Our Funds

Community Foundation Operations Fund

You can support all of the work we do this year in addition to our grants. We need your gifts today to support our impact in 2025

Community Foundation Operational Endowment

A forever fund! You can support all of the work we do in addition to our grants. Our programs and services add value beyond grantmaking and include philanthropy education, donor services, community knowledge sharing and leadership now and forever.

Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Endowment Fund

A way to build assets for now and into the future for the most flexible and responsive grants. Former board chair, Susan H. Murphy, states, “This endowment gives us greater flexibility and more resources to meet emerging local challenges today and well into the future!”

Tompkins Today and Tomorrow Fund

Your gift to this fund immediately supports grants made through our annual grant cycle
as well as for the Out of Cycle processes.

Community Memorial Fund

Offers you an opportunity to make a difference in our local communities. Your gift to this fund celebrates and memorializes the life of your loved one, client, colleague, or friend; and continues to benefit the communities where they have lived and worked or both.

Arts & Culture Fund

Your gift to this fund supports grants to benefit local arts and culture programs. One past recipient includes Civic Ensemble for a community-based play to explore social, political and cultural issues of our time.

Birth To 3 Endowment Fund

The first three years of a child's life are a critical period of development. Early interactions and supports serve as the foundation for later skills and achievements. The Birth to 3 Fund supports the social, physical, and emotional capabilities of infants and toddlers, which will generate returns that will accrue over a lifetime.

Cathy Zumoff Basic Needs Fund

To provide food, shelter, counseling, or other basic needs such as animal protection.

Children & Youth Fund

No gift is ever wasted on a child. Help promote the healthy development of children and youth in ways that complement existing services in Tompkins County.

Dilmeran Akgoze Mental Health Fund

This Field of Interest Fund will support Mental Health Services with a special attention to suicide prevention. This fund is established in the name of Dilmeran Akgoze.

Environmental Education Fund

Environmental education in the Cayuga Lake watershed region.

Jane Efroymson Fund to Defeat Hunger

Supports initiatives that can meet long-term hunger needs and provide solutions to mitigate their causes. Over 10% of our citizens are considered food insecure and do not have regular access to enough food for a healthy life; more than quarter of them are children. In a country of so much abundance, we believe these numbers can, and must, be reduced.

Joel Zumoff Education in the Arts Fund

Arts organizations providing an educational component. Not including museums and libraries.

Lansing Community Fund

This fund will support Lansing Projects & Activities.

Nosanchuk Family Fund

This fund will provide annual grants to enhance the welfare and intellectual development of children thru the age of 24 in nutrition and food security, health and transition into adulthood.

Our Rural Neighbors Fund

The fund focuses on serving rural communities in Tompkins County, supporting improved access to services and enhanced activities that better the quality of life for rural residents. The fund will, hopefully, inspire further philanthropy, catalyzing collaborations and supporting inclusion and justice.

Resilience and Possibilities Endowment Fund

Helping people, especially men, young and old, in various difficult situations. Basic needs: health, food security, housing and opportunities. Child development to adult stages. Advocacy for vulnerable and at-risk populations. Fostering and promoting resilience and identification of possibilities.

Savin-Williams-Cohen Youth and/or Mental Health Fund

To support the youth and/or mental health.

Social Justice Fund

Dedicated to understanding and interrupting the traditional patterns of exclusion which prevent equal opportunity for all.

Susan Christopherson Community Planning Fund

Established by Susan Christopherson through her will. Susan envisioned communities in Central New York engaging their residents effectively and meaningfully in decision making around planning issues that affect their day-to-day lives. This Fund will assist residents who want to improve their communities through planning and design.

Sustainability Fund

For programs like but not limited to: zero waste, grassroots creativity, agents of change, new ways of solving problems, teaching sustainability skills, agriculture, youth in nature educational programs.

Women’s Fund

Consider supporting the empowerment, education, creativity and transformation of women and to provide a venue for honoring women as philanthropists and leaders.

21 Goodwill Street Fund

The 21 Goodwill Street Fund is a family fund established to engage several generations of the Shafer family in supporting a variety of community needs.

Bailey Place Insurance Fund

Bernard Carl and Shirley Rosen Library Fund

Established with a generous gift from the estate of Bernard Rosen. Bernie's gift is transforming, and promoting genuine intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of reading and learning by providing greater and easier access by youth to libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System.

Birth to 3 Fund

The first three years of a child's life are a critical period of development. Early interactions and supports serve as the foundation for later skills and achievements. The Birth to 3 Fund grants money to programs and initiatives in our community that support the social, physical, and emotional development of infants and toddlers up to the age of three. The fund provides seed money to help get new programs started, support ongoing programs, and expand current programs. In addition, the fund seeks to support programs that demonstrate a widespread impact on families, from a range of backgrounds, who are raising children in the birth to three age range.

Blecher Schaffzin Family Fund

Bunny’s Medical Education and Health Care Fund

Created in memory of Bunny-O’Brien/Schassburger, a consummate nurse practitioner to enhance the continuing professional education and training of medical personnel, as well as facilitate communication and understanding between medical professionals, aspiring health care providers, patients and their families/care givers and to help provide enhanced quality of life for those undergoing therapy and end of life care.

Carolyn J. McPherson Fund

To promote educational, economic and social equality for women and girls and to motivate and encourage women and girls to achieve their goals in life!

Carman and Sandra Brink Hill Fund

The Catalyst Fund

This fund supports charitable organizations with a focus on, but not limited to, children, education and environment. Helping youth reach their potential through education, health, and other means.

Community Gratitude Fund

The philanthropic purpose of this fund is (1) Environmental Stewardship (2) Meaningful collaborations among organizations (3) Initiatives to bring people of different perspectives together to work toward shared goals.

Culler Fund for Tompkins County

To support projects that seem likely to enhance the welfare of the residents of Tompkins County.

David E. Dier Fund

A fund to support Not for Profit organizations of Tompkins County

David J. Kuckuk and Sheila Danko Fund

Earle Family Fund

Supports local and national charities that promote cultural, educational, health, social justice and related work.

Erin Aljoe Schlather Dedicated Memorial Fund

Supports initiatives that develop leadership, responsibility and confidence in young people, especially young women; Erin believed that it was her responsibility to make the world a better place. She inspired others to believe in themselves and in their ability to make a difference. To Erin, it never was whether the cup was half full or half empty, rather it was that the cup was not big enough.

Flamingo Fund

The purpose of this fund is helping people.

Florino Family Fund

Grants will be recommended from this fund to work - supporting organizations in Tompkins County that focus on: 1. teaching the skills of life transformation 2. reaching out to disconnected and at-risk youth 3. confronting the primary barriers to work (criminal history, disabilities, family instability, homelessness, and substance abuse)

Friendship Donations Network Fund

Rescuing Food, Reducing Hunger
Friendship Donations Network, almost entirely volunteer-run, rescues fresh, nutritious food that would otherwise be thrown away from stores and farms and redistributes it to neighbors in need.

Harpoon Fund

Hartnett Fund

One of the first funds created by a private individual, the late Howard Hartnett, an incorporating board member of the Community Foundation of Tompkins County; supports a broad range of community needs.

Hess Legacy Fund

Jack Engel Young Fund

Jewels Fund

To improve the lives of people in local, state, national and international communities.

Joan E. and James E. Lawrence Environmental Fund

Established to honor the lives of James and Joan Lawrence dedicated conservationists and environmentalists. Grants from the Fund will support their love of the natural world through local and regional conservation projects.

John A. and Barbara J. Krout Fund

This fund supports organizations and activities that protect the natural environment and sustain it's responsible use, protect and improve the lives of domestic and wild animals and sustain enhance the well-being of the older adults.

Joyful Noise Fund

The purpose of this fund is general philanthropy.

Just Be Cause Philanthropy Fund

Supports local not-for-profit organizations.

Just Community Fund

This fund will be used to support initiatives that work to achieve greater equity within our community and world. These would include, but not be limited to, initiatives addressing: social justice, food security, youth empowerment and education, environmental stewardship, and fostering connections across differences.

Kammen Family Fund

Kathy Yoselson Fierce Determination Fund

Klug & Shera Kanine Empathy Fund

To support Animal Welfare.

Lane Family Fund

Laurie Conrad Music and Arts Fund

A memorialized fund for Laurie Conrad. In support of her interests in classical music, ballet instruction and performance, and documentary film making for social justice causes.

League of Women Voters of Tompkins County Education Fund

Supports the educational activities of the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County, a nonpartisan organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government.

Lynnette Molesky Scofield Fund

Mansoor Family Fund

In gratitude for friends, colleagues and Cornell classmates, the Mansoor Family Fund supports charitable initiatives in the Ithaca and Tompkins County.

Many Hands: Peter D. Wadach Memorial Fund

Established to provide opportunities for individuals and to serve humanity in the diverse and generous ways that Pete Wadach did throughout his life.

Maralyn W. Fleming Fund

Mathios Family Fund

McCollister Frank Family Fund

To support arts, education and historic preservation.

McPheron Family Fund

This fund may provide resources towards general charitable purposes.

Myrtle Dee Nash Memorial Fund

Noah, Zach and Hannah Feldshuh Fund

To celebrate and support our communities.

North American Rock Garden Society-Adirondacks Chapter Fund

Supports projects to the promote rock gardening.

Paul Velleman and Susan Michlovitz Fund

To honor the philanthropic goals of the donors parents.

RAP [Regenerative Activities and Projects] Fund

Supporting projects in energy conservation, renewable energy, community resilience, wildlife habitat restoration and community enrichment.

Ridenour Dietz Family Fund

Ridenour-Shady Family Fund

Robin & Robert Masson Fund

General Philanthropy

Rotary Club of Ithaca Fund

In alignment with Rotary's motto of service above self, to support a broad range of needs across Tompkins County and beyond.

Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Travel Fund

This fund will support program expenses associated with RYE programs sponsored by Rotary Club of Ithaca.

Rothman & Alford Fund

Sandy and Jay True Fund

Shelley Semmler Fund

Small and Inspiring Fund

To support broad charitable with a preference for, but not limited to, collaborative and/or innovative initiatives, programs, and projects that are community-supported, sustainable, and self-supporting (e.g. includes but is not limited to medical and basic research, scholarship, and basic needs (housing, child care, quality health care, mentor-apprentice employment opportunities, and arts and cultural enrichment)).

The Sophie Fund

In support of enhanced mental health initiatives aiding young people in the Ithaca area.

Stephen & Linda Pope Fund

Strebel Fund for Community Enrichment

Created in memory of and in the spirit of Lee Strebel's love of performing arts.

Sue & Steve Ruoff Fund

The philanthropic purpose of this fund is general philanthropic giving.

Taylor Peck Fund

The Expansion of Happiness Fund

Distributions from this fund are intended to be to organizations that help individuals realize well-being and happiness by alleviating burdens and barriers of financial, educational, social and racial inequities.

Thomas R. Bruce & Judith S. Pratt Fund

Tom & Caitlin Schryver Fund

Tom & Caitlin Schryver established their Fund to support organizations which maximize human potential.

Upstate Community TiesFund

This fund honors Willie Marshall's rare blend of compassion and practical problem-solving. It supports underserved communities - especially individuals and families affected by incarceration - through grants that address immediate needs and open pathways to stability. Rooted in Willie's example, the UCT Fund backs humane, imaginative solutions that respond to the lived realities of those too often left out of traditional support systems.

Vector Magnetics Fund

White Family Fund

William and Judith Maxwell Internship Fund

To support the William L. Maxwell Internship Program of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC). Grants from this fund are in honor of Judith Maxwell, Harpal Singh and William and Judith Maxwell. The Maxwell Internships will benefit the youth of greater Ithaca, ages 16 - 22, so that civic and commercial enterprises can act as as mentors and sponsors of youth who seek to gain a better understanding of their personal and professional opportunities.

Yarussi Family Fund

A Network for Grateful Living Fund

A Network for Grateful Living (ANG*L)
provides education and support for the practice of grateful living as a global ethic, inspired by the teachings of Br. David Steindl-Rast and colleagues. Gratefulness fosters personal transformation, cross-cultural understanding, interfaith dialogue, intergenerational respect, nonviolent conflict resolution, and ecological sustainability.

Alex Haley Pool Fund

This fund will make grants to Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) for pool admission scholarships and incidental pool improvements.

Caroline Ulrey & Gerry Cox Tompkins County Public Library Fund

The philanthropic purpose of this fund to provide annual operating support.

Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) “Talk Works” Fund

Community, Hope and Joy Fund

This fund will benefit Catholic Charities of Tompkins Tioga for housing programs in Tompkins County.

Community Science Institute's Tapan Mitra Environmental Education Fund

This fund will support the Community Science Institute in its work to collect scientifically credible data through long-term stream and lake monitoring partnerships with local groups of volunteers; facilitate public conversations about the use of these long-term datasets in the sustainable management of local and regional water bodies and other shared natural resources. Provide youth and their families with experiential, hands-on, water-focused science education opportunities with the goal of fostering the next generation of scientists, activists, and environmental stewards.

Dr. Marguerite Uphoff Endowment Fund

A fund established in honor of Dr. Uphoff and her many years of service to our local community; helping to fuel the annual grant making of the Children & Youth Fund, a field of interest fund of Community Foundation.

Eric Lawrence Ehrenberg Memorial Fund

To support the grant making of the Community Foundation's Children & Youth Fund, in memory of our beloved son, Eric Lawrence Ehrenberg (1971-2008), who grew up in Ithaca and loved this community and all that it afforded its youth.

Family Reading Partnership Fund

Established in 2017, this fund supports Family Reading Partnership initiatives.

Finger Lakes Land Trust Stewardship Fund

Supports the stewardship of land and conservation easements held by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

First Baptist Endowments Fund

This fund will support the programs of First Baptist Church.

Foodnet Meals on Wheels Forever Fund

This fund will support Foodnet Meals on Wheels.

Gene and Mary Durham Community Foundation Fund

Support of Community Foundation.

Gene and Mary Durham Women's Opportunity Center Fund

Support of Women's Opportunity Center.

GIAC Fund

This fund provides annual support towards the food programming and technology-related needs of Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC).

Groton Educational Fund

Supports the educational and operational needs for programs provided to the children and students of the Groton Central School District.

Harris Family American Cancer Society Endowment Fund

This fund was established in memory of William Harris.

Harris Family Cerebral Palsy Foundation Endowment Fund

This fund was established in memory of Ivan V. Harris.

Harris Family Immaculate Conception Church Endowment Fund

This fund was established in memory of Teresa V. Harris.

The History Center Fund

An endowment to support the programs of the History Center in Tompkins County.

Hospicare Fund

Hospicare believes that everyone matters all the way through their life until the moment they die, and that no one should die in avoidable pain, suffering or emotional distress. Hospicare Fund donors help make sure that everyone with a life-limiting or terminal condition, and their family and friends, gets the very best care. Hospicare is critical to achieving this in the communities we serve.

Ithaca Ballet’s Alice Reid Endowment Fund

This fund will support the Ithaca Ballet.

Ithaca Children's Garden Endowment Fund

This fund will support the general operations of the Ithaca Children's Garden.

Ithaca Community Chorus Fund

Established by the family of Bill Thayer, who sang tenor in the chorus both before and after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The Thayer family was particularly touched by the many kindnesses that chorus members extended to Bill as his illness advanced, and wanted to do something that would strengthen the chorus in years ahead.

Ithaca Health Alliance Fund

To support Ithaca Health Alliance's general structure and programs.

Jack Reed Leadership Fund

To support an annual leadership award presented to graduating Trumansburg Central School student-athlete(s)

Joel and Cathy Zumoff Discovery Trail Fund

This fund will provide permanent funds to educate children through discovery along the Discovery Trail.

John Dix and Barbara Wayman Memorial Fund

Johnson Sisters Fund

To support the discretionary grant making of the Community Foundation.

Just Be Cause Agency Fund

An endowment to ensure the long-term stability of the Just Be Cause Center.

Kirsch and Tsuji Community Endowment Fund

This fund will assist the Community Foundation to improve the quality of life in Tompkins County.

Lansing Community Library Endowment Fund

Supports Lansing Community Library endowment.

Lenore Coral Fund

A bequest by Lenore Coral, a retired Cornell music librarian. Lenore established this fund through her will to support the International Repertory of Music Literature, an organization that archives literature and publications on music throughout the world.

Loaves & Fishes Fund

To support the mission of Loaves & Fishes of Tompkins County.

Museum of the Earth at PRI Fund

To support the educational programs and projects of Museum of the Earth.

Newfield Central School Fund

Rebecca Ryan R2P Youth Development Endowment Fund

This fund will support Running to Places Theatre Company for youth development through theater. Funding will help ensure this remarkable youth theater continues to create magic by making it possible for young people to shine their lights brightly, both individually and collectively.

Robin Lee Whittlesey Fund

This fund will make distributions to; (a) relieve poverty, (b) diminish hardships, (c) provide emergency relief and scholarship assistance and (d) generally improve the happiness, educational level and community spirit of the citizenry of Ithaca, New York and such other areas as may from time to time be selected by the Board of Directors.

Southside Community Center Fund

This fund provides annual support towards the food programming and technology-related needs of Southside Community Center.

The William L. Maxwell Internship Fund

To create and maintain the William L. Maxwell Internship Program at the GIAC.

Tom and Maria Eisner Finger Lakes Land Trust Endowment Fund

To provide annual operating funding in support of FLLT's mission.

Tom and Maria Eisner Ithaca Health Alliance Endowment Fund

To provide annual operating funding in support of Ithaca Health Alliance's mission.

Tom and Maria Eisner Loaves and Fishes Endowment Fund

To provide annual operating funding in support of Loaves and Fishes' mission.

Tom and Maria Eisner Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Endowment Fund

To provide annual operating funding in support of Planned Parenthood's mission.

United Way of Tompkins County Fund

An endowment for Long Term Investment Functioning as Endowment

Women's and Children's Projects Endowment Fund

This fund will provide a sustainable source of funding for projects in these two targeted areas; allowing flexibility in any given year to whichever area of need seems the most pressing.