The Central New York Community Foundation is inviting Madison County residents to help decide how $75,000 will be invested in their communities through the final voting phase of its participatory budgeting initiative, part of the Community Foundation’s centennial celebration.
During two community sessions held in early June at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Morrisville, residents and volunteers worked together to identify the county’s most pressing needs and begin shaping solutions. Through a series of collaborative exercises, participants discussed challenges facing the community and identified increasing housing stability for families as the focus area for funding.
Local nonprofit organizations that serve Madison County residents were then invited to submit letters of interest outlining project ideas that respond directly to the priority. Community Foundation staff worked alongside participating nonprofits to refine proposals and ensure they reflect the input and intent of the participants.
“This process is about more than funding a project — it’s about building trust and making sure community voices guide community investment,” said Qiana Williams, senior program officer at the Community Foundation. “Residents shared what matters most to them, nonprofits stepped forward with ideas and now the decision belongs to the community.”
Residents are encouraged to learn more about the proposed projects during a virtual proposal presentation night on Wednesday, June 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. During this session, participating nonprofits will present their proposals and answer questions from the community ahead of voting.
The nonprofit organizations’ projects that will be presented are:
Community Action Partnership for Madison County
The Community Action Partnership for Madison County proposes creating a housing stability fund to help working households facing the risk of eviction or foreclosure. The project would provide short-term financial assistance to eligible residents whose incomes are too high to qualify for many government assistance programs but who are still struggling to meet basic housing costs. In addition to financial support, participants would receive help navigating available services and resources designed to strengthen long-term financial stability and housing security.
Madison County Rural Health Council
The Madison County Rural Health Council proposes a housing stability initiative that combines emergency financial assistance with education, resource navigation and community partnerships. The project aims to help working families remain safely housed while connecting them to services that support financial well-being and overall health. By addressing housing instability, the organization hopes to strengthen household resilience and improve quality of life for Madison County residents.
Voting will take place on Thursday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. All Madison County residents aged 14 or older are eligible to vote online by visiting cnycf.org/pbmadisoncounty, where a voting link will be available on the day of voting. Two-factor authentication will be used to help ensure that each participant votes only once. Individuals who are unable to vote online will have the opportunity to vote in person during the evening celebration.
The Community Foundation will host a live voting night celebration on June 25 from 6-7:00 p.m. at Smithfield Community Center, located at 5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro. Residents and nonprofit partners are invited to attend as votes are cast and counted, culminating in the announcement of the winning project. Doors will open at 5:00pm for those looking to only vote in person but not stay for the event. The Abolition Hall of Fame will be open for visitors during this time. Community members can register now to attend the celebration at cnycf.org/pbmadisoncounty.
As the Central New York Community Foundation approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, participatory budgeting is one way the organization is engaging residents in shaping the region’s future. The Madison County initiative is the second of five projects that will take place across the Community Foundation’s service area, collectively awarding $500,000 in funding determined by community vote. In May, Oswego County residents chose the first grant recipient to be Oswego Health to address youth mental health.
Participatory budgeting is a community engagement process in which residents help decide how funding is allocated through a structured process of community need identification, prioritization and voting. In partnership with residents, nonprofits and grassroots organizations, participants identify priorities, co-design solutions and ultimately select the project they believe will best address a community need.
Residents who need transportation assistance to attend the celebration may contact Mobility Management at 315-366-8190 or dymobility@gmail.com.
