Up to $50,000 Available for Nonprofits Serving Three Communities
WATERTOWN — Nonprofit organizations that serve Boonville, Constableville, and Westernville residents should apply by Friday, April 23, for 2021 grant support through the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation.
The fund was established in 2018 to support programs, projects and initiatives that broadly impact the quality of life in Boonville, Constableville, and Westernville. The Northern New York Community Foundation administers this permanent, charitable legacy fund that makes grant awards annually. This year, up to $50,000 in grant funding is available.
In 2020, 11 projects were awarded grant funding totaling $40,000 that include: Erwin Library and Institute for general building improvements and children’s library updates; Boonville Black River Canal Museum to the install a new roof on the Mule Barn; Boonville Cemetery Association to support efforts to digitize and preserve headstones and markers for future reference and preservation; Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center to support an after-school drama program and acquire equipment for a First LEGO League robotics program; Flywheels and Pulleys Association to complete facility electrical upgrades; Friends of Erwin Park to install way-finding signage on a half-mile trail connector in collaboration with the Village of Boonville; Western Town Library to support technology upgrades; Village of Boonville to connect two trails and support additional trail development; Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce to acquire new sound equipment for community events; Boonville Search and Rescue to complete facility and landscaping repairs and upgrades; and Constableville for Tomorrow to help enhance skating at its pavilion rink and purchase new youth hockey skates.
“Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer’s legacy of pride in community will endure in meaningful ways while continuing to help local organizations strengthen the area they loved for future generations,” said Max DelSignore, Northern New York Community Foundation assistant director.
The deadline to submit a proposal for consideration is 5 p.m. Friday. April 23, 2021. Grant awards will be announced following the Community Foundation’s quarterly board meeting in June. Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, max@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, for grant guidelines or to learn more about the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund.
New online application process
Nonprofit organizations are reminded to apply for funding from the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund through the Community Foundation’s online Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) system on its website.
The Foundation recently introduced the online portal that allows nonprofits to create an organization user profile and apply for active grant opportunities. Nonprofits should set up a single user account for the organization. The portal features a simple interface that guides users through step-by-step instructions on how to apply. Resources are available on the Foundation’s website, nnycf.org/grants, and on the portal’s log-in page to learn more about the process.
To be eligible for Community Foundation grants, nonprofits must be classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS. Other entities may be eligible depending on the request. Additional grant opportunities through the Community Foundation will become available on the GLM platform in the coming months. Contact Kraig Everard Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs, kraig@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, with questions about the GLM system.
About Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer participated in many community events and activities through the years and served on local boards and committees. Mr. Sawyer was a Boonville native, served in the United States Army, and enjoyed a career at Layng Furniture Company and as a supervisor at Boonville’s Erwin Park. Most notably, he was a talented musician. He played tenor saxophone in his high school band and clarinet with the Boonville Village Band. He frequently played with three separate drum and bugle corps in Boonville and Rome. Mr. Sawyer died in 2008. Mrs. Sawyer completed a successful career of more than 45 years at Rome Savings Bank and was an avid follower of the stock market. She also served on the finance committee of Boonville United Methodist Church. She assisted organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center, the Erwin Library, and the Boonville Cemetery. Mrs. Sawyer died in 2015.
In 2017, the Kenneth V. Sawyer and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Scholarship Fund was established through the Northern New York Community Foundation to benefit Adirondack Central School graduates. The endowed fund will award two scholarships each year forever, supporting the business and music pursuits of high school graduates from the district.
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.