New Charitable Fund Will Support Various Community Projects and Initiatives Through Quarterly Grantmaking
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new charitable partnership with CAR-FRESHNER Corporation.
The Watertown-based manufacturer behind the Little Trees air fresheners recently established the CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation. The fund will help strengthen CAR-FRESHNER’s impact and support of the Northern New York community that has been its corporate home for nearly 75 years.
The CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund is designed to support community programs, projects and initiatives with specific focus areas, which will vary from time to time. The Community Foundation will steward the fund and manage grantmaking on behalf of the company.
“We are honored and excited to partner with CAR-FRESHNER in this new endeavor to expand upon its long-standing history of supporting the local community and providing help for efforts that benefit the residents who live and work in Northern New York,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “It is humbling to be asked to join together with such a well known and respected local business in a way that will make a real difference in the region where they are headquartered, now and in the years to come.”
Beginning in January, grant applications will be reviewed and awarded quarterly throughout the calendar year. Eligible nonprofit organizations may submit one application per year, with grant awards ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $20,000 per application.
In 2025, applications must focus on educational initiatives, including but not limited to libraries, child care, and preschool programs, career training, vocational and technical education, and similar projects that enhance educational opportunities within Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply for consideration:
- The organization must provide services that are available to the general public.
- Grants are intended for specific projects or initiatives, not ongoing operational costs.
- Funding is not available for fundraising events or event sponsorships.
Qualified organizations seeking support from the CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund must apply through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal.
The deadline for first-quarter 2025 grant applications is Friday, January 24, 2025. Visit bit.ly/grant-portal to access the Community Foundation’s online grant portal.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
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.