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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Support Now Available for Nonprofit Organizations that Impact Jefferson County Economic Development

June 8, 2022 By admin

All Eligible Agencies Encouraged to Apply Online by July 22

     WATERTOWN — Nonprofit organizations within Jefferson County are encouraged to review current programs and initiatives and consider applying for grant funding from the Jefferson Economic Development Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

     The Jefferson Economic Development Fund was established to support programs, projects, and efforts that help stimulate economic development and promote general welfare in Jefferson County. The Community Foundation invites nonprofit leaders to think creatively and broadly about their current programs or new initiatives and identify a link between their work and how it positively impacts Jefferson County’s economic development.

     The deadline to submit a grant proposal for consideration to this charitable fund is Friday, July 22. Up to $10,000 in grant funding is available.

     Examples of economic development focus areas related to the nonprofit sector may include, but are not limited to: Workforce development, initiatives aimed at improving the general health and economic well-being, strengthened access to arts, culture and educational experiences, social impact, community leadership, and more. It is important for nonprofit applicants to be able to clearly demonstrate successful implementation of their project, propose creative solutions to existing community challenges and explain the positive impact on the community.

     The fund was established in 1958 as the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. A group of regional business leaders created the nonprofit entity to help encourage local and regional economic development and growth. The Community Foundation collaborated with remaining active board members for the chamber to develop a refreshed purpose for the fund to support nonprofits and the community with the Foundation stewarding the charitable fund.

     Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) classification are eligible to apply. If other organizations or agencies do not have this classification, they are required to partner with an eligible nonprofit, municipality, or local agency to serve as a fiscal sponsor. Agencies seeking a grant through this funding opportunity must confirm partnership with an eligible nonprofit or fiscal sponsor at the time a proposal is submitted.

     Completed applications must be completed in the Community Foundation’s online grant portal by Friday, July 22. Grant awards will be determined in September. Visit nnycf.org/grants for more information about how to apply online.

     Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, 315-782-7110, or max@nnycf.org, for questions on the online application or learn more about this funding opportunity.

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.

Filed Under: Recent News

Northern New York Community Foundation

131 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: 315-782-7110
Fax: 315-782-0047

info@nnycf.org

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Northern New York Community Foundation

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Working with donors to benefit the community through grants and scholarships since 1929.

Meet South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

For Breckan, “community means having people you can rely on; friends and family all within a close distance.

“Mannsville isn’t just a place to grow up. This community always strives to take care of one another. It may be a small town in size, but it has a large heart,” Breckan wrote in his winning essay.

Breckan is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Mannsville Free Library to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission. 

“In a small village like Mannsville, there aren’t many places for socialization with your friends. When I was younger, my sister and my friends and I would meet at the library, which was always welcoming and featured our book recommendations,” he wrote. “I hope this grant award will provide Mannsville Library the opportuni-ty to purchase new books and host new activities for children so they can have the same memories and expe-riences as I did.”

Breckan recently met with Mannsville Free Library Director Anne Fuller and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the library continue its work. The grant is made possible by gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund, corporate support from Community Bank, N.A. and a major gift from an individual donor.

Pictured, from left: Anne Fuller, Mannsville Library director, and Youth Giving Challenge winner and South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

We are grateful to Breckan for his thoughtful effort. We are even more impressed that he is one of dozens of tri-county youths who looked inside their communities to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life. Breckan is the son of Shelbie and James Pelton, Mannsville. 

The 2025-2026 Youth Giving Challenge asked seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Breckan’s essay is one of 20 chosen from nearly 80 submissions that came from 26 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #MannsvilleFreeLibrary #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge

Meet South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

For Breckan, “community means having people you can rely on; friends and family all within a close distance.

“Mannsville isn’t just a place to grow up. This community always strives to take care of one another. It may be a small town in size, but it has a large heart,” Breckan wrote in his winning essay.

Breckan is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Mannsville Free Library to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission.

“In a small village like Mannsville, there aren’t many places for socialization with your friends. When I was younger, my sister and my friends and I would meet at the library, which was always welcoming and featured our book recommendations,” he wrote. “I hope this grant award will provide Mannsville Library the opportuni-ty to purchase new books and host new activities for children so they can have the same memories and expe-riences as I did.”

Breckan recently met with Mannsville Free Library Director Anne Fuller and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the library continue its work. The grant is made possible by gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund, corporate support from Community Bank, N.A. and a major gift from an individual donor.

Pictured, from left: Anne Fuller, Mannsville Library director, and Youth Giving Challenge winner and South Jefferson High School rising sophomore Breckan Pelton.

We are grateful to Breckan for his thoughtful effort. We are even more impressed that he is one of dozens of tri-county youths who looked inside their communities to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life. Breckan is the son of Shelbie and James Pelton, Mannsville.

The 2025-2026 Youth Giving Challenge asked seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Breckan’s essay is one of 20 chosen from nearly 80 submissions that came from 26 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #MannsvilleFreeLibrary #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge
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7 hours ago
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So thoughtful

Congratulations, Breckan! We love the Mannsville Library, too.

I love this! Breckan is a kind, caring, intelligent young man and we are so fortunate to have him as part of our community.

Congratulations.

Congratulations Breckan! 👏👏

Well done Brecken!

WTG Breckan! (Richard🤣🤣) I'm really proud of you!

Congratulations Breckan! Such a great feeling.

Congratulations to both Breckan and the Mannsville Free Library. This is great!!

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We are proud to introduce the Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Foundation scholars.

Nine members of the class of 2026 were awarded scholarships from the Shaw Harbor Foundation, a Northern New York Community Foundation charitable fund, during the Seventh Annual Appreciation & Recognition Dinner at The Barracks Inn, Sackets Harbor, last month. 

Class of 2023 Shaw Harbor Scholar Kevin Bou-Abdallah, Clarkson University; Class of 2024 Shaw Harbor Scholar Rebecca M. Leonard, Rochester Institute of Technology; and Class of 2025 Shaw Harbor Scholar Henry B. Goss; St. Lawrence University, were also named 2026 recipients of the Shaw Harbor Distinguished Undergraduate Award ($1,000).

Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Leadership scholars: 

Luxi A. Liston, World-Changer Award ($5,000); Parishville-Hopkinton Central School; University of Rochester, pre-med-neuroscience

Mackenzie A. Salisbury, Perseverance Award ($3,000); Belleville Henderson Central School, Jefferson Community College, criminal justice

Garett J. Nier, Harmony & Humanity Award ($3,000); Carthage Central School; SUNY Oswego, communications

Porter Lonsbery, Intellectual Curiosity Award ($2,000); Thousand Islands Central School; Jefferson Community College, social sciences & Spanish

Chris-Dre McIntosh, Advocacy Award ($2,000); Watertown High School; University at Buffalo, political science

Aveline M. Hellings, Community Impact Award ($1,000); LaFargeville Central School, SUNY Oswego, business administration/global & international studies

Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Scholars ($1,000): Audrey I. Jareo, Watertown High School; East Carolina University, biomedical engineering; Sarah B. Storrin, Parishville-Hopkinton Central School; SUNY Potsdam, adolescence education: social studies; and Easton J. Willard, Morristown Central School, St. Lawrence University, biochemistry

Top photo, from left: Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Scholars Easton J. Willard, Chris-Dre McIntosh, Shaw Harbor Foundation founder John Shaw McNeely, Garett J. Nier, and Porter Lonsbery. Front row, from left: Audrey J. Jareo, Mackenzie A. Salisbury, Luxi A. Liston, Sarah B. Storrin, and Aveline M. Hellings.

Bottom photo, from left: Luxi A. Liston, Class of 2026 World-Changer Award recipient, and John Shaw McNeely, Shaw Harbor Foundation founder.

#NNYCF #ShawHarbor #ClassOf2026 #ScholarsImage attachment

We are proud to introduce the Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Foundation scholars.

Nine members of the class of 2026 were awarded scholarships from the Shaw Harbor Foundation, a Northern New York Community Foundation charitable fund, during the Seventh Annual Appreciation & Recognition Dinner at The Barracks Inn, Sackets Harbor, last month.

Class of 2023 Shaw Harbor Scholar Kevin Bou-Abdallah, Clarkson University; Class of 2024 Shaw Harbor Scholar Rebecca M. Leonard, Rochester Institute of Technology; and Class of 2025 Shaw Harbor Scholar Henry B. Goss; St. Lawrence University, were also named 2026 recipients of the Shaw Harbor Distinguished Undergraduate Award ($1,000).

Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Leadership scholars:

Luxi A. Liston, World-Changer Award ($5,000); Parishville-Hopkinton Central School; University of Rochester, pre-med-neuroscience

Mackenzie A. Salisbury, Perseverance Award ($3,000); Belleville Henderson Central School, Jefferson Community College, criminal justice

Garett J. Nier, Harmony & Humanity Award ($3,000); Carthage Central School; SUNY Oswego, communications

Porter Lonsbery, Intellectual Curiosity Award ($2,000); Thousand Islands Central School; Jefferson Community College, social sciences & Spanish

Chris-Dre McIntosh, Advocacy Award ($2,000); Watertown High School; University at Buffalo, political science

Aveline M. Hellings, Community Impact Award ($1,000); LaFargeville Central School, SUNY Oswego, business administration/global & international studies

Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Scholars ($1,000): Audrey I. Jareo, Watertown High School; East Carolina University, biomedical engineering; Sarah B. Storrin, Parishville-Hopkinton Central School; SUNY Potsdam, adolescence education: social studies; and Easton J. Willard, Morristown Central School, St. Lawrence University, biochemistry

Top photo, from left: Class of 2026 Shaw Harbor Scholars Easton J. Willard, Chris-Dre McIntosh, Shaw Harbor Foundation founder John Shaw McNeely, Garett J. Nier, and Porter Lonsbery. Front row, from left: Audrey J. Jareo, Mackenzie A. Salisbury, Luxi A. Liston, Sarah B. Storrin, and Aveline M. Hellings.

Bottom photo, from left: Luxi A. Liston, Class of 2026 World-Changer Award recipient, and John Shaw McNeely, Shaw Harbor Foundation founder.

#NNYCF #ShawHarbor #ClassOf2026 #Scholars
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1 day ago
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Congratulations!

Yas Mac!!!!

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Parents, teachers, and youth leaders: The Community Foundation’s first summer Youth Philanthropy Experience kicks off Monday, July 27, and it’s not too late for students to secure a seat!

Do you know a Jefferson County student who will be a high school freshman this fall? This FREE weeklong summer experience is exclusively for students who live in Jefferson County and are entering ninth grade this fall. 

Participants will learn about giving back to their community through volunteerism, leadership, grantmaking, and other ways they can help nonprofit organizations working to strengthen our communities. 

Students who complete the program are also eligible to earn volunteer service hours while learning!

Interested students should visit nnycf.org/summer-ype to obtain an application and apply today. 

#NNYCF #Leadership #YouthDevelopment #SummerExperience #YPE #YPC

Parents, teachers, and youth leaders: The Community Foundation’s first summer Youth Philanthropy Experience kicks off Monday, July 27, and it’s not too late for students to secure a seat!

Do you know a Jefferson County student who will be a high school freshman this fall? This FREE weeklong summer experience is exclusively for students who live in Jefferson County and are entering ninth grade this fall.

Participants will learn about giving back to their community through volunteerism, leadership, grantmaking, and other ways they can help nonprofit organizations working to strengthen our communities.

Students who complete the program are also eligible to earn volunteer service hours while learning!

Interested students should visit nnycf.org/summer-ype to obtain an application and apply today.

#NNYCF #Leadership #YouthDevelopment #SummerExperience #YPE #YPC
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