2023 Record-Breaking Year for Community Foundation Grantmaking, Donations

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties marked another year of community impact in 2023, awarding grants totaling more than $11 million to support programs and initiatives that will have long-lasting impact. In addition, the Community Foundation's donor support totaled $15.2 million - the third largest year in the organization's history in terms of dollars raised. 

The Community Foundation made the following commitments in support of major community projects and programs through community leaders and partners. While these projects were approved and committed to in 2023, projected timelines and completion may extend to future years:

• Anita's Stevens Swan Humane Society - A $50,000 grant for the building expansion campaign
• Arc Herkimer - A $200,000 investment in the Mohawk Valley Event Center social enterprise project
• Community Wellness Partners - A $300,000 grant for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
• Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce - A $130,000 investment in phase two of the What's Upstate regional recruitment strategy
• Herkimer County - A $25,620 grant for government leadership training
• ICAN - A $450,000 commitment to the Dairyman Affordable Housing project in Little Falls
• Johnson Park Center - A $250,000 commitment to community programming at the Green Community Center
• Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency - A $24,640 grant for the agency's summer recreation program
• Mohawk Valley Community College - A $92,640 grant to support community leadership programming and a $30,000 investment in the FastTrack Career Program to advance careers through accelerated studies
• Nascentia Health - A $475,000 investment in the Nascentia Neighborhood project at the Beeches in Rome
• Rome Health Foundation - A $100,000 grant in support of the surgical services campaign
• Safe Schools Mohawk Valley - A $30,000 investment in the program's expansion to the Frankfort-Schuyler School District
• Utica Monday Nite - A $30,000 multiyear commitment to the Levitt AMP Utica Music Series
• YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley - A $250,000 commitment to the Rome Family YMCA capital campaign

In 2023, the Community Foundation held the following grant rounds: 

• The Education, Health and Sciences Grant Rounds supporting outcomes-driven programs or projects in these focus areas awarded $158,750 to 18 organizations. The grant round takes place three times a year and is supported by the Mele Family Fund. 
• The Equity Grant Round addressing fundamental causes of systemic racism and socioeconomic inequity that impact historically marginalized populations awarded $165,100 to 23 organizations. 
• The First Responders Grant Round supporting the education, training, lifesaving equipment and mental health needs of fire, emergency medical services and law enforcement agencies awarded $20,000 to 16 first-responder organizations across the country. The grant round is supported by the Hero Fund America Fund.
• The Helpful Harvest Grant Round supporting human services organizations to alleviate food insecurity and support increased need around the holidays awarded $71,850 to 50 organizations including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. The grant round is supported by the Helpful Harvest Fund.
• The Herkimer County Grant Round supporting nonprofit partners with a physical presence in Herkimer County and outcome driven programs awarded $489,500 to 37 nonprofits. 
• The Old Forge Grant Round supporting a wide range of programs and services in the greater Old Forge area awarded $136,340 to 31 nonprofits. The Old Forge Grant Round is made possible by the Adirondack League Club Community Fund.
• The Operation Sunshine Grant Round awarded $5,000 to 10 nonprofits in support of summer camperships for children. The grant round is supported by the Operation Sunshine Fund.
• The Senior Grant Round geared towards organizations that provide programs and services focused on the health and well-being of the Mohawk Valley's elderly awarded $127,130 to 19 nonprofits. 
• The Youth Arts Grant Round awarded $10,000 to 9 organizations to support equitable access to arts and cultural learning experiences. The grant round is supported by the John Winter and Kathy Winter Family Fund.

The Community Foundation's donor-advised funds awarded 790 grants in 2023, totaling more than $3.9 million to 355 organizations locally and across the country. Donor-advised funds are a great tool for donors that wish to be actively involved in the grantmaking process and distribute charitable dollars over time and with maximum impact.

For scholarships, the Community Foundation awarded $311,160 to 157 students in more than 25 school districts through 64 different scholarship funds.

Grants are made possible through the generosity of donors and organizations that create funds at the Community Foundation. The following new funds were created in 2023 to facilitate the charitable goals and initiatives of each fundholder. 

• Abraham Giving Fund - A donor-advised fund established for general charitable purposes.
• Ann P. Allen Memorial Scholarship Fund - An agency fund established by the Women's Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties to manage a scholarship fund in memory of Ann P. Allen.
• Candella Family Fund - A memorial fund established by the family of Florence M. Candella.
• Debbie's Kids Memorial Fund - A memorial fund established by the children of Debra Reuben Deronda to support youth advocacy and youth mental health services. 
• Jack and Florence Sitrin Scholarship Fund - A scholarship fund established by Joyce Lee Malcolm in memory of her parents. 
• Jean M. Hernon-Kallus '82 Memorial Scholarship Fund - A scholarship fund established in memory of Jean Marie Hernon-Kallus to provide scholarships to graduates of New Hartford High School. 
• Kate Baker Clarke - Richard J. Cardamone Memorial Fund - A discretionary fund established through the Estate of Catherine Clarke Cardamone. 
• Laura Brooks Harney/P.J. Harney Scholarship Fund - A scholarship fund established through the Laura Brooks Harney/P.J. Harney Scholarship Trust to award scholarships to graduates from the Town of Webb Union Free School District. 
• Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, Inc. Fund - An agency fund established by Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts to enhance its fundraising programs and charitable asset administration. 
• Mohawk Valley Latino Association Fund - An agency fund established by the Mohawk Valley Latino Association to supplement its fundraising programs and charitable asset administration. 
• Neighborhood Revitalization Fund - A field-of-interest fund to support local neighborhood revitalization projects.
• Project Village Guatemala Fund - A donor-advised fund established to benefit educational programs in the Republic of Guatemala. 
• Qandah Family Fund - A donor-advised fund established for general charitable purposes.
• Richard F. Callahan Family Fund - A donor-advised fund established for general charitable purposes. 
• Robert and Grace Reed Memorial Fund for Utica Children's Museum - A designated fund established by Earle C. Reed in honor of his parents to support the Utica Children's Museum. 
• Rome Health Foundation Fund - An agency fund established by the Rome Health Foundation to supplement its fundraising programs and charitable asset administration. 
• Sheila Bamberger Fund for Sitrin Health Care Center - A designated fund established in memory of Sheila Bamberger to benefit Sitrin Health Care Center. 
• SHINE Fund - A designated fund to support faith-based educational access for children and families served by Johnson Park Center. 
• The Gaetano Sister's Fund - A donor-advised fund established for general charitable purposes. 
• View Endowment Fund - An agency fund established by View Arts Center to supplement its fundraising programs and charitable asset administration. 

The Community Foundation hosted its second-annual "Mohawk Valley Gives" campaign, a 24-hour online giving event, on September 20, 2023, to benefit 255 local nonprofits serving the region. The community came together and raised more than $2.4 million, tripling the dollars raised in 2022 - all of which went directly to the nonprofit organizations that raised them. 

The Community Foundation has a mission to engage, invest, and lead - working toward a vision of a vibrant region with opportunity for all. Visit foundationhoc.org to learn more.