Bringing people together and inspiring philanthropy.
Our Story
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.
Our Mission
To inspire and celebrate giving, steward resources honorably, and foster vibrant North Country Communities.
Our Values
Inspire Philanthropy — We inspire a spirit of giving across generations, celebrate generosity in many forms, and nurture meaningful legacies.
Develop Relationships — We connect donor interests to the community, build and sustain partnerships, and listen for emerging needs.
Act Respectfully — We honor our heritage; appreciate the diversity of our region; and celebrate the stories, values, and generosity of people of the North Country.
Honor Stewardship — We steward resources responsibly and act with the greatest regard for donor wishes now and for the future.
1,100+
Charitable Funds
$5.3m
Grants and Scholarships
Awarded in 2025
556
Grant Recipients in 2025
742
Scholarship Recipients in 2025
The annual concert in Watertown’s historic Thompson Park is one of many quality of life projects Community Foundation donors make possible.
Recent News
Recent Facebook Posts
We are proud to introduce the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation Class of 2027! This year’s class welcomes 12 new and eight returning student delegates and includes sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Carthage, General Brown, Immaculate Heart Central, South Jefferson, and Watertown High School.
During the last meeting of the school year in June, students elected members to the Council’s 2026-27 Executive Committee. Watertown High School senior Trey Urf will serve as the Council Chair; South Jefferson High School senior Annabelle Renzi will serve as Vice Chair; and General Brown High School senior Isabel Mendez was elected to serve as Council Secretary.
The Council also named committee chairs. Caitlin Daugherty will chair the Grants Committee; Frances Weir will chair the Communications Committee; and Julia Tontarski will chair the Service Committee.
The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program are made possible by gifts from donors who make contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, the Mart Liinve Fund, and the Timerman Family Fund.
Pictured, Back row, from left: James Glynn-Shelmidine, Immaculate Heart Central, junior; Mya Brown, Watertown High, junior; Lucy Johnson, Watertown High, junior; Annabelle Renzi, South Jefferson Central, senior; and Aariz Khan, Watertown High, senior. Third row, from left: Isabel Mendez, General Brown Central, senior; Aiden O’Shaughnessy, Watertown High, junior; Valerie Akins, Carthage Central, senior; Christian Attisha, Watertown High, sophomore; and Gaige Doroha, Watertown High, senior. Second row, from left: Jolene He, General Brown Central, sophomore; Devyn Pleskach, South Jefferson, junior; Trey Urf, Watertown High, senior; Alexandra Knapp, Watertown High, junior; Carter Pistner, Watertown High, senior; and Caitlin Daugherty, Watertown High, senior. Front row, from left: Rohan Bolla, South Jefferson Central, sophomore; Annia Carbajal, Watertown High, sophomore; Frances Weir, Watertown High, senior; and Julia Tontarski, Immaculate Heart Central, senior. (Kara Dry Photography)
Complete details: www.nnycf.org/2026-27-ypc-class
#NNYCF #YPC #ClassOf2027 #Leadership #Service
We are proud to partner with The Orchestra of Northern New York to present the season opener “America Lit 101” this Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall, Suny Potsdam and Sunday, Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Watertown.
Conductor and ONNY music director Michael Colburn will lead the orchestra in a concert inspired by the written word and the power of ideas. Experience works drawn from Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and William Faulkner’s “The Reivers,” and more!
Don’t miss this chance to see a wonderful live music event. The Community Foundation, with the support of loyal donors like you, is a major underwriter of the entire ONNY season. We hope to see you there!
#FallConcert #LiveMusic #ONNY #NNYCF
We are honored to announce the fifth round of grant awards from the Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.
Grant funding will help support professional development for nine North Country women.
Maxine Quigg was a successful real estate broker and a community and business leader in Jefferson County who passed away unexpectedly in April 2021. At the time of her passing she was serving on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The fund was established at the Community Foundation in July 2021 with a goal to increase local mentorship, volunteerism, civic and community engagement, and investment. Its mission is to perpetuate Maxine’s life and legacy by supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to succeed in their pursuits and realize their full potential.
Since it began awarding grant funding in 2022, twenty-five tri-county women have received support totaling nearly $25,000 from the fund.
Complete details, including grant awardees:
www.nnycf.org/quigg-wib-2026/
#NNYCF #QuiggWIB #WomenInBusiness #ThoughtfulLegacies
We are pleased to announce a $10,000 grant to the The Hawn Memorial Library in Clayton to help purchase seven new desktop computers and computer furniture.
The project will enable the library to enhance digital inclusivity. When complete, library officials plan to partner with Thousand Islands Central School District High School to offer job resources and online learning platforms at its new computer lab.
Grant funding was made possible with support from the CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation and the Library Impact Grant Program of the Northern New York Community Foundation.
Pictured, from left, Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil and Hawn Memorial Library Director Laura Orvis.
The Library Impact Grant Program of the Community Foundation is accepting applications for fourth-quarter funding through Friday, October 23. Visit bit.ly/grant-portal to begin an application or learn more.
The advancement of public libraries is a vital component of improving the quality of life in communities across our region as libraries evolve to serve residents in ways that extend beyond the traditional lending of books and media.
#NNYCF #hawnmemoriallibray #libraries #partners
