We all want Central New York to be a region where everyone is ensured a chance to meet their fullest potential. This means striving for a community in which neither race nor ethnicity determines opportunity and life outcomes, where all groups have the ability to participate and prosper.

Yet, we know that anti-Black racism is woven into the structures of our schools and workplaces, economic situations, and health and living conditions. The outcomes of systemic racism are not accidental. Decades of public and private policies pertaining to residential development, financial lending and transportation planning have led to 47% of Black children living in poverty versus 11% of White children in Onondaga County.

Nationally, Black people experience poorer health outcomes than White people in 24 out of 29 measures. Contributing to this is the fact that Black people are more likely to live in neighborhoods with less access to healthy food, lower air and water quality, higher levels of housing code violations and less opportunity for physical exercise.

There is tremendous value in involving those most affected by an issue to be a part of its solution. By supporting organizations whose boards and staff leadership are primarily Black, we reverse patterns of historic underinvestment and build the momentum necessary to create lasting social change for the community.

Our Black Equity & Excellence Fund was designed to be a part of this change by funding Black-led community-based projects that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and address physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. The Fund also encourages dialogue that will strengthen race-related matters and support social and educational growth in the community.

 

Tax-deductible gifts may be made to the Black Equity & Excellence Fund in various ways. You may contribute online with a credit card or checks, made out to Central New York Community Foundation with “Black Equity & Excellence Fund” written in the memo line, may be sent to: Central New York Community Foundation, 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13202.

Learn more about other giving opportunities available.

Donate Now

The Black Equity & Excellence Fund supports community-based projects for the Black community of Central New York that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and improve the physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. It also encourages dialogue that will strengthen race-related matters and support social and educational growth in the community.

To learn more, register for our Black Equity & Excellence Fund Info Session.

2024 Deadline: July 12, 2024

Learn More

The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is tasked with reviewing grant proposals and identifying gaps and opportunities to create a more equitable and economically inclusive Central New York for the Black community.

View Council Members

If your nonprofit has received a grant from us, we request that you submit a report on the outcome of your project. This report assists us in assessing our grantmaking efforts. Your specific report due date is outlined in your grant award letter and we encourage you to refer to that for detailed information about reporting requirements. You may access the report form here.

Submit A Report

View a list of grants awarded so far from the Black Equity & Excellence Fund.

Learn More

We encourage you to share the news of this grant to raise awareness of the valuable work you are doing in the community. We have prepared some communication guidelines to assist you with these promotions.

Learn More

Black Equity & Excellence Stories

Men gardening
Blogs March 5, 2024

A safe space for Deaf New Americans to develop education, leadership, and life skills without limitation

Monu Chhetri, founder & CEO of Deaf New American Advocacy, Inc. explains how her participation ...

News Releases February 20, 2024

Community Foundation Announces Three New Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council Members

The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is charged with reviewing grant proposals and making ...

Artwork
Blogs December 27, 2023

Everson Museum Highlights Local Indigenous Artist

In July, the Everson hosted Frank Buffalo Hyde’s first solo exhibit in New York State, ...

Two people sit at a table with laptops talking.
News Releases December 4, 2023

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

State-of-the-art resources and one-on-one coaching are being offered to 17 organizations that are primarily serving ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Men gardening
Blogs March 5, 2024

A safe space for Deaf New Americans to develop education, leadership, and life skills without limitation

Monu Chhetri, founder & CEO of Deaf New American Advocacy, Inc. explains how her participation ...

News Releases February 20, 2024

Community Foundation Announces Three New Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council Members

The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is charged with reviewing grant proposals and making ...

Artwork
Blogs December 27, 2023

Everson Museum Highlights Local Indigenous Artist

In July, the Everson hosted Frank Buffalo Hyde’s first solo exhibit in New York State, ...

Two people sit at a table with laptops talking.
News Releases December 4, 2023

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

State-of-the-art resources and one-on-one coaching are being offered to 17 organizations that are primarily serving ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

News & Stories