Year in Review

PICTURED ABOVE: Ruffed Grouse Society, a Dr. Robert J. Vitkus Fund grant recipient serving Cortland County

NEW PRESIDENT & CEO LISTENING SESSIONS

In December 2023, our board of directors named Melanie Littlejohn our new president & CEO beginning March 1, 2024, following an eight-month nationwide search. Throughout Melanie’s first three months, we held a series of community listening and networking events, providing an opportunity for residents to contribute to the conversation surrounding Central New York’s shared future.

LAUNCH OF IMPACT INVESTING AND BRIDGE LOAN FUND

This year our board of directors approved a policy that allows us to use up to 5% of our main investment pool for the purpose of local impact investment. Our impact investing program also closed on a $500,000 deposit to Cooperative Federal to launch a nonprofit bridge loan program.

$650,000 FOR LEADSAFECNY

Last September, our LeadSafeCNY initiative received $500,000 from Onondaga County to replace windows and doors in 40 affordable rental units. In December, it received $150,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to put toward the cost of hiring a coordinator for the LeadSafeCNY Coalition.

GRANTS ADDRESS LOCAL TENSIONS FROM MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

In October, we distributed $15,500 in crisis response grants to address local safety and security concerns within the community amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East. Recipients included the Jewish Federation of Central New York; the Mosque of Jesus, Son of Mary; Al Huda Mosque and Furqan Weekend School; InterFaith Works; and Hendricks Chapel.

LEADING FOR ALL: 2023-2028 STRATEGIC PLAN

After multiple feedback efforts, including surveys and community forums with donors, grant recipients, partners and community leaders, we released our five-year Strategic Plan, created to help grow and deepen our existing work within the community.

YOUTH STEM FUNDER COLLABORATIVE

The Youth STEM Funder Collaborative, comprised of the Community Foundation, Micron Foundation, United Way of Central New York, Gifford Foundation and Allyn Foundation, was launched and provided support for STEM from Dance to run in Syracuse for two years. The national dance program integrates technology with performing arts through project-based, hands-on experiences.

NEW AGREEMENT HELPS STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE HOUSING COSTS

Say Yes Syracuse and Onondaga Community College (OCC) teamed up to form the Preferred Partners Program to help Syracuse City School District graduates who attend OCC with their housing costs. Say Yes Scholars can receive up to $2,500 in housing assistance per semester. Of that, $1,500 comes from the Say Yes Opportunity Grant and $1,000 comes from the OCC Housing Development Corporation.

LAUNCH OF IDEA PROGRAM

We launched the Internal Diversity Equity & Action (IDEA) grant opportunity to encourage organizations to take the next steps in their journey to operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion. Grants support cultural competency work, leadership consultation, training for managers and incorporation of DEI into strategic and financial planning.

DR. ROBERT J. VITKUS FUND EXPANDS TO FIVE-COUNTY REGION

When Bob Vitkus died in 2020, his estate named the Community Foundation as the recipient of a $10 million legacy gift to support outdoor parks and recreation areas and programs that involve youth, hunting and fishing, or conservation efforts to improve wildlife habitats and open spaces. Since the establishment of the fund, $1,080,187 has been granted to 24 organizations in Onondaga and Madison counties. In March, we expanded grantmaking from the fund to support additional communities across our five-county region, including Cayuga, Oswego and Cortland counties.

PAYMENT PENDING ISSUE PAPER

Delayed payments to nonprofits from New York state contracts has been an issue since the 1980s. In our Payment Pending issue paper, we examined how often this occurs, what steps nonprofits are forced to take to make up the difference, and recommend a new solution that may be helpful in some circumstances.

PARTICIPATORY GRANTMAKING

Last fall we launched our Participatory Grantmaking initiative to provide a space for members of historically marginalized communities to collaboratively identify the biggest needs of their individual communities, co-design projects and receive funding for implementation. A total of $125,280 funded four projects to address needs in the Latino, LGBTQIA+ and Asian communities as well as people with disabilities.

CNY PHILANTHROPY CENTER UPDATES

Over the past four years, we have taken measures to ensure the safety and accessibility of our building for our staff and visitors. This year we installed new audio-visual equipment in our ballroom, accessibility buttons in our second floor bathrooms and updated panic and lockdown alarms at the front desk.

AFFILIATE FUNDS

Our four Affiliate Funds had an outstanding year of fundraising and grantmaking to support nonprofits across the region. In partnership with the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, the Greater Pulaski Endowment Fund distributed $35,100 in grants; in addition, the Cayuga Community Fund distributed $85,780 in grants, the Oswego County Community Foundation distributed $33,910 in grants and the Women’s Fund of Central New York distributed $55,000 in grants.