation Closes on Deal for Dunbar Association; Opens New Line of Credit

This project is receiving funding from a Certificate of Deposit (CD) the Community Foundation has ...

hand holding growing money
Publications December 11, 2024

Professional Advisor 365: A Year-In-Review Summary of Collaborative Planning

Here’s a roundup of events and activities that we’ve led over the past year to ...

Headshot of man
Blogs February 13, 2025

Creating Access to Nature and Safeguarding Water Quality

Hear from Andy Zepp, executive director, Finger Lakes Land Trust, about the importance of the ...

Orchestra performing on a stage
News Releases February 5, 2025

More Than $680,000 Distributed To Local Nonprofits

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed $682,050 in grants to local nonprofits. The ...

Man and woman standing in front of church
Stories January 28, 2025

Holistic Giving: Jeff & Rachel Roney

Jeff and Rachel embrace giving in every facet of life—through faith, family and community. Their ...

Blogs January 23, 2025

Bushenge Hunde USA-Canada

Refugee communities encounter a number of barriers when attempting to establish relationships with law enforcement ...

News Releases January 22, 2025

CNY Community Foundation Receives $400,000 for Lead Poisoning Prevention Efforts

This is the largest grant the Community Foundation has received to date from the Cabrini ...

Topics December 24, 2024

What We Are Up To | CNYCF Staff Updates

Our staff takes pride in not just serving our community, but actively shaping its future. ...

News Releases December 19, 2024

CNY Community Foundation Closes on Deal for Dunbar Association; Opens New Line of Credit

This project is receiving funding from a Certificate of Deposit (CD) the Community Foundation has ...

hand holding growing money
Publications December 11, 2024

Professional Advisor 365: A Year-In-Review Summary of Collaborative Planning

Here’s a roundup of events and activities that we’ve led over the past year to ...

News & Stories