Special Projects

Pictured Above: Baby B.A.C.K., a LeadSafeCNY grant recipient

Strategic Initiatives

Realizing that responsive grant funding alone cannot address our community’s complex challenges, our Strategic Initiatives focus on one common goal — to make a demonstrable impact on our community.

Through our local Impact Investing, we make investments that generate both financial returns and positive social outcomes for nonprofits.

Our LeadSafeCNY initiative works to decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates through funding, impact investing, collaboration and improved public policy. This year we distributed seven grants totaling $450,000 to support lead-safe housing construction, existing home renovations, community outreach and training and workforce development. So far, 1,743 windows and 165 doors have been replaced to eliminate lead-dust-producing high-friction surfaces in rental units and 226 safe and affordable rental units have been constructed or renovated.

Say Yes Syracuse provides opportunities and scholarships to remove financial barriers for Syracuse City School District students to attend college. Say Yes Syracuse is independently governed and administered by the Community Foundation. A total of 6,256 scholars have attended college with the help of Say Yes since 2009. sayyessyracuse.org

PROFESSIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

For many decades we have been a leading sponsor of initiatives to strengthen our region’s nonprofit sector.

NEWS/Nonprofit Essentials Workshop Series is an ongoing training series designed for nonprofit professionals to gain knowledge on a variety of tools for professional and organizational development. This year, 391 attendees from more than 100 organizations participated in virtual workshops. cnycf.org/workshop

Our Staff Advancement Initiative is a development and advancement program for non-management or entry-level management nonprofit staff members. This year, 21 participants received funding for professional development.

The Leadership Classroom (TLC) helps residents or grassroots groups to learn practical skills that make stronger, more effective neighborhood and grassroots leaders. This year, 21 individuals representing five organizations graduated from TLC.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE & KNOWLEDGE

Building on our commitment to collecting and analyzing local data as well as the experience we have accumulated for nearly 100 years of service to our region, we serve as a resource to residents seeking insights on social and community issues.

5forCNY educates individuals on how they can play a vital role in enriching the future of the Central New York community through legacy giving.

The Community Data Group is comprised of nonprofit and government sector members who gather to share ideas and data and coordinate efforts to help our community improve more effectively.

CNY Vitals & CNY Vitals Pro are state-of-the-community websites that provide a common source of data and interactive visualizations on critical topics that affect the health and progress of our region. cnyvitals.org

The Life Needs Assessment helps nonprofits and their partners utilize free and low-cost software to enhance their performance management capabilities, including needs assessment, program evaluation, data-driven collaboration, resident engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion analysis.

To view a full list of our strategic initiatives and collaborative community efforts, please visit cnycf.org/initiatives