Tom Griffith, vice president of development, tells us about his department's efforts to learn best practices for how to discuss racial equity with donors and create a welcoming environment for donors of color.

The Community Foundation launched the Black Equity & Excellence Fund in June of 2020 to support projects that encourage self-sufficiency and improve the physical and economic conditions that affect Black community members’ quality of life.

Frank Ridzi, vice president, community investment, reflects on how nonprofits can measure how effectively their programs are improving equity in our community.

Group of individuals standing together

The Community Foundation recently distributed a new round of grants from its Black Equity & Excellence Fund. Grants from the fund support Black-led nonprofit organizations and projects that counteract systemic racism. Fourteen grants were distributed, totaling $248,000. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Black Equity & Excellence Fund allowed for optimization of UrbanTsyr online content with professionally enhanced videos and marketing of various initiatives.

Through the generous support of the Community Foundation’s Black Equity & Excellence Fund we produced, in April and July, two high-quality, main stage productions that were recorded and streamed.

Knowing that initiatives such as the BE&E Fund believes in your vision helps wounds become assets and lessens the ability for scars to become triggers.

I want Central New York to look like a place that exemplifies an overwhelming love of humans; that we honor one another’s suffering even if we don’t understand it.

"Philanthropy can address many of the issues and problems hindering our march toward forming a more perfect union."

"Philanthropy is not just about giving out handouts (although that most certainly has its place); but is also about teaching the fish how to swim in, so to speak, to effect generational upward socioeconomic mobility."