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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Community Foundation Launches Micro-Grant Program

August 21, 2023 By admin

Tri-County Nonprofits in Need of Support May Apply for up to $2,500 each 

     WATERTOWN — Tri-county nonprofit organizations seeking assistance may now apply for support through the Northern New York Community Foundation’s new Micro-Grant Program. 

     The grant program provides up to $2,500 in funding to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for programs and projects that align with the Foundation’s mission and demonstrate clear community benefit. 

     The Community Foundation continues to recognize the importance of responding and adapting to the rapidly evolving needs of local nonprofits. Through the generosity of thoughtful donors, the Foundation is entrusted to deploy grants that positively impact a variety of community needs in a timely fashion. The Foundation’s Micro-Grant Program is designed to assist nonprofits with effective funding for priority projects and requests outside of the Foundation’s regular quarterly competitive grantmaking schedule.

     “We hope this new program will help facilitate and streamline the rapid deployment of grant funding in a way that minimizes obstacles to getting charitable support to work in the tri-county region,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “While we will continue to maintain our quarterly grantmaking cycle for larger requests, we will now be able to respond to the more immediate needs of organizations doing important work in the communities they serve.” 

     Eligible nonprofit organizations must be located in and serving Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Requests must meet the same the eligibility requirements presently in place for quarterly grants, however, the review and decision-making process is shortened.

     Priority focus areas include but are not limited to: Bridge funding to support the start or completion of community projects; catalyst funding to help leverage charitable support from the community; programs or projects that support targeted populations in need; smaller capital items; and funding to secure resources for nonprofit development such as capacity building, governance, and strategic planning.

     Applying for micro-grant support does not conflict with any pending grant requests or active grant awards through other Community Foundation competitive grant programs.

     Organizations seeking micro-grant support should review eligibility guidelines before completing an application through the Community Foundation’s online Grant Lifecycle Manager, which may be accessed at nnycf.org/grants. 

     Contact either Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director at max@nnycf.org, or Kraig Everard, director of stewardship and programs at kraig@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, with questions or to learn more.

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

Northern New York Community Foundation

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

We are pleased to announce a pair of strategic initiatives to support the longevity and capacity of tri-county nonprofits.

The Northern New York Community Foundation is launching a $250,000 matching commitment to build existing nonprofit endowment funds the Foundation stewards. Ten individual matching grants of $25,000 will be awarded to each participating organization on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Foundation is also introducing the Nonprofit Capacity Building Initiative, a new grant program to help strengthen the effectiveness of local nonprofits.

Complete details below.

#NNYCF #nonprofits #partners #endowment #capacitybuilding #StrongerTogether
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Community Foundation Announces Two Efforts to Support Nonprofit Strength

www.nnycf.org

Community Foundation Announces Two Efforts to Support Nonprofit Strength February 9, 2026 By admin $250,000 Endowment Matching Challenge, New Capacity Building Grant Opportunity Offered WATERTOWN — ...
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DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY — Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students: There is still time to participate in the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge and help us award $10,000!

Complete your application by 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 13.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, how would YOU award $10,000? Dont miss your chance to support your favorite charity!

Complete details, including how to enter: nnycf.org/challenge-deadline

#NNYCF #CommunitySpirit #YouthGivingChallenge #Leadership #Nonprofits

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY — Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence county students: There is still time to participate in the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge and help us award $10,000!

Complete your application by 11:59 p.m. Friday, February 13.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, how would YOU award $10,000? Don't miss your chance to support your favorite charity!

Complete details, including how to enter: nnycf.org/challenge-deadl#NNYCFN#CommunitySpiritp#YouthGivingChallengel#leadershipr#nonprofitsofits
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2 days ago
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Meet Watertown High School freshman Blake Sweet.

For Blake, a community is strong when “people help others stay on track and make sure they get help they need with food or even shelter.”

Blake is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Salvation Army of Watertown to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission to help others. 

“The Salvation Army helps people get warm in the winter and feeds them. If you can’t eat, you can get a good hot meal,” Blake wrote in his winning essay. “That is what community is — helping others in need.”

Blake recently met with Salvation Army Capt. Josh Morales and Corps Ministry Assistant Lisa Safford and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the Corps continue its work and mission. 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.

We are grateful to Blake 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. Blake is the son of Shermen Sweet Jr., Watertown. 

To current tri-county 7th- 8th- 9th- grade students, parents, and teachers: Dont miss the chance to enter this year’s $10,000 Youth Giving Challenge competition!

You could be like Blake and award a $1,000 grant to your favorite tri-county nonprofit organization. Apply by Friday, Feb. 13, at www.nnycf.org/givingchallenge

Pictured, from left: Lisa Safford, Corps Ministry Assistant, Blake Sweet, Youth Giving Challenge winner and Watertown High freshman, and Capt. Josh Morales, Salvation Army Watertown Corps.

#NNYCF #SalvationArmyWatertown #Partners #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit #Community

Meet Watertown High School freshman Blake Sweet.

For Blake, a community is strong when “people help others stay on track and make sure they get help they need with food or even shelter.”

Blake is a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner. He chose the Salvation Army of Watertown to receive a $1,000 grant for its work and mission to help others.

“The Salvation Army helps people get warm in the winter and feeds them. If you can’t eat, you can get a good hot meal,” Blake wrote in his winning essay. “That is what community is — helping others in need.”

Blake recently met with Salvation Army Capt. Josh Morales and Corps Ministry Assistant Lisa Safford and presented a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the Corps continue its work and mission. 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.

We are grateful to Blake 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. Blake is the son of Shermen Sweet Jr., Watertown.

To current tri-county 7th- 8th- 9th- grade students, parents, and teachers: Don't miss the chance to enter this year’s $10,000 Youth Giving Challenge competition!

You could be like Blake and award a $1,000 grant to your favorite tri-county nonprofit organization. Apply by Friday, Feb. 13, at www.nnycf.org/givingchallenge

Pictured, from left: Lisa Safford, Corps Ministry Assistant, Blake Sweet, Youth Giving Challenge winner and Watertown High freshman, and Capt. Josh Morales, Salvation Army Watertown Corps.

#NNYCF #SalvationArmyWatertown #Partners #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit #Community
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3 days ago
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This is terrific

Love this!!!!

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