A community foundation is created by citizens to serve a defined geographic area and build an endowment that supports the community’s needs. Donor contributions are pooled and invested, and a small percentage is awarded in grants and scholarships each year to ensure that “community capital” will always be available.
The community foundation movement began with the Cleveland Community Foundation in 1914. Just 15 years later, the Northern New York Community Foundation was established. Today, there are approximately 900 independent, geographic-specific community foundations in every state in the United States and another 1,000 in other parts of the world.
Through strategic grantmaking and leadership, community foundations play a vital role in identifying and solving challenges communities face with help from other community partners. In essence, they leverage the wealth of yesterday, today, and tomorrow to make life better for those who live and work in their service area.
The Northern New York Community Foundation can help you express your deepest values, from leaving a legacy to cultivating a family tradition of philanthropy or honoring a loved one.
Support your community
You care deeply about your community — whether you choose to define it by geography, ethnicity, age, interest, or any number of other factors — and want to continue supporting it beyond your lifetime. Creating a fund at the Community Foundation can benefit your favorite charities, causes, or communities now and in the future. You may determine the criteria for support and know that your intentions will be honored.
Invest in your interests
You are passionate about helping to address a specific community issue and want to make a meaningful gift. You can work with our grantmaking team to understand the community’s critical needs and effective programs and then direct gift dollars to make the greatest impact.
Engage family members in philanthropy
Looking for a way to encourage family members to be engaged in philanthropy? Establish a Donor Advised Fund and name family members as current or successor advisors, giving your family gatherings or reunions new meaning. The Community Foundation has several examples of families effectively engaging siblings and children in giving and is happy to share those ideas with you.
Leave a legacy
Your memory can live on forever by leaving a legacy at the Community Foundation. Supporting the community through your will or beneficiary designations is an easy way to have your name, interests, or values live on. You can create or add to a fund by bequest or through a planned gift and know that its purpose will continue in perpetuity.
Honor or memorialize a loved one
If you’re interested in establishing a memorial fund or making a gift to remember or honor a loved one, you’ve come to the right place. With our help you can:
- Establish a permanent fund named for your loved one to provide grants to charitable organizations or scholarships to students;
- Give a one-time grant or scholarship in honor or memory of a special person; or
- Add a contribution to an existing permanent endowment fund at the Community Foundation and have your loved ones’ names forever remembered that way.
The first step is to talk with us. We know this may be a difficult time for you, but we encourage you to help us understand your hopes and dreams so that we can recommend a direction that will reflect them.
It starts with a conversation
We can help you experience the joy of giving today, and we welcome the opportunity to talk with you and your trusted advisors about including charitable giving in your estate plans. Please be in touch with our team:
Rande Richardson, President & CEO, rande@nnycf.org
Max DelSignore, Vice President, max@nnycf.org
Foundation office: 315-782-7110