This September, I had the privilege of hosting two community-wide listening sessions. Those conversations were candid, energizing, and full of insight. What I heard most clearly were two cross-cutting themes: access and information. Residents and organizations alike told us they often don’t know what resources exist, how to qualify, or how to find them — and that nonprofit organizations need more support to build capacity, strengthen infrastructure, and connect with one another.
Your voices reminded me of a simple truth: In moments of great change, our responsibility is to walk together — to look behind, beside, and ahead to make sure no one is left out. Your voice matters. What you shared is shaping how we move forward as a community foundation. That is the commitment guiding us as we lean even further into the work you’ve asked of us.
We heard you. Here are three examples of how we’re responding:
Priority Focus Areas in Community Grants
Beginning in 2026, each Community Grant round will feature priority focus areas. This refinement will help nonprofits plan more effectively, reduce competition across very different fields, and give applicants a clearer sense of where their proposals fit.
Strategic Partnership Fund Expansion
We recently increased the dollars available in our Strategic Partnership Fund, which helps nonprofits explore shared services or formal partnerships such as mergers. As economic uncertainty grows, we will lean more heavily on this fund to strengthen organizational resilience and sustainability.
Expanding into Cortland County
Thanks to a generous $12 million estate gift from Nick and Agnes Renzi, our Community Grants program will now expand into Cortland County. This transformational investment will generate $600,000 annually to support local nonprofits — bringing new resources and new opportunities for collaboration to the community the Renzis loved.
These are just a few examples of how we are acting on what we heard, while continuing the long-term work of convening, capacity-building, and storytelling. Our team is also building a nonprofit resource library, expanding training opportunities, and deepening partnerships with donors who want their giving to meet the moment.
Thank you for showing up, sharing your hopes and challenges, and holding us accountable to be a partner in progress. Your voice matters — and it continues to shape our collective future. Together, we are ensuring that Central New York remains a place where every resident, organization, and neighborhood has the opportunity to thrive.
