90 Year Anniversary Book

table of contents Health & Human Services 6

Literacy & Education 10

Professional & Organizational Development 14

Arts, Culture & Humanities 18

Environment & Animals 19

Community Leadership 20

CNY Philanthropy Center 22

Endowment Development 24

Organization Background 30

Strategic Framework 35

table of contents

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loaf of bread cost nine cents. Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The Ford Motor Company produced the last Ford Model T. Closer to home, the first Syracuse Airport was established in Amboy. The Jefferson Clinton Hotel was built in Armory Square. A groundbreaking was held for the future Landmark Theatre.

And a group of community leaders established the Syracuse Foundation, which would eventually be renamed the Central New York Community Foundation.

As they envisioned it, the foundation would serve as a permanent and flexible source of funding available to respond to the needs of the entire community — even as those needs change.

And while much has changed since then, some things remain largely the same.

The desire to make a meaningful difference inspired the formation of the Community Foundation and continues to motivate individuals, families and organizations today. Together, we are addressing problems too big to solve alone.

As we look to the future, we will continue to invest in people, place and progress, while upholding the collective spirit of generosity bestowed upon us by all who came before. The same thing is true today that was true 90 years ago: We are here for good.

Richard D. Hole, Esq., Chair; Peter A. Dunn, President & CEO; and J. Andrew Breuer, Chair-Elect stand on the balcony of the CNY Philanthropy Center at 431 East Fayette Street.

dear friends,

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nyone who knows a thing or two about construction will tell you that every good structure starts with a solid foundation. From there, it is more or less an additive process. All the raw material combines to form something greater than the sum of its parts — something built to last.

As we reflect on the Central New York Community Foundation’s history, it is clear that our organization’s founders knew what they were building and what it could someday become. In 1927, 30 visionary community leaders joined forces to create a permanent charitable endowment, engaging the transformative power of collective generosity for the long-term benefit of Central New York. Their work has been augmented by countless individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits committed to building a vibrant and thriving community for all Central New Yorkers. Nine decades later, the Central New York Community Foundation, continuing to build upon the legacy of its predecessors, is the largest charitable

This special anniversary publication charts the evolution of the Community Foundation’s impact in six key focus areas, offering insight into the hopes, dreams, passions and motivations of generations of donors and doers. Each story is a snapshot of the causes, priorities and lived experiences of fellow Central New Yorkers at various points in our shared history. The arc of our journey reflects our response to the changing needs of the community over time.

If you look closely, though, you will see that a common theme has prevailed. Through our commitment to conscientious growth and strategic innovation, core aspects of our work remain constant.

Our strategic plan and updated mission and vision outline a clear blueprint for the future of the Community Foundation, which reaffirms something our founders knew all along: we are, and always will be, here for good.

Peter A. Dunn President & CEO

J. Andrew Breuer Chair-Elect Board of Directors

dear friends

Richard D. Hole, Esq. Chair Board of Directors

foundation in the region. With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate 90 years of compassionate collaboration.

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90 years

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his year we are celebrating 90 years of compassionate philanthropy, civic partnership and conscientious growth. The evolution of our community leadership and grantmaking follows a continuum of progress that mirrors the unique set of challenges and opportunities facing Central New Yorkers at respective points in our history.

Our collective efforts strive to support the health, happiness and prosperity of local residents, create opportunities for everyone and amplify all that this region has to offer.

Over the course of our history, people have put their faith in our ability to facilitate their giving intentions. As a trusted steward of charitable dreams and legacies, we strive every day to honor

and preserve the memories of our community’s caretakers. Flexible gifts from thousands of donors have built a pool of charitable capital — now surpassing a record $226 million — that allows us to proactively address changing needs and support innovative responses.

Behind the nearly $170 million we have invested in Central New York over the course of our history are remarkable tales of transformed lives and improved communities. These are stories of ordinary people motivated to do extraordinary things for the good of their community, and collaborative contributions that over the past nine decades have built an organization that is worthy of having the word “community” in its title. celebrating 90 years

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health & human services

Assisting our Resilient Neighbors

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aking care of our community’s residents has always been a priority for the Community Foundation. Over the past ten years, we have awarded $6.7 million in grants to help strengthen the local social safety-net by supporting health and human services organizations and programs.

The Community Foundation also has a long history of convening resources around important issues that affect the health, happiness and prosperity of our region’s residents. In 1997, we gathered several local job training organizations, encouraging them to work together toward a collective mission that could leverage federal funding.

The resulting collaboration, Greater Syracuse Works, has now been helping low income individuals attain and sustain employment for 20 years.

In 2012, we were approached by leaders of local human services organizations about strengthening their network — which would enable them to have a stronger collective voice and build institutional capacity across dozens of local nonprofit members. We are proud to have joined with other local funders to support the Human Services Leadership Council of CNY (HSLC) through grant, administrative and facilitation support. HSLC is a regional network of human services agencies working together to coordinate their high-quality responses to needs in Central New York. HSLC has become a key advocate for members on state policy matters affecting human services agencies and the people they serve.

More recently, we joined Home HeadQuarters, the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, numerous government entities and community-based organizations to establish the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Greater Syracuse. This program helps low to moderate-income Syracuse homeowners use less energy and create homes free of health and safety hazards, such as lead paint exposure, that may otherwise have a negative impact on education and employment.

We also provide facilitation, convening, administrative and grant support to the Greater Syracuse HOPE Initiative, a collaboration of community members seeking to reduce the poverty levels in our city’s neighborhoods. And our technical and grant assistance to the Early Childhood Alliance of Onondaga County is helping our community partners meet the health and education needs of our region’s youngest residents.

As our community members face new and ongoing challenges, we know it is more important than ever to ensure that local charitable resources provide the greatest good to help people live happy and healthy lives.

health & human services

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Working Together to Improve Lives:

Greater Syracuse Works

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ince its establishment, Greater Syracuse Works (GSW) has helped leverage more than $10 million in state and federal grants to help community agencies provide employment and training opportunities for low-income residents in the Syracuse area.

Teens gather at the Q Center in Syracuse.

Providing Support for Youth:

ACR Health

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hen lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) youth in Central New York seek housing or shelter, they often face challenges that seem insurmountable.

Many are escaping abusive homes or exclusion from their local and religious communities. They might seek mental health care, fighting urges to harm themselves. They could even be fleeing sex trafficking, which is becoming devastatingly common, according to Marissa Rice, director of youth services at ACR Health.

“In the past year, we’ve had seven young people come to us HIV positive, becoming infected because of what they’ve had to do,” Rice said.

This is an urgent problem, with 40 percent of homeless youth reporting as LGBTQ, according to Rice.

“Like most cities our size, there aren’t any shelters that serve the specific needs of this population,” Rice said.

With a grant from the Community Foundation in 2014, ACR Health attended the Creating Change Conference to collaborate with national nonprofits dedicated to ending LGBTQ youth homelessness. With the help of The Rescue Mission, ACR Health is now taking steps toward creating the first local shelter specifically designed to meet the needs of young people facing this situation.

ACR Health offers sexual health and prevention services to individuals, community groups and organizations in nine New York counties. It also has three regional Q Centers, designed to be safe spaces that offer programming for LGBTQ youth and allies.

Of the youth who participated in leadership trainings, 81 percent demonstrated increased knowledge of LGBTQ issues and were able to advocate and mobilize others to act.

“It’s amazing that there’s a local organization like the Community Foundation that says, ‘We’d like to hear from you and what you need for this population within our community,’” Rice said. “That collaborative spirit is what’s changing our local community for LGBTQ youth and adults.”

The network is still going strong. More than 20 community organizations collaborate through GSW, offering training and case management to those seeking employment or career enhancement.

“There are low income people and people in poverty that are forgotten about,” said Carol Hill, GSW board member and learning coordinator at SUNY Educational Opportunity Center. “GSW is all about connecting them back to the system and the resources that exist to help them.”

In 2011, GSW’s collective work paid off again when the Center for Community Alternatives was selected as the recipient of a monumental $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance the Parent Success Initiative.

Participating parents who were once in arrears on their child support payments reported that they could now make good on their commitments to their children. By 2015, the program had connected nearly 800 people with jobs and generated at least $2 million in new child support payments.

A Community Foundation Performance Management grant enabled GSW to develop an online database system that allows partner organizations to share and report information across common fields. The most recent federal grant was awarded in part due to the partnerships and collaborative measurement GSW demonstrated.

“We were able to prove we had working partnerships that are bringing people together,” said Hill. “That started with the Community Foundation showing us how to break down barriers between agencies to share resources and trust each other.”

Kathleen Boccio, Michael Irwin and Marvin Ramos of the Parent Success Initiative. health & human services

The Community Foundation’s grant covered the cost of conference attendance, youth leadership trainings, an advocacy skills training and an LGBT Youth Voices video. In addition, a previous grant led to the placement of a program coordinator, and a recent grant helped hire a licensed mental health clinical counselor.

It all started in 1997 when the Community Foundation convened local organizations who had applied for separate grants to fund job training programs. Instead of awarding grants for them to function separately, we saw an opportunity for the organizations to work together toward their common goal. This led to the creation of GSW, which helped the community win a $2.5 million competitive grant from the US Department of Labor in 1999. The grant was used to launch GSW’s signature project — the Parent Success Initiative — which offered low-income non-custodial parents work experiences to improve their employability, potential earnings and opportunities for advancement.

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Starting New Again: InterFaith Works

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ndividuals from all over the globe occupy the main lobby of InterFaith Works (InterFaith). The beautiful blend of their languages are intertwined, a sign that afternoon classes are about to get underway.

“It’s a very dignified environment,” InterFaith President and CEO Beth Broadway said. “People come into our building and say, ‘wow’ because it is a very lovely space.”

Not so long ago, InterFaith’s offices were spread across Syracuse. Broadway remembers how it used to be prior to October 2014: Its refugee operation set up shop on the Northside while the rest of its operations, programs and administrative offices were located on the Eastside.

The organization’s home is now in one building on James Street, where the entire staff functions together under one roof. With the help of a Community Foundation grant, InterFaith was able to complete renovations and move into the space.

InterFaith addresses the needs of those who have arrived through federal refugee resettlement programs — fleeing war, political oppression and famine. The organization also assists the needs of the elderly, those in prisons, hospitals and nursing homes, and addresses hunger and housing.

Broadway explained that in order for InterFaith to lay down its roots, its new location had to meet the needs of the populations it serves. Most specifically, it was important to be located close enough for refugees to walk, as many don’t initially have cars.

Since moving in, InterFaith has not only grown, but has been able to advance its services, by offering more classes for its refugee population. Shou Da Yan, a refugee from China, is

health & human services

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one of the many success stories that has come out of the refugee program. He arrived in the United States in February 2017.

When he was younger, Shou Da’s mother and father were both imprisoned in Shenyang under religious persecution.

During that time, he lived with his cousin and found it extremely hard to live with a very limited income. His mother lives here now, and he hopes to bring his father to the United States and make his family whole again. He credits InterFaith with helping him learn English and obtain his first job.

Shou Da is just one of many refugees seeking a better life in America. The road to get here is grueling and tiresome.

InterFaith is instrumental in getting newly resettled people acclimated and helping them become self-sufficient. Staff assists with the details many take for granted — like completing paperwork, getting connected to a primary care physician and ensuring their homes are secure.

Broadway says that the refugees who come through their doors are some of the most resilient, hardworking people she has ever met.

“They are survivors and will do just about anything to start their lives over again,” Broadway said.

Creating this facility has been transformative for InterFatih Works. “The building has really been a tool — a vehicle — to accomplish our mission,” Broadway said. “And our mission is to build a community where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We get to say, ‘We’re all here. We’re all in this together and it makes us stronger. It’s what builds our democracy.’”

Shou Da Yan, a refugee from China, sits in the new headquarters of InterFaith Works in Syracuse.

health & human services

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literacy & education

Creating Opportunities through Learning

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ccess to a quality education is a foundational value that addresses numerous community challenges — from poverty and unemployment to kindergarten readiness and healthcare outcomes.

Nearly 15 years ago, our board of directors identified the region’s low literacy rates as a community issue which needed to be addressed. In response, we launched an initiative called read ahead, mobilizing more than 200 community stakeholders around the goal of achieving 100% literacy through 100% community engagement in Onondaga County. As a result, vibrant Onondaga, Madison and Cortland county-wide coalitions were formed to address literacy across the lifespan of our residents. Serving as a managing partner, we continue to support each coalition with grants, research and management assistance. Most recently, we partnered with all three coalitions to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to our region’s children. Together, we are helping more than 14,000 local children develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

In 2008, we recognized the amazing potential that Say Yes to Education (Say Yes) held for future generations of our community and volunteered at its inception to serve as the home for the local scholarship endowment and fiscal sponsor for family and student support grants. Say Yes guarantees a path to college for students of the Syracuse City School District and provides support to students and their families that enhances their opportunities for academic achievement. More than 3,000 Syracuse students can now say that they have used Say Yes scholarships to attend college, and that number is steadily growing every year. We are proud to be a part of this landmark achievement that is creating opportunities for Syracuse city youth and their families.

Nourishing the education of our region’s residents — from infancy to adulthood — remains a priority within the Community Foundation’s initiatives and grantmaking. Over the past 10 years alone, we have awarded more than $6 million in grants to local programs addressing literacy and education. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the number of lives we have been able to change for the better is immeasurable.

literacy & education

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A Promise for Their Future:

Say Yes to Education

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hen Samantha Turnquest moved with her family from New York City to Syracuse, she had big plans for her education. But she was faced with one major roadblock: affordability. Her mother worked full-time to support her and her three brothers and Samantha felt overwhelmed by the daunting responsibility of paying for college alone.

“If you don’t have opportunity, it’s hard to see a vision for yourself,” Turnquest said.

This is a common problem for students in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), where half of the students live in poverty. Say Yes to Education was introduced in Syracuse eight years ago to help the community come together around a common goal: increasing post-secondary educational attainment for the city’s children.

Samantha Turnquest

This community-wide partnership provides SCSD students with a path to college in the form of last-dollar scholarships. Say Yes also provides other supports, from legal and health services to mental health support and after-school programs.

The Community Foundation contributed $2 million to Say Yes and provides ongoing convening support, fiscal management and strategic guidance. We administer the Say Yes Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides perpetual funding for the scholarships.

Bolstered by community support and substantial grants from SRC, Inc., the City of Syracuse and Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, the fund is now fully endowed at $30 million, creating a path to college for generations of SCSD students to come.

We can already see the impact of this promise. The district has witnessed a 14% jump in its overall high school graduation rate since 2008. And in 2016, 64% of both Caucasian and African-American students graduated from high school, showcasing the elimination of a previous gap between the academic achievement of white and black students.

An interactive Early Literacy Story Hour at Oneida Public Library.

For the Love of Reading:

Imagination Library

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very month, more than 1,500 families in Madison County receive a free children’s book in the mail, allowing them to experience the joy of reading together. These families are participants in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a program that strives to increase childhood literacy skills by providing children from birth through age five with one book per month at no cost to their families.

Children who enter kindergarten unprepared can struggle, lose confidence and fall behind. But reading with these children can play a critical role in providing them with high quality learning experiences, better preparing them for success later on. This is especially critical in rural Madison County, where only about 20 percent of children are enrolled in early childhood programs.

A study led by Le Moyne College faculty members, including Community Foundation Vice President Frank Ridzi, Ph.D., found that those who consistently took part in DPIL were 30 percent more likely to be prepared to enter kindergarten than their non-participating peers.

“Research shows children in this program are going to have more success in school and higher self-esteem,” said Mike Drahos, former executive director of the Literacy Coalition of Madison County. “In the end, these students are going to grow up to be well-educated community citizens who can help address our local poverty problems.”

Thanks to the diligent work of our local literacy coalitions, DPIL is available county-wide in both Madison and Onondaga counties. The Community Foundation supports the program by providing management, research and funding to both coalitions.

Several community organizations partner to enroll children.

Many also conduct family programs that correlate with the books they are reading.

“There are pockets of great things happening in the 660 square miles of Madison County, and roping them together is the challenge,” Drahos said. “The Community Foundation has provided us the leadership capacity to achieve our goals, serving as a tremendous partner as we move forward.”

“Say Yes cares about your future beyond the classroom,” she said. “Their support makes you want to go further in your education.

No matter what path I pursue, I’m going to make sure I’m always giving back to pay it forward for the help I received.”

Imagination Library is proving to be an invaluable resource in developing literacy skills in our region’s children. Together, our community is helping foster a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

literacy & education

Say Yes came to Turnquest’s school, the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, just in time. She was able to attend the University of Albany, graduating this year with a biology degree. She has plans to pursue physical therapy or public health.

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Creating Opportunity: On Point for College

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ntwann Kearse, a graduate of Henninger High School, was harboring a secret when he arrived home on winter break during his first year attending Morrisville State College. His family, beaming with pride, chattered about how well he was doing in college. But Kearse knew better — he had just been put on academic probation.

“I did horribly,” Kearse said. “I looked at school as a vacation. I had too much fun.”

It was right there, surrounded by the people he loved most, when a lightbulb went off — his family wouldn’t be the only ones disappointed in him; so would his On Point for College (On Point) mentors, as well as the high school teachers who believed in his potential from the start.

“It was that moment when I realized a lot of people looked up to me to succeed and believed in my success,” Kearse said.

“I didn’t want to be in that situation anymore.”

When Kearse was growing up in Syracuse’s Southside neighborhood, his family stuck together despite challenging times. At one point, they lived without a car after his father was in an accident. During that time he recalls having to walk a lot and hearing gunshots ring through his neighborhood — one that is riddled with repeated acts of violence.

Once he returned to college, Kearse was motivated to turn things around. He chose to buckle down and focus on achieving his academic goals. He went on to earn an associate’s degree in marketing from Morrisville before moving on to the University at Buffalo. He graduated with a 3.8 cumulative GPA (summa cum laude) with a bachelor’s degree in operations and supply chain management.

literacy & education

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While Kearse’s academic accomplishments are the direct result of his nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic, he credits On Point for making the next step of his education seem possible.

“The staff helped me in many ways,” Kearse said. “They made sure that I got back and forth to school. My advisor also helped me attain an internship that fell in line with my course of study. They are why I consistently stayed in school instead of giving up.”

On Point offers support programs for 17- to 29-year-old students to help them overcome barriers so they can access training, college education and careers that lead to success in life.

Since it was established in 1999, On Point has helped more than 7,000 students enroll in college. Between 700-1,000 new students are welcomed each year.

The Community Foundation has fostered On Point’s growth over the years, awarding more than $200,000 in grants dating back to its inception. These grants have had a variety of goals, including measuring performance and community impact, advancing the professional development of its staff and expanding its career mentoring program. The one thing all of the grants had in common is this: they all served the greater goal of helping students like Kearse achieve their potential.

Kearse is now working as a Materials Handling Supervisor for General Motors. His vision for himself goes beyond just his amazing career, however. He also hopes to one day establish his own nonprofit organization to mentor kids.

“I don’t know where I may end up,” he said, “I’m just counting my blessings, seeing and taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.”

Antwann Kearse stands on the campus of Morrisville State College, where he earned an associate’s degree in marketing.

He later went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from University at Buffalo.

literacy & education

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professional & organizational development

Making our Nonprofits Stronger

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rant dollars alone cannot address our community’s complex challenges. The Community Foundation has a long history of offering initiatives that focus on one common goal — strengthening our region’s nonprofit sector to make the greatest impact on Central New York.

Nearly 30 years ago, the Community Foundation recognized that neighborhood groups had the power to build their communities from within. Since then, The Leadership Classroom (TLC) — previously named the Neighborhood Leadership Program — has led more than 350 individuals from close to 100 organizations through intensive grassroots leadership training sessions. Many of our graduates have developed their groups into sustainable and highly effective organizations that are changing lives every day.

Investing in nonprofit leaders and staff can have an exponential impact on the community. Our Staff Advancement Initiative has awarded nearly $400,000 toward the cost of sending front-line workers to courses and training seminars that expand their abilities. The John F. Marsellus Sabbatical assisted nearly 30 nonprofit executives with the opportunity to set aside time for reflection, learning and renewal. Its new iteration — the Marsellus Executive Development Program — provides nonprofit leaders with training and peer support to become more focused, energized and effective.

When we established the CNY Philanthropy Center as our new home in 2010, we envisioned using the available space to support local nonprofits at a higher level through learning and convening activities. Since then, we have welcomed more than 1,000 attendees to our Nonprofit Essentials Workshop Series (NEWS), which offers individuals working in the nonprofit field a variety of tools for professional and organizational development.

We also work to help organizations build their capacity to efficiently achieve their missions. Funding provided through our Strategic Partnership Fund has created new collaborations between nonprofits so that they can enhance program delivery. And over the past five years, close to $1 million has been awarded through the Performance Management Learning Community to help organizations better measure their outcomes and share stories of how they’ve impacted the community.

Our approaches will continue to evolve with changing needs. We remain steadfast in ensuring that our nonprofit community remains strong, healthy and impactful.

professional & organizational development

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Developing Leadership Skills:

Westcott Community Center

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hen Joan Royle became executive director of the Westcott Community Center in 2015, the organization did not have a robust database or software system and much of the center itself was in disrepair.

Doug & Leesa Paul

Creating New Partnerships:

AccessCNY

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ne morning in 2011, Doug Paul struggled to speak. His wife, Leesa, thought he was joking before reality hit. Leesa called 911 and their lives changed forever.

Doug suffered a stroke that resulted in right side paralysis and aphasia. After unsuccessful therapy efforts elsewhere, they turned to AccessCNY. Doug’s mood and outlook improved. Soon he was writing again, even making an anniversary card for Leesa.

“Doug always held confidence and drive within him, but the AccessCNY therapists brought it out in a healthy, positive, proactive way,” Leesa said.

AccessCNY provides rehabilitation and clinical services to 3,000+ individuals yearly. It formed when Enable and Transitional Living Services merged in 2015.

Since then, she has expanded the center’s programming, fast-tracked facility repairs and established comprehensive operating systems. This year, she led the center in publishing its first annual report.

Royle credits her participation in the professional development opportunities available through the Community Foundation for sharpening her leadership and development skills. Two years ago, she joined the very first cohort of the Marsellus Executive Development Program.

The six-month program offers individual coaching and consultant-led peer learning sessions for executive directors of nonprofit organizations within Onondaga and Madison counties.

Topics covered include leading in dynamic times and enabling others to act.

Facilitated by The Leading Element, the program is a spin-off of the John F. Marsellus Sabbatical, a 15-year initiative of the Community Foundation that was created in memory of John F. Marsellus to honor his desire to enhance the leadership capacity of local nonprofit organizations.

Royle recalled impactful guest speaker sessions with staff from the Redhouse Arts Center and the Salvation Army.

In 2013, the Community Foundation awarded a Strategic Partnership grant to Enable to support the cost of pre-merger needs assessments.

The Strategic Partnership Fund supports collaborations between nonprofits that enhance program and resource development.

“We had so many incredible speakers who spoke to topics that were of strong interest to us,” she said. “And when it was a somber topic, it was validating, because you knew some other director or agency was going through the same thing.”

Matt Seubert, AccessCNY associate executive director, development and communications, said the larger staff creates more effective patient connections.

Royle left the development program with lasting friendships and a network of professionals that grows every year with new alumni. She recalls how the experience reshaped her view of her leadership capabilities.

“The Strategic Partnership grant helped our organizations conduct assessments to look at ways the new organization could be strengthened through investments in technology, board development, branding, legal and financial consulting, and renovations.”

Since 2009, CNYCF has made Strategic Partnership grants to local organizations seeking administrative consolidation, joint programming, regionalization, subsidiary formation or a full-scale merger. CNYCF grants have helped more than 20 local organizations merge or affiliate, fostering sustainability, higher levels of efficiency and better programmatic outcomes.

“Through the support of the Community Foundation, AccessCNY is now a more efficient and diverse agency that can help create even more stories of success like Doug’s,” Seubert said.

Last year Leesa threw Doug a surprise five year “rebirth” party to commemorate the day he survived his stroke. Doug was brought to tears, and AccessCNY staff watched in admiration as the couple turned the worst day of their lives into something to celebrate.

Joan Royle

professional & organizational development

An additional community grant supported a computer systems upgrade to streamline AccessCNY operations. It’s estimated that the merger resulted in an annual savings between $350,000 and $400,000.

“It made you think about your own strengths and weaknesses and about things you could mold differently to work better for you,” Royle said. “Some of my weaknesses are also my strengths, and I’ve learned to take the best parts and utilize them to do my job.”

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Azariah Yemma, Curtez McLauren and Hasan Stephens meet at the Good Life Youth Foundation office, located in the Southside Innovation Center.

professional & organizational development

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Learning While Growing: The Good Life Youth Foundation

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hile growing up in the Edenwald Projects in the Bronx, Hasan Stephens’ life lessons came earlier than expected.

His neighborhood was home to several street gangs, persistent violence and poverty. And while the option to sell drugs or steal for money often tempted Stephens, his mentors and family members made sure that he stayed the course and remained true to himself.

“Having people guide me in the right direction allowed me to escape that life when many of my friends weren’t able to,” Stephens said.

Nowadays, Stephens is reaping the benefits of his decisions. He laughs when he says his Google Calendar is his best friend. It really is, though, navigating him through his days serving as founder and executive director of the Good Life Youth Foundation (Good Life), as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Cortland, and as a co-facilitator of the Community Foundation’s The Leadership Classroom (TLC) — a job that has been eye-opening for the social entrepreneur.

Before Stephens partnered with InterFaith Works’ Beth Broadway as a co-facilitator, he was a TLC participant himself.

He felt like a sponge, absorbing its extensive program outline and building skills that would further advance his organization.

“The biggest thing I love about TLC is the union of organizations that normally would not have even known about

Stephens takes the lessons he has learned in TLC and applies them to his organization. Good Life, founded in 2009, encourages successful and productive careers and life strategies among at-risk Syracuse youth ages 13-24.

Curtez McLauren was a young man who came to Good Life during a very difficult time in his life. For him, the organization has opened many doors that seemed closed to him when he was incarcerated.

“I thought I wasn’t going to make it to college,” McLauren said. “Good Life keeps me active.”

Stephens beams like a proud father when he talks about the young adults who have come through his organization. McLauren is thriving and excelling in the Good Life curriculum. He is doing well in school and no longer getting into fights.

“His growth is so tremendous since the time that we’ve come in contact with him,” Stephens said. “We want to applaud those types of successes because that’s going to lead to even larger ones.”

Stephens is looking to the future and the endless possibilities TLC can unearth down the road… and, of course, the culture-infused tastes from around Central New York that manifest themselves in the meals that TLC members share during their sessions together.

“In addition to the food,” Stephens said with a smile, “The most satisfying thing about TLC is watching the other organizations grow.”

professional & organizational development

In 1989, the Community Foundation launched TLC, once known as the Neighborhood Leadership Program, to teach practical skills to grassroots organizations working to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Monthly interactive classes help participants hone their leadership skills, find neighborhood resources and gather community support. Over the past nearly 30 years, more than 360 individuals have graduated from the training program and more than $245,000 in grants have been awarded towards the graduates’ community projects.

each other,” Stephens said. “It bridges communities and organizations that are often doing the same type of work.”

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arts, culture & humanities

Painting a Vibrant Region

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Installation view of Fireworks (Archive) by Apichatpong Weerasethakul on exhibit on the exterior wall of the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse. A Community Foundation grant to Light Work supported the addition of sound and amplification capabilities to the Urban Video Project’s video projection system.

Photo: Stephen Sartori courtesy of Syracuse University and Urban Video Project

usic, theater and multi-cultural performances; galleries and exhibitions; public art; and the preservation of local history. These are all elements of a thriving arts and culture scene, and Central New York is alive with them all.

Throughout its history, the Community Foundation has recognized the important role local arts and culture organizations play in contributing to a vibrant region.

Recognizing that the long-term sustainability of arts organizations is dependent on effective strategic planning, we offered the Program for Arts Capacity & Excellence (PACE) from 2005-2011. Participants worked on audience development, organizational improvements and board governance, helping to build new capacities that far outlasted the grants.

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Later, we partnered with other area funders in the Initiative to Develop and Engage Audiences and Services (IDEAS) collaborative to strengthen the connection between our community and arts and culture organizations, promoting strategies to deepen audience engagement, create new artistic collaborations and enhance opportunities for earned revenue. In addition, significant IDEAS support helped CNY Arts to drive community arts marketing and audience development efforts as well as offer scholarships and training to the local arts community.

Our long tradition of fostering our region’s local arts and culture organizations continues through our grantmaking.

Over the past 10 years, we have awarded nearly $2 million in grants that have helped arts institutions grow and thrive.

A dynamic arts and culture landscape will engage residents, strengthen workforces and serve as an economic engine to revitalize the community. We look forward to supporting this effort for generations to come.

environment & animals

Protecting Local Landscapes and Ensuring Animal Welfare

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ne of Central New York’s most distinctive characteristics is its beautiful natural environment. It’s where rolling hills, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and woodlands all create stunning landscapes, and where bountiful gardens and agriculture thrive for the benefit of our residents. Also, we can’t forget man’s best friends. Central New York is home to a world-class zoo, nature centers and a network of organizations that help pets find loving homes and connect animals with those who seek their support. The Community Foundation has historically supported programs that enhance and preserve these amazing resources that enrich the lives of local residents beyond measure.

By developing places where residents can gather and interact, we can strengthen our region’s social fabric. From 2004-2009, we awarded Grants for Green Spaces to help improve neighborhood spaces. Knowing that the life and vitality of a community depends on the combined efforts of its residents, this program helped to implement a variety of volunteer-driven projects in Onondaga and Madison counties including the landscaping of pocket parks and improving access to local trails.

Beginning in 2015, we partnered with the Syracuse Parks Conservancy to continue this effort by offering Neighborhood Greening Grants, which fund the costs of volunteer-driven, environmental improvement projects within the City of Syracuse. Neighborhood associations, schools and community groups have already completed more than 35 projects that beautify, preserve and improve access to public spaces.

Over the past 10 years, more than $1 million in grants have supported a variety of programs that engage our wider community in preserving our local environment and protecting animals. From planting trees and flowers to promoting responsible animal care and pet ownership, our grants support local programs that guard natural resources, beautify neighborhoods and ensure the welfare of animals great and small.

environment & animals

United States Army veteran Michael Raith poses with his service dog, Blue, in front of Clear Path for Veterans’ Home for the Brave. The Community Foundation awarded a grant for the establishment of the program, which pairs veterans with service dogs in training.

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community leadership

Sharing Community Knowledge and Promoting Collaboration

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ver the course of our history we have harnessed the power of collaboration to tackle our community’s most pressing issues. By working together with government, community leaders and area nonprofits, we are able to leverage resources and achieve ambitious goals.

Our history is filled with meaningful convenings around issues of child care, early childhood development, literacy, safe and efficient homes and much more. Today, we continue this tradition of gathering stakeholders around pressing issues to identify ways we can work together and direct funding to the best ideas. These collective impact efforts are helpful in leveraging state and national recognition and funding.

One such alliance is Work Train, an effort to create job opportunities for low-income residents. Several nonprofits and area funders partner to provide career pathways to individuals who are trained to fill the specific staffing needs of local employers. Multi-sector partnerships like these are creating long-term, systemic change across the region.

Our joint efforts also help the local nonprofit sector to develop the capacity of their organizations. We partner with the Gifford Foundation and other area funders and community organizations to offer Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders, a training program aimed at increasing the pool of diverse nonprofit board members in our community.

We also join area funders in hosting StoryGrowing to assist nonprofits with their storytelling skills for the betterment of their communication and fundraising efforts.

Building on the experience we’ve gained over the past 90 years, the Community Foundation also serves as a resource often tapped by donors, clients and partners who seek insights on social and community issues. We offer our donors and friends experiential learning opportunities in the form of neighborhood tours and interactive activities that lead to a better understanding of community issues. CNY Vitals, our community indicators project, provides information on trends and issues facing area residents to generate discussion, inform goal setting and celebrate community successes. By disseminating knowledge, our goal is to generate innovative ideas and solutions that will benefit Central New York.

We recently awarded our first impact investment, an approach to loaning capital to promising community programs that allows us to support charitable activities while also achieving a modest return on principal. This investment to a local credit union will enable residents to overcome personal adversity and empower communities to make strides toward conquering poverty and economic crisis. We are looking forward to deploying more investments in the future to leverage our community impact in ways we could not achieve through grants or initiatives alone.

Building on 90 years of service to the community, we are the region’s largest nonprofit investor in people and solutions for Central New York. With the knowledge we’ve accumulated and the leadership we’ve demonstrated, we are helping generous donors and dedicated nonprofits achieve their greatest impact.

community leadership

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Children play at Linda’s Little People Day Care in Baldwinsville.

Starting Early:

Community Leadership for Quality Child Care

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hen an application for the Ford Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Leadership Challenge Grant crossed Peggy Ogden’s desk in 1987, she knew the award could provide an amazing opportunity for the Community Foundation to broaden its role in the community. At the time, Ogden was serving as the Community Foundation’s vice president for finance and administration and was the soon-to-be-successor to President and CEO John Dietz.

She had a vision for taking our organization to the next level — both in growing our unrestricted funds and establishing us as a community leader. When we were chosen as one of 10 community foundations nationwide to receive the $500,000 challenge grant, Ogden was tasked with raising $1 million towards our permanent unrestricted endowment. While she and our board members had five years to achieve that ambitious goal, it took just over one year due to the tremendous generosity of our local community members.

With $500,000 now in hand available to address an immediate local need, the board decided to focus on the availability of highquality, affordable child care, a cross-cutting issue that affects working

Thirty-five grants were awarded through the five-year Child Care Project to increase awareness of local child care issues, expand resources for providers and increase the capacity of area agencies.

Funded programs included such things as a library reading program for language development, home-based training for family care providers, infant and child first aid classes and the establishment of a family child care association.

Upon the project’s completion, a data collection project resulted in a report to the community on the trends and challenges of local child care that was distributed to legislators, organizations and providers.

The Community Foundation was honored for its efforts with the 1992 Decade of the Child Award for outstanding contributions to New York children.

Successfully garnering the Leadership Challenge Grant and implementing the Child Care Project set the stage for what would become a long history of the Community Foundation tapping the powers of collective philanthropic capital and thoughtful collaboration to make significant community change.

community leadership

“We expressed to our supporters that we don’t know what the needs of the community are going to be 50 years from now,” said Ogden. “But we do know that there’s going to be a thoughtful group of people around the board table that will make the best decisions in the interest of the community.”

parents, employers and those living in poverty. Instead of passing the money on to child care organizations to disperse, we formed an Advisory Board comprised of more than 80 people from many different disciplines and points of view. Collective planning and problem-solving brought the large group together towards a shared vision, forming strategies that made the vision a reality.

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A Century-Old Syracuse Landmark

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n October 1, 2017, the Greek Revival that sits at 431 East Fayette Street in Downtown Syracuse will turn 100 years old.

The University Club of Syracuse dedicated the building in 1917 to serve as the private society’s clubhouse. Tucked between the Hayden Hotel and the Wolcott Restaurant & Tea Room, the pillared structure provided members with a headquarters to meet in comfortable privacy. The Club was wildly popular when it opened, maintaining a waiting list with hundreds of applicants.

Photo courtesy of Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center, Syracuse.

CNY Philanthropy Center

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In its prime, the University Club often held three to four special events in a week, hosting prominent speakers, networking get-togethers and social dances. The Club drew its share of celebrity visitors over the years including Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Woodrow Wilson.

When we purchased this local treasure eight years ago, it struck us that the structure remained firmly rooted in Syracuse history, yet seemed to be calling for a new mission to bloom and take shape. Overlooking Fayette Park and situated on the Connective Corridor between Syracuse University and downtown Syracuse, this marvelous building was set to be a part of downtown’s renaissance, bringing it back to life with a renewed energy and mission — one that focuses on the development of opportunity, prosperity and inclusion.

Now, as the CNY Philanthropy Center, this repurposed landmark has blossomed into a space for endless collaboration toward a common goal — to help Central New York and its residents succeed and thrive.

A Collaborative Space for All: CNY Philanthropy Center

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he CNY Philanthropy Center is a vibrant gem in downtown Syracuse. The iconic building, rich with history, provides nonprofit and civic organizations with space to collaborate and expand their philanthropic footprints. Within these walls, fresh ideas are generated for the betterment of Central New York and beyond.

And new purpose has been given to a century-old building that holds the stories of many who came before us.

When we purchased the University Club building in 2009 and renamed it the CNY Philanthropy Center, the economy was entering recession and the stock market was plummeting. But the investment in downtown paid off. The four-floor building now offers local nonprofit and civic organizations the opportunity to host meetings, retreats and events in our modern conference rooms and ballroom.

Additionally, nine other charities call the space home. In 2014, the Onondaga County Bar Association (OCBA) and the Onondaga County Bar Foundation relocated to the Philanthropy Center. The move has been beneficial for their staff and the clients they serve.

“The updated office suite gave our employees a nicer, more productive work environment,” said Jeff Unaitis, OCBA executive director. “Being in a facility with so many other community organizations engenders a sense of cooperation and commitment.

It has raised our visibility and made the Bar Association and Foundation better organizations.”

Soon after the Philanthropy Center opened its doors, the Community Foundation launched the Nonprofit Essentials Workshop Series (NEWS). Since then more than 1,000 individuals have attended the workshops which cover topics of interest such as nonprofit management, financial modeling, succession planning, grantwriting, fundraising, endowment development and strategic partnerships.

“We had a vision that we would ‘wear out the floors’ of the facility with people coming and going, that we would expand our mission to include greater levels of nonprofit educational programming and seminars given our ability to use the space — and all that has come to pass,” said Peter Dunn, Community Foundation president & CEO.

“We also preserved an important, elegant, century-old building and created a new use for it — what was once exclusive social space is now space for the community,” Dunn continued.

“This building has helped realize our mission and vision for expanded and engaged philanthropy.”

CNY Philanthropy Center

The Philanthropy Center continues to be a hub of activity and a convenient central meeting place for nonprofits and their partners.

“We have created a welcoming space that has become very much enmeshed as a part of the local civic fabric,” Dunn said.

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endowment development

Helping Donors Make a Meaningful Difference

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or 90 years, the Community Foundation has been helping those who care about Central New York to fulfill their charitable goals and enrich the local community. By leveraging their gifts with others, we help residents make a meaningful and lasting difference.

Behind each of our charitable funds and gifts is a unique story. While there are a myriad of reasons why our donors choose to give to the Community Foundation, they all have something in common: they share a genuine commitment to strengthening our region and they believe in the power of fostering a source of community-based capital that will invest in our region’s well-being — today and for many years to come.

Gifts from thousands of donors have built an endowment for the region that now includes more than 700 charitable funds and it continues to grow. Thanks to generous estate gifts designed by donors to be flexible, many of these funds support our Community Grant program, allowing us to proactively address the changing needs of the community and support innovative responses.

The Community Foundation’s affiliate funds, including the Cayuga Community Fund, Oswego County Community Foundation and Greater Pulaski Community Endowment Fund, help neighbors preserve permanent charitable resources for the benefit of their regions’ nonprofit work. The Women’s Fund of Central New York supports, empowers and recognizes the advancement and full participation of women and girls in Central New York. Combined, these affiliate funds have awarded nearly $1 million in grants, demonstrating the strength and impact that a union of gifts can have when paired with the power of endowment and careful financial stewardship.

endowment development

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Giving Stories for Generations

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ngaging in giving allows each of us to leave our own personal mark on the world. Every donor has a unique story and each charitable legacy is an important part of our communal history. For 90 years, individuals and families have entrusted their stories with the Community Foundation so that they may have an impact in the community beyond their lifetimes.

Our staff guides donors through the process of creating Legacy Plans that help them to connect with their motivations for giving and preserve their charitable legacies for years to come. By documenting their giving stories, they construct a roadmap for successive generations to access their giving intentions and inspirations even after they are gone.

Those who intend to leave a future gift to the Community Foundation through their estates join our Legacy Society. We know of more than 150 people in our community today who have made this commitment, trusting us to carefully steward their legacies for generations.

We strive each day to record the stories of thoughtful Central New Yorkers. Their generosity will make a difference that endures for generations to come.

A Love That Carries On:

Ruth & Martha Blumberg

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artha Blumberg accomplished great things in her short life — gaining recognition as a promising young artist when she was just 12 years old. She graduated from Jamesville-Dewitt High School in 1979 and attended Yale University for two years. She was an honor student, artist and musician, but she was constrained by a disease that forced her to undergo several organ transplants.

Martha died at the young age of 23, while waiting for what would have been her third kidney transplant. Her death in 1985 was devastating to her parents, Ruth and Sydney Blumberg. Ruth’s life was forever changed by the loss of her only child. Through her grief, Ruth persevered and carried on with her lifelong commitment to many volunteer activities. Ruth wanted something good to happen in the community to honor Martha’s short life.

When she passed away decades later, her will directed a portion of her estate to the Community Foundation to form The Martha Fund. The fund is designed to perpetually support local children’s programs in her daughter’s name.

Ruth lived a life of giving back, and her charitable spirit will live on through her bequest to the Community Foundation in memory of Martha.

endowment development

The Martha Fund honors Martha’s zest for life, and her legacy will be honored through the many programs it will support. Since 2013, the fund has awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to support children’s art programs, health services and learning activities in Central New York. Countless young people in our region will continue to benefit from the generous commitment Ruth made to ensure that her daughter’s memory would not be forgotten.

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Patients of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital take part in a craft activity with Maggie Zick, child life specialist. In 2004, the Community Foundation awarded the largest community grant in its history at the time, in part from the John F. Marsellus Fund, toward the Upstate Foundation’s capital campaign for the hospital’s construction.

endowment development

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A Legacy Honored:

John F. Marsellus

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riends and family of John F. Marsellus remember him as a civic leader who truly loved Central New York. His passion for the community was evident through his continuous involvement in many organizations including being a board member of the Community Foundation, Manufacturers Association of CNY, Everson Museum of Art, Ducks Unlimited, YMCA and a founding member of the Metropolitan Development Association (now CenterState CEO).

In 1973 he established a donor-advised fund, which for nearly 30 years administered his charitable giving. At the time of his death in 2000, his estate plan included naming the Community Foundation in his will as a major beneficiary. He knew this act of generosity wouldcarry on his charitable giving in perpetuity while, at the same time, increase the funding we could distribute to worthy nonprofit organizations.

Additionally, the fund supports and promotes several of our community initiatives including the Marsellus Executive Development Program, which provides leadership enhancement opportunities for nonprofit staff executives.

Marsellus once said, “For the future, I have complete faith in the Foundation’s investment stewardship and that my fund will continue to grow and provide support for important community organizations.�

Just as he did in his daily life, his legacy will continue to enrich the lives of generations of area residents because of his thoughtful planning and commitment to Central New York.

endowment development

Marsellus was the third generation of his family to manage the Marsellus Casket Company in Syracuse. The company, founded by his grandfather in 1872, enjoyed a world-wide reputation for being the leading manufacturer of fine hardwood caskets.

Specifically, the John F. Marsellus Fund supports projects that promote education, the arts, centers of learning, recreation, environmental conservation, local children and health care accessibility. Over the past 15 years, it has supported nearly 1,000 local charitable programs.

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Assisting Others for Generations:

Honorable Frank H. Hiscock

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udge Frank Harris Hiscock devoted much of his life to practicing law and philanthropy. He had a powerful desire to assist the less fortunate and improve the quality of life in Syracuse and its surrounding areas. His legacy continues to make an impact through the work of Hiscock Legal Aid Society, an organization established by a gift from his will.

In 1855, his father, L. Harris Hiscock — a Surrogate Court judge and state assemblyman — and his uncle, Frank Hiscock — a United States senator — partnered to establish the law firm now known as Barclay Damon, one of the oldest and largest firms in Syracuse.

The younger Frank joined the law firm in 1877. He later served as chief justice of the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. Throughout his career he was an active participant and supporter of his community, including serving as one of the Community Foundation’s founders when it was established in 1927.

He made a provision in his will to donate his home on James Street in Syracuse to the Community Foundation. This well-known property was sold to the Corinthian Club after his death and the proceeds were used to establish the Hiscock Legal Aid Society. The organization opened its offices on South Warren Street in 1949 to provide quality legal assistance free of charge to Onondaga County residents who could not afford to hire private legal counsel. endowment development

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The organization now serves as a legal advocate for domestic violence victims and offers services to address immigration, family court, civil, appeals, parole revocation and extradition matters. Its 60 attorneys and staff members work tirelessly to provide underserved individuals and families with access to high quality legal counsel. In 2016, the organization handled nearly 4,000 cases.

Thanks to Judge Hiscock’s generosity, the organization continues to enrich the community today, nearly 70 years since his vision was turned into a reality.

“In making the bequest that enabled the creation of the Legal Aid Society, Judge Hiscock put into action the belief that no person should be denied access to justice because of a lack of means,” said Society president & CEO, Linda Gehron.

“I imagine he would be pleased that people like him continue to support our mission to uphold the fundamental human rights that are basic to any democracy.”

Through his thoughtfulness, Judge Hiscock’s commitment to social justice has helped generations of Central New York residents find their voices through the support of legal counsel.

Jeanine Anderson turned to Hiscock Legal Aid during a particularly difficult period in her life — after recovering from addiction. Her lawyer helped her gain more visitations with her daughter. “I have my family and I never take them for granted any more. I have earned my way back to my little girl.”

endowment development

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leadership & staff Peter A. Dunn, J.D. President & CEO

Finance & Operations

Kimberly P. Sadowski, CPA Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Elizabeth T. Hartman, CPA Controller

Kathleen A. Deaver

Manager, Fund Operations

Gerianne P. Corradino

Communications

Katrina M. Crocker

Vice President, Communications

Juliet R. Maloff

Communications Manager Community Investment

Frank M. Ridzi, Ph.D. Vice President, Community Investment

Danielle Gill

Finance Associate

Director, Community Grantmaking

Christina Whiteside

David A. Kilpatrick

Development

Robyn Smith

Administrative Associate

Jennifer L. Owens, CAP® Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer

Monica M. Merante

Director, Philanthropic Services

Program Officer, Community Grantmaking Program Officer, Community Engagement

Dashiell Martinez

Program Associate, Community Grantmaking

Thomas M. Griffith, CAP®, ChFC® Director of Gift Planning

Jan L. Lane

Development Officer

Jenny E. Green

Development Associate

organization background

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Community Foundation staff gather in front of the Central New York Philanthropy Center. The Center, opened in 2010, was established by the Community Foundation to serve as its permanent home and as a hub for charitable collaboration.

(Left to Right) Back Row: David Kilpatrick, Jan Lane, Peter Dunn, Kim Sadowski, Kathie Deaver, Christina Whiteside, Frank Ridzi. Middle Row: Jenn Owens, Katrina Crocker, Jenny Green, Dashiell Martinez, Liz Hartman. Front Row: Geri Corradino, Tom Griffith, Robyn Smith, Danielle Gill, Juliet Maloff, Monica Merante.

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ver the past 90 years, numerous community leaders have served on the Community Foundation’s board of directors, lending their professional perspective, expertise and time to help guide our work.

In the early years, there was no paid staff. Throughout the past four decades, three presidents — accompanied by a growing number of employees — have worked closely with the board to guide the Community Foundation’s growth and impact in our community.

We are proud of our dedicated personnel, all of whom are fully committed to our mission to improve the community. This dedication often extends beyond the requirements of their work. It is common to see our team members volunteering their time and talents in their local neighborhoods or for the causes that inspire them.

Many even balance their time working at the Community Foundation while also advancing their degrees or attending leadership programs that develop their skills.

Over the course of our history, the collective efforts of all those who served on our board of directors, committees and staff laid the groundwork for the Community Foundation’s tremendous growth and its role in strengthening the local community.

organization background

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founders

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he Community Foundation was founded in 1927 by people with heart and vision. Motivated by a strong desire to continuously improve the region, community leaders joined together to form what was then a relatively new approach to philanthropy — a community foundation.

Since then, Central New York has evolved within a changing world. But the Community Foundation remains a constant, stable force — perpetually developing the local community’s charitable endowment while addressing the ever-changing needs of its residents.

We will remain forever grateful to our founders for their insight and commitment to our mission.

Thank You:

Gay Pomeroy Frederick W. Barker President, Syracuse Savings Bank

Hollister E. Hessler President, H. E. Hessler Company

Harold C. Beatty Vice President and Trust Officer, Syracuse Trust

Frank H. Hiscock Partner, Hiscock & Barclay

George H. Bond Attorney, Bond, Schoeneck & King Frederick V. Bruns President, Excelsior Insurance John J. Buettner Anesthesiologist, Syracuse Memorial, St. Josephs & St. Mary’s Hospitals Carleton A. Chase President, First Trust & Deposit Harry J. Clark Civil Engineer, Syracuse Rapid Transit Judson W. Clark President, Liberty National Bank John R. Clancy President, E. K. Clancy Elmer T. Eshelman President, City Bank Trust Charles S. Estabrook Senior Partner, Hancock & Estabrook

organization background

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Charles W. Flint Chancellor, Syracuse University, 1922-1936 Stewart F. Hancock Attorney, Hancock & Estabrook Henry H. S. Handy Co-Founder, Girard National Bank and Philadelphia Trust Company Dora G. S. Hazard Co-Founder, Huntington Family Centers and League of Women Voters

Adolph M. Holstein Founder, Syracuse Ornamental Company Mary E. Jenkins President, Herald Company William H. Kelley Partner, Kelley Brothers, Coal Dealers Edmund H. Lewis Associate Judge, Mackenzie Hughes, NYS Court of Appeals Francis H. McChesney President, Hall & McChesney Publishers Edward H. O’Hara Editor, Herald Journal Oscar F. Soule President, Merrell & Soule Hurlburt W. Smith Co-owner, L.C. Smith-Corona Typewriters Lewis P. Smith Co-Founder, Mackenzie, Smith, Lewis & Mitchell Law Firm Wilbert L. Smith Co-owner, L.C. Smith-Corona Typewriters Giles H. Stilwell Attorney, Syracuse & Suburban Railroad and H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Benjamin Stolz Attorney, Messrs. McGowan & Stolz John B. Tuck Senior Partner, Tuck & Tuck Law Firm

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his year, Gay Pomeroy passed the torch as the Community Foundation’s long-term legal counsel. We recognize that his exceptional knowledge in the field of estate planning and administration made him an invaluable asset to our organization and donors for more than 30 years.

Gay was appointed legal counsel of the Community Foundation in 1983 during a time when there was large growth in the number of community foundations forming across the country. As a result, many new standards were introduced to the field, for which Gay provided us essential direction.

The impact of Gay’s longevity and legal guidance for the Community Foundation has been immeasurable. While we are sad to see him go, we hope that his retirement will be filled with enjoying his favorite hobbies including golfing, bowling, traveling and operating the time clock at Syracuse University basketball and lacrosse games. Thank you for many great years, Gay!

board of directors J. Andrew Breuer Principal, Hueber-Breuer Construction Company

Caragh D. Fahy, CFP President and Owner, Madison Financial Planning Group

Craig A. Buckhout, CFA Principal, Rockbridge Investment Management, LLC

Daniel J. Fisher* Former Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Organization Leadership, Welch Allyn

Evelyn C. Carter Division Consumer Affairs Manager, Wegmans Food Markets Honorable Julie A. Cecile Judge , Onondaga County Family Court Casey Crabill, Ed.D. President, Onondaga Community College

David A. Holstein, Esq. Member, Bousquet Holstein, PLLC

Brian Pollard, D.D.S.** President, Smile Design, D.D.S., P.C.

Steven L. Jacobs President, Bishops Brook, Inc.

M. Jack Rudnick, Esq. Of Counsel, Barclay Damon, LLP

Pastor Daren C. Jaime* Senior Pastor, People’s A.M.E. Zion Church

Robert D. Scolaro, Esq. Founder, Scolaro Law, P.C.

Lee Gatta CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®* Larry R. Leatherman Financial Planner, Prudential Financial Retired, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology Carolyn Gerakopoulos* & Bristol-Myers Squibb Retired, Oneida Public Library Grace B. Ghezzi, CPA/PFS/CFF, CFP®, CFE, AEP® President & Financial Consultant, Grace B. Ghezzi Consulting, LLC

Timothy Penix Vice President, Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center

Gwen Webber-McLeod President & CEO, Gwen, Inc. Maryann M. Winters, MS, CPA Partner, Cuomo, Winters & Schmidt, CPAs, PLLC Gay M. Pomeroy, Esq. Legal Counsel, Mackenzie Hughes, LLP

J. Daniel Pluff, IMC Richard D. Hole, Esq.** Senior Vice President Partner, Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC & Financial Advisor, The Pluff, Hooley, *Term commenced April 1, 2017 ** Board service completed March 31, 2017 Black Group of Morgan Stanley

former board members

Members of our board of directors — community leaders who hold extensive community knowledge and expertise in charitable giving — have been invaluable over the course of our 90-year history in overseeing the management of our assets, helping support the development of new funds and providing strategic thinking on the distribution of grants and creation of special initiatives that have made a positive impact in our region.

Howard M. Dirks T. Frank Dolan, Jr. Dennis Dowdell George B. Dowley A. Dean Dudley Gilbert E. Dwyer Harold Edwards, Jr. William C. Egan Kenneth J. Entenmann N. E. Evans Michael J. Falcone Noreen R. Falcone E.M. Farmer Maceo N. Felton Michael R. Figler John W. Finlay Marion Hancock Fish, Esq. Lee H. Flanagan Ray T. Forbes, M.D. Richard W. Foss William C. Francher John M. Frantz, Jr. Gary R. Germain, Esq. Elizabeth Gieselman Ronald N. Goddard Edward S. Green, Esq. Joan F. Green Dr. George L. Haller William A. Hamler, Jr. A. Van W. Hancock John S. Hancock Stewart F. Hancock, Sr. Theodore M. Hancock H. Baird Hansen Elizabeth A. Hartnett, Esq. Linda Dickerson Hartsock Everett N. Hatch Burnett D. Haylor James D. Heffernan Anthony A. Henninger Ann G. Higbee Thomas W. Higgins William L. Hinds H. Follett Hodgkins

Melvin C. Holm Alexander E. Holstein Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein Gloria Hooper-Rasberry, Ph.D. Madelyn H. Hornstein, CPA Richard D. Horowitz Robert J. Hughes, Jr. Raymond A. Hust Dorothy R. Irish Edward Jenner Leo Jivoff Cydney M. Johnson Clarence L. Jordan James W. Jordan J. Harold Klosheim, Jr. Ellen Percy Kraly, Ph.D. Rev. Dr. Benjamin Lake William T. Lane George W. Lee Joseph B. Lee George R. Lindemer Robert H. Linn, CPA Melanie W. Littlejohn Eleanor A. Ludwig Carl H. Maar Morrill A. Mace Ransom G. MacKenzie James E. Mackin, Esq. Dr. Leonard C. Maier, Jr. John F.X. Mannion James W. Marble Leonard P. Markert Kenneth E. Markley Asher S. Markson Nancy F. Marquardt John D. Marsellus John F. Marsellus John B. McCabe, M.D. Rev. Dr. William H. McConaghy James D. McNitt Thomas O. Mehen Crandall Melvin Albert B. Merrill Anne Messenger

Daniel Mezzalingua Richard Morris William G. Morton John C. Mott Eric Mower David Moynihan Colleen M. Murphy Bernice Nelligan Joseph L. Nicholson Paul C. Nojaim Lester J. Norcross Martha H. Northrup Theodore H. Northrup Royal L. O’Day Michael E. O’Connor, Esq. Sybil Ridings Oakes William B. Ogden, III Joseph F. Owens, Jr. Henry A. Panasci James H. Parr Richard C. Pietrafesa Marilyn L. Pinsky William L. Pollard, Ph.D. Rita L. Reicher, Ph.D. Marshall M. Reisman David A. A. Ridings Donald W. Rives Ethel S. Robinson Elaine R. Rubenstein Jack Rubenstein Jeffrey M. Rubenstein Michael E. Rulison Kathryn Howe Ruscitto Maria P. Russell Richard A. Russell, Esq. Robert B. Salisbury Dene A. Sarason Ernest L. Sarason Judith M. Sayles, Esq. Richard S. Scolaro, Esq. James P. Scott Mansukh J. Shah Mary Ann Shaw Reid L. Shaw

John A. Sheedy Benjamin E. Shove Frances A. Singer Vaughn A. Skinner Harry G. Slater Charlotta Barlow Sloan Robert J. Sloan James D. Small Virginia G. Small Corinne R. Smith, Ph.D. Thomas W. Smith Paul M. Solomon Dirk E. Sonneborn, CPA Oscar F. Soule Anne D. Stewart William V. Stone John T. Sullivan Miriam B. Swift Robert J. Theis, Sr. Stephanie R. Threatte Francis M. Truman Forbes S. Tuttle John R. Tuttle Clarence H. Twichell Warren B. Unbehend Mayra Urrutia Michael Wamp Harold H. Wanamaker Jay W. Wason Ross M. Weale Morris S. Weeden H. Hiram Weisberg Barry L. Wells Samuel W. Williams James J. Wilson Jerome M. Wilson Martha Winkelstein Moses Winkelstein Chris J. Witting Frank T. Wood Peggy W. Wood W. Niver Wynkoop Ronald R. Young

Do you know of a former board member who is not listed here? Contact us at (315) 422-9538 or info@cnycf.org to help us record our history.

organization background

Peter J. Allen Janet (Penny) Allyn Maritza Alvarado, M.D. Chester D. Amond Edward J. Audi Warren W. Bader, Esq. David H. Barclay DeeDee S. Barclay Frederick W. Barker Sanford A. Belden, Ph.D. Irving G. Berman W. Cornell Blanding Vicki R. Brackens Sharon A. Brangman, M.D. A. Patrick Bright William L. Broad William C. Brod Sandra L. Brown H. Duane Bruce Gerald Burke Robert E. Bushnell Douglas P. Cagwin Howard H. Cannon Russell C. Carlson Charles A. Chappell, Sr. Phillip R. Chase Dr. Robert J. Collins David J. Connor Michael J. Connor Mary (Mitzi) O. Cooper Robert A. Cornelius Calvin L. Corriders Richard S. Corriero, CPA Allan B. Coughlin Gail Cowley Susan J. Crockett, Ph.D. Raymond W. Cross, Ph.D. Raymond W. Cummings Eloise Dowdell Curry Mary S. Darcy Harry W. Davies Christine Woodcock Dettor, Esq. Rev. Ronald Dewberry John S. Dietz

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The rolling hills of Madison County.

strategic framework

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A Foundation for Our Future:

Strategic Framework

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hile this year signifies our 90-year anniversary, we also celebrate an exciting evolution. Over time, our focus on encouraging the growth of local charitable funds and distributing grants to improve the quality of life in our region has aligned with our ever-expanding roles as a respected community leader, trusted philanthropic advisor and a powerful change agent across a wide range of issues.

These advances present us with an opportunity to sharpen our focus. In the following pages, we present our Strategic Framework for the next five years. We strive to support our community in the following ways: • Motivate local philanthropy, capture stories of our donors’ charitable aspirations and inspire legacies that create permanent charitable capital for the benefit of Central New York.

• Serve as a broad-based, locally focused foundation that is nimble and responsive in the face of changing needs.

• Promote collaboration to spread the reach of focused initiatives, leverage additional resources and engage partners who share our values and goals.

• Expand our potential to create positive change by deploying our resources in new ways.

• Commit to operational excellence and foster the effective and efficient use of the resources entrusted to us.

This framework is designed to be dynamic — encouraging refinement based on what we learn as we proceed. The following plan identifies how we will rise to the challenge of being a valuable choice for local donors, an impactful force for good and a financially sound, sustainable resource able to serve Central New York today, tomorrow and forever.

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the heart of our work Mission

Our mission is to foster a thriving Central New York community, inspire greater giving, celebrate legacy and steward charitable resources for today and tomorrow.

our dream for the future Vision

We envision Central New York as a vibrant community with opportunity for everyone. Future generations of Central New Yorkers will proudly inherit a hopeful, prosperous region where generosity and collaboration abound to create lasting improvement.

our promise to you Pledge

We pledge to be an enduring and compassionate partner in philanthropy, investing in the people and potential of Central New York. We commit to collaborative relationships with the individuals and organizations that are the heartbeat of our region. We support our fellow community members in becoming authors of opportunity and agents of change. We open our doors to everyone and anyone who aspires to build upon the contributions of the past and present to shape our community’s shared future. strategic framework

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Building a Culture of Leadership & Impact:

Community Investment

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e will be responsive to the region’s needs, play a community leadership role and vigilantly assess impact.

We will engage more deeply in projects and initiatives that have already yielded results — including our work to increase literacy across the lifespan, reduce poverty and address lead paint exposure — and vigorously pursue solutions to new community needs that emerge.

Our Activities Support new ideas and scale up projects with proven impact. We will operate a dynamic and responsive grants program that provides nonprofits and visionary leaders with the resources they need to create community impact.

Strengthen nonprofits and prepare their leaders for the future. We will invest in our nonprofit partners by helping them secure the tools and knowledge needed to achieve their missions.

Build, sustain and share community knowledge. We will promote the use of data to convey what is happening in our communities and identify and grow new ways to tackle issues.

Promote collaboration to address community issues. We will invest in initiatives that bring together people and organizations sharing common priorities to coordinate powerful efforts that drive change using the principles of collective impact.

What You Will See • Active dialogue with organizations • Responsive grantmaking to community needs • Measurement of results toward community impact • Streamlined grant processes • Experiments with venture funding and other strategies • Nonprofit organizational and professional development • Learning communities • Community indicator data • Stakeholder convenings around local issues • Funding partnerships that leverage impact

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Building an Enduring Culture of Philanthropy:

Development

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e will work toward continued growth of our permanent endowment, with a focus on attracting funds with broad community purposes.

Our Activities Develop and maintain relationships among key donor prospects and professional advisors. We will raise awareness of our philanthropic services among those who might partner with us to expand the pool of charitable capital available in our community.

Become a distinguished center for donor legacy planning. We will create a donor-centered program that focuses on documenting the personal stories and charitable aspirations of those who choose us as the home for their legacy.

Attract high-value funds. We will incentivize the creation of funds most helpful to our community and revise our internal processes to increase efficiency. We will also continue to improve our data collection and management systems and use these data to direct our staff time.

What You Will See • Refined legacy planning offerings • Standardization of legacy planning work • Targeted marketing efforts • Streamlined internal processes • Improved data collection and usage

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Stewarding Charitable Resources for Today & Tomorrow:

Finance & Operations

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e will increase organizational strength through the effective management of our resources and strive for operational excellence through investments in infrastructure, institutional capacity and facilities.

Our Activities Drive growth in assets and charitable resources through prudent investment management. We will enhance our reputation for effective management of charitable funds and maximize our potential for new gifts.

Implement an impact investment program. We will support impact investments that have a return of capital on a risk-adjusted basis and leverage our community impact in ways we could not achieve through grants or other leadership efforts alone.

Optimize operations, facilities, talent retention and infrastructure for community impact. We will devote resources to supporting excellence in our operations, including systems improvement, staff retention and professional growth, as well as enhancement to our facilities.

What You Will See • Investment results that meet or exceed our peers • Spending policy discipline that preserves effective purchasing power of endowed funds • Creation of a program for impact investments and opportunities for co-funding with donors and area funders • Growth in revenue to support operations • Grant, donor and community-facing program improvements • Technology and IT infrastructure assessments • Maximized use of the CNY Philanthropy Center

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central new york philanthropy center 431 east fayette street suite 100 syracuse, ny 13202

contact us: 315-422-9538

cnycf.org

Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.