Impacting Lives Here: A Year of Grantmaking

Pictured Above: Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, a Community Grant Recipient

Exceeding Expectations Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, we received $29.3 million in gifts and bequests and distributed $20.7 million in grant support to nonprofit organizations in Central New York and surrounding areas.

BLACK EQUITY & EXCELLENCE FUNDING
Our Black Equity & Excellence Fund was designed to help reverse patterns of historic underinvestment and build the momentum necessary to create lasting social change for the community by funding Black-led community-based projects that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and address physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. The Fund also encourages dialogue that will strengthen race-related matters and support social and educational growth in the community. This year we distributed 23 grants totaling $261,900.

COMMUNITY GRANTMAKING
We offer a wide variety of funding opportunities, the largest of which is our Community Grants program. We provide grant funding to nonprofit organizations in Onondaga and Madison counties for projects that promote community impact, capacity building and diversity in the areas of arts and culture, civic affairs, education, health, human services and the environment. This year we distributed 56 grants totaling $2,313,357.

CORTLAND BRIGHT IDEAS
Our Cortland County Bright Ideas program offers nonprofits serving Cortland County the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant to support their missions. Applicants are invited to submit their best and brightest idea for enhancing their organization and better serving the community. The grants program is supported through the generosity of the Fenstermacher Fund and other local donors. This year we distributed 13 grants totaling $65,000.

RURAL POVERTY SUPPORT
The Madison County Rural Poverty Fund is our effort to support poverty-related issues and organizations in Madison County. We committed to tackling this issue through multiple approaches including funding, impact investing and community leadership. This year we distributed six grants totaling $50,000.

ADDITIONAL GRANTMAKING
We also distributed 113 small grants totaling $219,149; three literacy grants totaling $218,541, including operational support for Imagination Library; and two Strategic Partnership Fund grants to support nonprofit mergers and affiliations totaling $20,000.