Grant History
The Community Foundation is dedicated to engaging in strategic partnerships with donors, service providers and committed residents of Tompkins County to identify assets, challenges, and ways to improve the quality of life for all in our beloved community.
Awarding Grants
After 11 years and more than $3.5 million in nearly 1,200 awards, the Community Foundation is a leading grant maker in Tompkins County. Grants made from the Foundation’s endowment and other charitable resources donated by so many generous people address emerging concerns and critical, unresolved problems as identified by the community.
Our partners in philanthropy include public charities, private foundations, and commercial gift funds. The Community Foundation serves as a repository for permanent gifts, no matter how great or small, from all who have lived or worked in — and care about — Tompkins County.
Our Grant-Making Philosophy
Our active participation in the Tompkins County Funders Group and the Grantmakers Forum of NY, and our voluntary compliance with the National Standards of the Council of Foundations uniquely position us to be of service to grant seekers and to donors alike. We continually seek to expand our role as a locally based, well-informed, professionally accredited supporter of the community by adding our knowledge to donor values and intent for grant making with maximum beneficial impact.
The Community Foundation practices “sustainable philanthropy”. We initiate and support a broad range of community efforts by
- encouraging the growth of a permanent charitable endowment,
- providing donors with ways to make giving easy and effective,
- serving as a convener and catalyst to explore issues and solutions, and
- making strategic grants as community investments.
Grants Review
Current Year
January 1 – September 30, 2011 (updated quarterly)
| Community Foundation Grants | % Of $ | $ Area Amount | # Of Grants | % Of # Of Grants | |||
| Arts & Culture | 51% | $181,697 | 32 | 36% | |||
| Environment/Sustainability | 3% | $9,000 | 3 | 3% | |||
| Education | 9% | $33,450 | 13 | 15% | |||
| Health & Human Services | 20% | $70,217 | 25 | 28% | |||
| Community Building | 17% | $58,996 | 16 | 18% | |||
| Total (All Areas) | $353,360 | 89 | |||||
2010 – Most Recently Completed Fiscal Year
| Community Foundation Grants | % Of $ | $ Area Amount | # Of Grants | % Of # Of Grants | ||
| Arts & Culture | 18% | $72,099 | 27 | 14% | ||
| Environment/Sustainability | 14% | $57,778 | 13 | 7% | ||
| Education | 28% | $113,832 | 33 | 17% | ||
| Health & Human Services | 24% | $100,155 | 65 | 34% | ||
| Community Building | 16% | $65,374 | 52 | 27% | ||
| Total (All Areas) | $409,238 | 190 |
2000-2010
From Inception through Most Recently Completed Fiscal Year
| Community Foundation Grants | % Of $ | $ Area Amount | # Of Grants | % Of # Of Grants | ||
| Arts & Culture | 16% | $504,139 | 176 | 16% | ||
| Environment/Sustainability | 5% | $148,467 | 76 | 7% | ||
| Education | 20% | $665,232 | 203 | 19% | ||
| Health & Human Services | 46% | $1,455,283 | 419 | 38% | ||
| Community Building | 13% | $409,346 | 221 | 20% | ||
| Total (All Areas) | $3,182,467 | 1,095 |
