Stories
A new initiative at OptionZero is helping people build strength in more ways than one. With support from our Black Equity and Excellence Fund, the B-Squared program is creating accessible fitness spaces where individuals of all ages and abilities can grow physically, mentally and emotionally.
New York’s estate tax “cliff” creates a narrow but critical planning window: In 2026, estates near the state’s $7.35 million exclusion amount can face disproportionate tax consequences, making careful drafting and tools like charitable bequests and “Santa Clause” provisions essential to preserve more for heirs...
Marjorie Dey Carter spent her life opening doors for others. As Syracuse City School District’s first Black teacher, she taught generations of children to see their own promise. In her passing, she continued that legacy, directing her estate to the Community Foundation to strengthen the...
Karin DeLaney, Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Attorney - Member at Bousquet Holstein, PLLC, has spent more than 30 years helping people shape their legacies with intention. In our latest feature, she shares why she trusts the Community Foundation to bring those visions to...
Three clients, one common theme: In 2025, giving early, donating appreciated stock and using Qualified Charitable Distributions can help people save on taxes and support the charities they care about through the creation of a donor-advised or designated fund.
Giving Voice Fall 2025: Grantee Story
Giving Voice Fall 2025: Cover Story
Leaders from five local groups completed The Leadership Classroom (TLC), a monthly training series that builds skills and connections; each received a grant to bring to life a community project—from newborn support and Karen cultural preservation to girls’ leadership trips, digital literacy, and grief-wellness pop-ups.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes timing everything for charitable planning: 2025 offers a window to bunch gifts and maximize deductions before 2026 limits change the math. Here’s what advisors need to watch—higher standard deductions, a coming non-itemizer write-off, and how the Community Foundation...