Community Foundation Announces $50,000 Community Choice Awards

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is hosting its first-ever Community Choice Awards, a $50,000 grantmaking contest that incorporates public voting to help determine the recipients of five, $10,000 grants to local nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations in Herkimer and Oneida counties are invited to submit grant proposals for projects in the following categories: animals, arts and culture, health and wellness, human service, and youth. Community Foundation staff in consultation with category sponsors will select three finalists in each category with the winners to be determined by a public vote in September.

“Every member of our community has benefited from the support and services of a nonprofit organization at some point in their life,” said Alicia Dicks, president/CEO of The Community Foundation. “Determining which organizations are deserving of a grant requires a lot of input and the Community Choice Awards is a unique opportunity for community members to share their insight about which nonprofits are most valued in our community.”

Five of The Community Foundation’s donor-advised funds are sponsoring the contest including:

• Staffworks Charitable Fund
• Bull Family Fund
• Mele Family Fund
• Ron & Sheila Cuccaro Family Fund
• M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund

Interested nonprofits must apply by Friday, August 24, 2018, to be considered for participation. Visit www.ccawards.org for more information on the rules and regulations of the contest and to apply.