News
April 7th, 2026
Press Release: Rooted in Community: Foundation Launches 2026 Grant Cycle with Expanded Support
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2026
Contact: George Ferrari
607-272-9333
gferrari@cftompkins.org
Rooted in Community: Community Foundation Launches 2026 Grant Cycle with Expanded Support
2026 Grant Cycle Now Open
ITHACA, NY – April 8, 2026 — Community Foundation of Tompkins County has launched its 2026 grant cycle, introducing intentional changes to better meet the growing needs of local organizations and the communities they serve.
As the largest public funder in Tompkins County, Community Foundation continues to evolve its approach to grantmaking—grounded in equity, access, and a participatory, community-driven decision-making model that centers the voices and lived experiences of the community.
This year, Community Foundation increased the maximum grant request from $12,000 to $15,000 in response to rising costs and growing demand across the nonprofit sector. In 2025, they awarded more than $650,000 to 90 organizations in its grant cycle, the largest distribution in its history—and anticipates even greater need in the year ahead.
Community Foundation also recently completed its library grant cycle, awarding $195,000 to 28 libraries across the Finger Lakes region through the Bernard and Shirley Rose Library Fund—a donor-advised fund that has granted more than $2 million in support of libraries over time.
“Championing this process is something I really care about. It’s an honor to stand alongside the people and organizations who show up for our community every single day. We believe the community holds the solutions—we’re here to help resource and uplift them,” said Gloria Coicou, VP for Engagement, Equity, & Grants.
Beyond funding, Community Foundation continues to offer a suite of resources to support applicants, including in-person office hours and virtual office hours, among many other tools, ensuring accessible, flexible support throughout the process.
Steph Bailey, VP for Development, added: “Something powerful happens when our grant cycle opens, and we gather to hear from our local nonprofits. Stories of impact and resilience remind our supporters why they choose to invest in the Community Foundation because they see, through these organizations, what is possible when a community truly shows up for one another. That connection is what makes this work so meaningful.”
The 2026 grant cycle reflects Community Foundation’s continued commitment to reducing barriers, increasing transparency, and standing as a trusted community partner.
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About Community Foundation of Tompkins County
Community Foundation of Tompkins County is an independent, public entity that stewards philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits. Since inception in 2000 the Community Foundation has granted more than $37M, reinforcing our goal of bringing people and resources together to build a more equitable Tompkins County by inspiring diverse philanthropy, catalyzing collaborations and championing inclusion and justice. As community foundations find solutions for communities large and small, urban, and rural – it is the collective work of these organizations that will have the most profound impact. Learn more at www.cftompkins.org.