COMMUNIT Y RISING
COMMUNIT Y RISE
DEAR FRIENDS,
What does lead abatement have to do with funding for literacy, the arts and economic development? At first glance, it might be hard to find a common thread. But the reality is that these are all elements of a thriving community. We all have a role to play.
Just as each grant and investment represents a piece of a larger puzzle, each of us has the ability to help create the framework for a brighter future. Take, for example, our first Participatory Budgeting project that culminated last year. We started with questions rather than answers. We relied on the power of collaboration and community engagement — working alongside neighborhood residents, leaders and nonprofit partners — to design solutions and decide how funding should be allocated to increase childhood lead testing.
We listened to each other’s stories and experiences. We shared ideas and built connections. We sat, side by side, with hard truths and uncovered more questions. We learned, grew and forged a path forward — together. This process, fueled by community generosity and collective wisdom, provides a template for how we can approach all big challenges and opportunities. Community participation is essential for community prosperity.
Together, we can make Central New York a place where success and resiliency reside in every home, a place where all the issues that have historically held us back or weighed us down — poverty, lead poisoning, illiteracy, hunger, homelessness, mental illness, racism, all the –isms — no longer live. When we combine compassion, integrity, funding and resources with the full potential and diversity of our community, we become unstoppable.
Thanks to the contributions of our many supporters over the past nine decades, we have built a solid foundation. As our community continues to grow, we must be prepared to grow with it. As the pipeline of opportunities expands, so, too, will the needs. We are committed, as always, to rise to meet the moment. Let’s create the community we all deserve to live in. Together.
We know the answers are within all of us. The question is: Which part will you play?
Board
of Directors
Melanie Littlejohn, MBA President & CEO
| BEA GONZÁLEZ, DAN FISHER AND MELANIE LITTLEJOHN
YEAR IN REVIEW
NEW PRESIDENT & CEO LISTENING SESSIONS
In December 2023, our board of directors named Melanie Littlejohn our new president & CEO beginning March 1, 2024, following an eight-month nationwide search. Throughout Melanie’s first three months, we held a series of community listening and networking events, providing an opportunity for residents to contribute to the conversation surrounding Central New York’s shared future.
LAUNCH OF IMPACT INVESTING AND BRIDGE LOAN FUND
This year our board of directors approved a policy that allows us to use up to 5% of our main investment pool for the purpose of local impact investment. Our impact investing program also closed on a $500,000 deposit to Cooperative Federal to launch a nonprofit bridge loan program. Pg. 9, Impact Investing
$650,000 FOR LEADSAFECNY
Last September, our LeadSafeCNY initiative received $500,000 from Onondaga County to replace windows and doors in 40 affordable rental units. In December, it received $150,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to put toward the cost of hiring a coordinator for the LeadSafeCNY Coalition. leadsafecny.org
| ATTENDEES AT THE
NEW AGREEMENT HELPS STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE HOUSING COSTS
Say Yes Syracuse and Onondaga Community College (OCC) teamed up to form the Preferred Partners Program to help Syracuse City School District graduates who attend OCC with their housing costs. Say Yes Scholars can receive up to $2,500 in housing assistance per semester. Of that, $1,500 comes from the Say Yes Opportunity Grant and $1,000 comes from the OCC Housing Development Corporation. sayyessyracuse.org
LAUNCH OF IDEA PROGRAM
We launched the Internal Diversity Equity & Action (IDEA) grant opportunity to encourage organizations to take the next steps in their journey to operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion. Grants support cultural competency work, leadership consultation, training for managers and incorporation of DEI into strategic and financial planning. cnycf.org/idea
DR. ROBERT J. VITKUS FUND EXPANDS TO FIVE-COUNTY REGION
When Bob Vitkus died in 2020, his estate named the Community Foundation as the recipient of a $10 million legacy gift to support outdoor parks and recreation areas and programs that involve youth, hunting and fishing, or conservation efforts to improve wildlife habitats and open spaces. Since the establishment of the fund, $1,080,187 has been granted to 24 organizations in Onondaga and Madison counties. In March, we expanded grantmaking from the fund to support additional communities across our five-county region, including Cayuga, Oswego and Cortland counties.
PAYMENT PENDING ISSUE PAPER
Delayed payments to nonprofits from New York state contracts has been an issue since the 1980s. In our Payment Pending issue paper, we examined how often this occurs, what steps nonprofits are forced to take to make up the difference, and recommend a new solution that may be helpful in some circumstances. cnycf.org/papers
PARTICIPATORY GRANTMAKING
Last fall we launched our Participatory Grantmaking initiative to provide a space for members of historically marginalized communities to collaboratively identify the biggest needs of their individual communities, co-design projects and receive funding for implementation. A total of $125,280 funded four projects to address needs in the Latino, LGBTQIA+ and Asian communities as well as people with disabilities.
Pg. 8, Participatory Grantmaking story
CNY PHILANTHROPY CENTER UPDATES
Over the past four years, we have taken measures to ensure the safety and accessibility of our building for our staff and visitors. This year we installed new audio-visual equipment in our ballroom, accessibility buttons in our second floor bathrooms and updated panic and lockdown alarms at the front desk.
AFFILIATE FUNDS
Our four Affiliate Funds had an outstanding year of fundraising and grantmaking to support nonprofits across the region. In partnership with the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, the Greater Pulaski Endowment Fund distributed $35,100 in grants; in addition, the Cayuga Community Fund distributed $85,780 in grants, the Oswego County Community Foundation distributed $33,910 in grants and the Women’s Fund of Central New York distributed $55,000 in grants.
| RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY, A DR. ROBERT J. VITKUS FUND GRANT RECIPIENT SERVING CORTLAND COUNTY
A YEAR OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2023, AND MARCH 31, 2024, WE RECEIVED $24.7 MILLION IN GIFTS AND BEQUESTS AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $23.4 MILLION IN GRANT SUPPORT TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
BLACK EQUITY & EXCELLENCE FUNDING
Our Black Equity & Excellence Fund was designed to help reverse patterns of historic underinvestment by funding Black-led community-based projects that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and address physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. The Fund also encourages dialogue that will strengthen race-related matters and support social and educational growth in the community. This year we distributed 31 grants totaling $238,200.
COMMUNITY GRANTMAKING
We offer a wide variety of funding opportunities, the largest of which is our Community Grants program. We provide grant funding to nonprofit organizations in Onondaga and Madison counties for projects in the areas of arts and culture, civic affairs, education, health, human services and the environment. This year we distributed 46 grants totaling $2,139,310.
RURAL POVERTY SUPPORT
The Madison County Rural Poverty Fund is our effort to support poverty-related issues and organizations in Madison County. This year we distributed two grants totaling $23,568.
ADDITIONAL GRANTMAKING
This year we also distributed 35 small grants totaling $215,217; 23 literacy grants totaling $218,541, including operational support for Imagination Library; three IDEA grants totaling $23,690; 11 Cortland County Bright Ideas grants to support nonprofits in Cortland County totaling $55,000; and two Strategic Partnership Fund grants to support nonprofit mergers and affiliations totaling $32,113.
TO VIEW A LIST OF ALL OUR GRANTS, VISIT CNYCF.ORG/GRANTS.
WITH LEAPS & LIGHTS, PROGRAM LINKS STEM & DANCE
Josie Addai, a middle schooler from Jamesville-DeWitt, eagerly joined last summer’s STEM From Dance program, blending her interests in math and dance. Initially unsure how these fields would connect, she quickly adapted to combining dance movements with programming and lighted costumes. She joined about 40 middle school girls, primarily from underrepresented communities in tech careers, in a three-week program that integrates STEM with performing arts through hands-on projects.
“I like math because it makes my brain think in ways other things do not,” said Addai. “Dance lets you show who you are without talking or writing anything down.”
Yamilée Toussaint, founder and CEO of STEM From Dance, brought the program to Syracuse to address the underrepresentation of women and people of color in STEM. With a background in engineering and dance, she experienced societal influences that discouraged her from pursuing tech careers. By merging dance and STEM, the program aims to empower girls to expand their knowledge and pursue high-paying STEM careers.
Dance, Toussaint said, is “a powerful way to help girls experience joy and encouragement and empowerment.” She added, “STEM From Dance allows girls to have a space where they can comfortably explore their potential and future in STEM. Dance is very cultural, so it’s very reassuring to see their culture in a space that they have historically been excluded from.”
The program in Syracuse was funded by the Youth STEM Funder Collaborative, which includes the Community Foundation, Micron Foundation, United Way of Central New York, Gifford Foundation and Allyn Foundation, with additional support provided by OneGroup and Community Bank and Dr. James Rolling and Me’Shae Rolling.
Reflecting on her experiences, Toussaint noted that dance made her feel confident and capable as a teen, a sentiment she hopes to instill in the program participants. Addai found the program inspiring, helping her express herself and think differently through the integration of math and dance.
Together, she said, dance and STEM activities “help me express myself and make me think differently.”
40 girls participated in the first year of the STEM From Dance program.
Read the full story at cnycf.org/2024 or scan the QR code.
INCREASING ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Carrie Valenzuela’s life is busy. As a single parent of a child with special needs, and an entrepreneur, artist and business owner, Valenzuela’s schedule is packed with appointments and commitments. Managing her packed schedule, she said, would be a nightmare without reliable transportation.
“It’s major,” she said. “Can you imagine having a child and having to take your kid to school and then get groceries and then go pick up your kid? How are you going to do that on a bus?”
For many of her neighbors, lacking cars and driver’s licenses limits their educational and employment opportunities. To address this, a $30,000 grant from our Venture Fund supported the Center for Justice Innovation’s Driving Toward Equity project, which helps Latino families obtain driver’s licenses by covering permit fees, licensing costs and driving courses. This project aims to
improve access to economic opportunities and community resources, partnering with Branch’s Driving School to overcome language barriers.
Driving Toward Equity was selected during our 2023 Participatory Grantmaking initiative that addresses inequities in marginalized communities. Valenzuela appreciated the democratic process of participatory grantmaking, which included voices from historically marginalized communities. “It was not just the people in the boardroom,” she said. “People care. They really do.”
Four groups, including Asian, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities, identified their community’s highest needs through data presentations and discussions. The Latino group voted for Driving for Equity with 78% support. Many in the Latino community arrive in the U.S. without a driver’s license,
making it difficult to access resources and job opportunities in Syracuse. This project addresses an immediate need and fosters long-term equity and access.
Valenzuela envisions more Latino-owned businesses emerging with increased access to driver’s licenses, and she believes everyone should have equal opportunity to obtain a driver’s license. “Having a license and reliable transportation is life-changing,” she said.
A total of $125,280 was distributed to four groups through our Participatory Grantmaking project.
Read the full story at cnycf.org/2024 or scan the QR code.
INVEST FOR IMPACT
Impact investing allows us to use our financial resources to make investments that generate both financial returns and positive social outcomes. In 2023, our board of directors approved a policy that allows us to use up to 5% of our main investment pool for the purpose of local impact investment. By leveraging financial resources and investing in organizations and projects that align with our mission, we are able to make the most of our capital assets while contributing to the long-term well-being and development of our community.
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
Portfolio represents funded investments as of June 30, 2024
$3.61M INVESTED IN REGION
$25.9 M LEVERAGED FOR HOME LOANS
$37.6M LEVERAGED FOR HOME, PERSONAL, BUSINESS & OTHER LOANS
INVESTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Nonprofit Bridge Loan Program
In February, we partnered with Cooperative Federal (Coop Fed) to launch a nonprofit bridge loan program. The bridge loan fund will help nonprofit organizations continue essential community services while awaiting the receipt of approved grant funding. It is common for government agencies and other funders to require awardees to draw down funds on a reimbursement basis, often taking several months and even up to a year to process reimbursements. A Community Foundation survey of more than 50 local nonprofit organizations found that 58% have experienced funding delays from New York State grant contracts.
Loans will be fully secured by Community Foundation funds on deposit at Coop Fed. Nonprofit organizations and unincorporated organizations working with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor are eligible to borrow an amount equal to their first anticipated disbursement under a fully executed funding agreement, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. The Community Foundation will be responsible for intake, loan application packaging and preliminary due diligence review. Applications that meet the Community Foundation’s internal standards will be recommended to Coop Fed.
Learn more at cnycf.org/ImpactInvesting
| GABBY IBRAHIM
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Realizing that responsive grant funding alone cannot address our community’s complex challenges, our Strategic Initiatives focus on one common goal — to make a demonstrable impact on our community.
Through our Local Impact Investing, we make investments that generate both financial returns and positive social outcomes for nonprofits. cnycf.org/impactinvesting
Our LeadSafeCNY initiative works to decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates through funding, impact investing, collaboration and improved public policy. This year we distributed seven grants totaling $450,000 to support lead-safe housing construction, existing home renovations, community outreach and training and workforce development. So far, 1,743 windows and 165 doors have been replaced to eliminate lead-dust-producing high-friction surfaces in rental units and 226 safe and affordable rental units have been constructed or renovated. leadsafecny.org
Say Yes Syracuse provides opportunities and scholarships to remove financial barriers for Syracuse City School District students to attend college. Say Yes Syracuse is independently governed and administered by the Community Foundation. A total of 6,256 scholars have attended college with the help of Say Yes since 2009. sayyessyracuse.org
| BABY B.A.C.K., A LEADSAFECNY GRANT RECIPIENT
| DAVID NGUYEN, A SAY YES SYRACUSE SCHOLAR
PROFESSIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For many decades we have been a leading sponsor of initiatives to
COMMUNITY RESOURCE & KNOWLEDGE
Building on our commitment to collecting and analyzing local data as well as the experience
|MICHAEL SISTO, ASSISTANT MANAGER OF ACCESS CNY’S DAVID CLARK LEARNING
CENTER, RECEIVED STAFF ADVANCEMENT FUNDING TO ATTEND THE 2023 CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK STATE’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
A COMMITMENT FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT
Dr. Emad Rahim and Cjala Surratt spent about three years living in Chicago before deciding to return home to Central New York in 2014. Easier commutes, a lower cost of living and good schools helped lure them back to Syracuse, where they met, married and started their professional and civic lives.
Dr. Rahim, a former Community Foundation board of directors member and graduate of Syracuse’s Fowler High School, operates the Syracuse Surge Accelerator at The Tech Garden, which is part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship portfolio of CenterState CEO. Surratt, a member of our Black Equity & Excellence Fund (BE&E) advisory council, graduated from Syracuse’s Nottingham High School. A longtime advocate for the arts, she now owns the downtown Syracuse vintage store Black Citizens Brigade.
The couple supports our BE&E Fund for the same reason they decided to return to Syracuse from Chicago — they want to support the community that nurtured and provided opportunities for them to create fulfilling lives. And they want to create conditions that offer the same opportunities for others.
Dr. Rahim, who joined our board of directors in 2017, said that serving as a board member “allowed me to participate and have a voice. I came on with several other people of color and had the opportunity to help influence important programs and policy decisions on lead, literacy and black equity.”
Surratt joined our BE&E advisory council in February 2024. The council “is participatory,” she said. “It has people in the room, including previous grants recipients, helping make the decisions.” Black Artist Collective, which Surratt co-founded, was the recipient of grants from the BE&E Fund prior to her joining the council.
The national reckoning over racial inequity that followed George Floyd’s May 2020 murder created a pivotal moment, Surratt said. “What I saw was a desire for systemic change and societal change. How do we put money into the hands of people who are seeking it?”
Our commitment to funding Black-led community-based projects through the BE&E Fund gives her hope that organizations will continue to be held accountable to their commitments to reverse historic inequity and provide opportunities for historically underrepresented and underfunded communities to thrive. “We can see the real impact the fund has had and continues to have on our community through measurable metrics and outcomes,” she said.
“It’s important that people of color see themselves in those board and committee positions and not pushed in the corner,” Dr. Rahim added. “They need to be part of the community conversation.”
The couple, who have two daughters, have deep connections to community organizations.
Surratt has played roles with a number of organizations including the Urban Video Project, Light Work photography center, the Everson Museum of Art, Community Folk Art Center and Redhouse Arts Center. Dr. Rahim has served on the boards of Good Life Philanthropic Foundation, Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, Onondaga Community College Scholarship Foundation, Syracuse Model Neighborhood Corporation and others.
The busy couple is grateful for the ways the Syracuse region allows them to pursue interconnected professional, civic and philanthropic interests.
“We feel it’s important for us to give back to this community that gave us so much love and support,” Surratt said. “And we need to leave the door open and leave a brick in the doorway to make room for our youth to enter.”
And, Dr. Rahim added, “by partnering with the Community Foundation through board service and support of its initiatives, we know we can make a difference here and contribute to meaningful impact.”
This year, our Black Equity & Excellence Fund distributed 31 grants totaling $238,200 to Black-led organizations.
Read the full story at cnycf.org/2024 or scan the QR code.
| DR. EMAD RAHIM AND CJALA SURRATT IN THE BLACK CITIZENS BRIGADE
SYRACUSE NURSING STUDENT HAS THE HEART FOR HEALTHCARE
Twice a week, Nicole Kunzmann drives 10 minutes from her Northside home to St. Joseph’s Health Hospital. By 7 a.m., the Le Moyne College and St. Joseph’s dual enrollment student is ready for a day of hands-on nursing education. She has gained experience in various departments, including medical/surgical, cardiac, obstetric, oncology, gastroenterology, the outpatient clinic and the operating room.
“They ensure we are well prepared for all experiences,” Kunzmann said. A Henninger High School graduate, she will become a registered nurse with an associate’s degree from St. Joseph’s in 2025 and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Le Moyne in 2026.
Her passion for nursing started early, inspired by her grandmother, an operating room nurse. The Heart of Healthcare Nursing Scholarship fund, created to address the local nursing shortage post-COVID-19, is helping her pursue this dream.
This scholarship fund, established by Onondaga County in partnership with the Community Foundation and the Allyn Family Foundation, removes financial barriers and encourages diversity, ultimately enhancing health equity. Scholarships were provided to first-year nursing students enrolled in local programs.
In announcing the scholarship at his 2023 State of the County address, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon highlighted the local nurse shortage, emphasizing the urgent need for action. “We know we need to act and act now,” he said. “Nurses serve as the front line of any medical facility, and it is our nurses that provide that calm and compassion many need during the stress of a medical visit.”
Kunzmann is uncertain about her nursing specialty but knows she wants to work in a hospital. Her grandmother’s stories and work ethic were significant influences. The pandemic reinforced her desire to become a nurse and help solidify her career path.
The dual-degree format and Heart of Healthcare scholarship made the Le Moyne-St. Joseph’s program ideal for her. Additionally, as a Say Yes Syracuse scholar, she receives grants that help cover tuition. “Avoiding debt and staying local were important factors,” she said. “Not worrying about finances has alleviated my stress and opened up further educational opportunities.”
At St. Joseph’s, she feels fully supported, saying, “If you are willing to put in the work, you can do it.”
During the 2023-2024 academic school year, a total of $1,404,768 from the Heart of Healthcare Scholarship fund was distributed to 114 students.
Read the full story at cnycf.org/2024 or scan the QR code.
OUR PARTNERS
FUND DONORS
ANONYMOUS (5)
ROBERT R. & ALICE E. ANDREWS
JEAN BEERS
STEVEN & LAURIE BERKOWITZ
MARILYN M. BITTNER
THE BREUER FAMILY
ELLA BRIAND
PETER E. BRYANT
FRANK G. & DORINDA CAPELLA
CAROL & CHARLES CLEARY
COMMUNITY TEMPLE
DR. & MRS. JEFFREY M. DESIMONE
DEBORAH DONAHUE & MICHAEL LEE
ETFIDEA, LLC
THERESA M. EVANS & MARK G. EVANS
MARK L. FELDMAN & CHRISTINE RILEY
EDWARD A. FOGARTY
GERALDINE FORBES
STEPHEN D. FOURNIER & ELISABETH FOURNIER
KATE & NATHAN FRANZ
ALLEN E. & NIRELLE GALSON
IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF COMMUNITY
SHANNON H. GALSTER SANFORD STERNLICHT
KATHIE & GUY GARNSEY
ASHLEY GOUGER
MR. RICHARD GREEN & MRS. DOLORES GREEN
MRS. STEWART F. HANCOCK, JR.
WILLIAM A. & DEBRA M. HILLER
MARY BETH E. HINTON
JOSEPH J. & DONNA J. HIPIUS
LEYLA & JOSEPH MORGILLO
RICHARD & CHRIS MOSESON
PRAGYA & MICHAEL MURPHY
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTHY HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL - SYRACUSE
SHIRLEY & LARRY NOVAK
MARION R. NYDAM
MADELYN H. HORNSTEIN & DALE H. HORNSTEIN
JEANNE F. JACKSON
ELAINE & STEVEN L. JACOBS
LEWIS AND JULIE JOHNSON
GORDON E. KAPLAN & LAURA KAPLAN
DANIEL J. KINSELLA & JOAN M. KINSELLA
JAN & PATRICK LANE
JOHN LOUGH & KATY J. LOUGH
GERALD M. MAGER
CANDACE & JOHN MARSELLUS
SANDY & DAN MASTERPOLO
GEORGE & DOROTHY R. MATTHEWS
DORA M. MONROE
MARY H. MORAN & JORDAN E. KERBER
SUSAN BLAIR
DARRELL BUCKINGHAM
WALTER & THERESE DANCKS
DERRENBACKER-SHIELDS FINANCIAL GROUP
PETER DUNN
KATE FRANZ
COMMUNITY FUNDING PARTNERS
ALLYN FAMILY FOUNDATION
THE BONADIO GROUP
CREWCIAL PARTNERS LLC
DERMODY, BURKE & BROWN, CPAS, LLC
ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL OF CNY
FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF CNY
THE GIFFORD FOUNDATION
HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR WESTERN & CENTRAL NEW YORK
KEY BANK FOUNDATION
MACKENZIE HUGHES LLP
MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND MICRON FOUNDATION
MOTHER CABRINI HEALTH FOUNDATION
NATIONAL GRID
NBT FINANCIAL GROUP
ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONONDAGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
CEO WELCOME EVENTS SPONSORS
ANONYMOUS DONOR
BOND SCHOENECK & KING
THE BREUER FAMILY
CANDACE CAMPBELL-JACKSON
DAN FISHER
MARK & POLLY FULLER
LEE M. GATTA & JOE REDDICK
BEA GONZÁLEZ & MICHAEL E. LEONARD
MADELYN H. HORNSTEIN, CPA
JEFF & HETA KNAUSS
MICRON FOUNDATION
MICHAEL E. O’CONNOR, ESQ.
JEFF & JULIE RUBENSTEIN
PAT SCHISA
MARTIN A. SCHWAB
PHYLLIS HOTCHKISS SCHWARTZ
JANE SLABOWSKI & PETER MCCARTHY
JOHN & KATJA SODJA
THE SOLOMON FAMILY
RICK STEUL
JAMES & DEBORAH TIFFT
ALEXANDER J. & CYNTHIA A. TORELLI
MARTHA B. VIGLIETTA & ANTHONY VIGLIETTA The donors listed in this section made their contributions between April 2023 and March 2024.
CHARLES & CINDY HENDERSON
LINDA MILLER
LEYLA MORGILLO
DEBORAH OSTRANDER
ELAINE RUBENSTEIN
DAVID WICKS
THE DOROTHY AND MARSHALL M. REISMAN FOUNDATION
THE RULISON GROUP, MSSB
THE JON BEN SNOW FOUNDATION
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
OCC FOUNDATION
PATHFINDER BANK
SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
BRETT VANANTWERP, PRUDENTIAL MANAGING DIRECTOR
NEW FUNDS
We gratefully acknowledge the generous community-minded individuals, families and organizations that established 42 new funds at the Community Foundation this year. They will benefit the community now and for generations to come.
BALTIMORE WOODS NATURE PRESERVE STEWARDSHIP
Baltimore Woods Nature Center fosters enduring stewardship of our natural world by offering immersive programs and a place in Central New York for everyone to cultivate appreciation and personal connections to nature through environmental education, recreation, play and research. This fund was established to ensure the organization has a permanent source of income to meet future needs.
PAULINE M. MONZ FUND
Pauline “Polly” Monz was born April 2, 1931, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Henry and Susanne Monz and was named after her maternal grandmother. Polly was a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor of science degree and earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956. She continued her education at Syracuse University, where she received her master of library science in 1976. Polly retired in 1988 as the acting head of the science libraries at Syracuse University. In her leisure time Polly enjoyed lecturing at the Cazenovia Library, the Friends of Lorenzo and the Stone Quarry Art Park, sharing her knowledge about nature and preservation. Her weekly article “Neighborhood Naturalist,” which was published in the Cazenovia Republican for 20 years, was a favorite among Cazenovians. Polly, who died in 2022, created this fund through a planned gift to address the evolving needs of the community and support innovative responses through the Community Foundation’s grantmaking and initiatives.
AGENCY FUNDS
BALTIMORE WOODS NATURE IN THE CITY PROGRAM FUND
BALTIMORE WOODS NATURE PRESERVE STEWARDSHIP FUND
CENTRAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AGENCY FUND
CINCINNATUS AREA HERITAGE SOCIETY AGENCY FUND
CNY DIAPER BANK FUND
JOSEPH’S HOUSE FOR WOMEN AGENCY FUND
LAKER TRANSPORTATION PROJECT, INC. FUND
SKANEATELES LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUND
SYRACUSE POSTER PROJECT FUND
COMMUNITY FUNDS
LUCY MCLEAN COMMUNITY FUND
PAULINE M. MONZ FUND
DESIGNATED FUNDS
ANONYMOUS FUND
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SYRACUSE LEGACY FUND
NANCY FRADENBURG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THOMAS W. HALL MEMORIAL FUND
HEART OF HEALTHCARE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
PETER ZEREBNY FUND FOR ST. MICHAEL CEMETERY
DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
ANONYMOUS FUND
STEPHANIE KOERNER AYER FUND
LOIS BELL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE FUND
LOIS BELL WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE FUND #2
THE BONOMO FUND
CAPPARELLI CHARITABLE FUND
JIM & CHELSEA FRANCE CHARITABLE FUND
JENKINS FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
KATHERINE & GARY JOHNSON FUND
KOERNER-PEARSON CHARITABLE FUND
LESLEY KOERNER LEPINE FUND
LIVE LIKE LIAM FUND
WYATT LUCHSINGER MEMORIAL FUND
JACK, LUE, & PATRICIA ANN MCCULLEY FUND
DR. XANDRIA SUTHERLAND-POLLARD MEMORIAL FUND
KAREN M. & LAWRENCE P. SCHUNCK FAMILY FUND
JOHN & CECILIA SINDONI FUND
LILLIAN C. WENBORNE MEMORIAL FUND
WETZEL CAZENOVIA AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION FUND
FIELD-OF-INTEREST FUNDS
ELIZABETH A. BATHKE FUND FOR MADISON COUNTY
JOHN LINDEROTH FUND
ONONDAGA CITIZENS LEAGUE-SYRACUSE 20/20 FUND
SYRACUSE ROTARY FOUNDATION
PETER ZEREBNY FUND FOR ANIMAL CARE
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
JIM & HARRIET KEYSOR LECHANDER EDUCATIONAL FUND
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY BOTH NOW AND BEYOND YOUR LIFETIME.
YOUR GIVING CAN BE MADE EASIER
Since 1927, generous Central New Yorkers have relied on the Community Foundation to help achieve more with their giving. Together, we can help transform your giving passions into lasting, measurable impact.
YOU CAN CONTINUE YOUR CHARITABLE GIVING IN PERPETUITY
There is no time like the present to think about how you want to deploy a portion of your assets for community benefit after you are gone. Our legacy planning services focus on helping you transmit your values, identify the issues you care about and capture your personal life story.
YOU CAN GIVE FLEXIBLY THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME
Donor-advised funds are simple to set up and easy to operate. They allow you to address a wide variety of issues and fulfill your charitable interests as they evolve over time. The flexibility of the donor-advised fund makes it a convenient option to manage your giving and enjoy hands-on involvement.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
MESSAGE FROM THE CFO
As we reflect on the past year, I am pleased to share our financial achievements and insights with you. Our total assets rose 11%, reaching $434 million. This increase is a testament to the trust you place in our organization and our steadfast commitment to an investment management strategy focused on long-term performance. Asset size is only part of our story. We are proud to have distributed a record-breaking $23 million in grants this year, supporting projects and organizations that address critical needs in our community. In addition to our grantmaking activities, we continued to invest in Central New York by nearly tripling local impact investing and utilizing over 17% of our operating budget on projects with minority and women-owned business partners.
As we look to the future, we remain focused on our mission to foster a thriving and equitable Central New York region. We will continue to seek new opportunities for growth, innovation and collaboration, which will allow us to enhance our community investments. We remain committed to prudent financial management as well as to the promise we have made to our donors — past and present — of stewarding their charitable dollars and honoring their intentions.
In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to our donors, partners, board members and staff. Your unwavering support and dedication have been the cornerstone of our success. It is an honor to serve as your chief financial officer and to work alongside a passionate and inspiring team that is driven to make a lasting impact in our community. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in Central New York and I am confident that with your continued partnership, we will continue to be a community rising.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kimberly P. Sadowski, CPA Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2024
BALANCE SHEET
40 7,878 ,173
26,141,014
$ 434,019,187
29,231, 705
2,454, 798
7,494, 354
394,838,330
&
Assets $ 434,019,187
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
$ 24,727, 042
40,598,116
336,094
$ 65,661,252
IN NET ASSETS $ 37 ,139,581
Assets Beginning of Year 357 ,698,749 Net Assets End of Year $ 394 ,838,330
The Community Foundation’s audit is conducted by The Bonadio Group. The complete Consolidated Financial Statements, with accompanying footnotes, as well as Form 990, are available for inspection at the Community Foundation office and online at cnycf.org.
ASSETS BY FUND TYPE
n Donor-Advised
$164,667,222
n Community
$91,447,478
n Scholarships
$55,882,106
n Field-of-Interest
$50,738,609
n Designated & Special Projects
$42,052,067
n Nonprofit Agency
$29,231,705
CONTRIBUTIONS BY FUND TYPE
$434,019,187
n Donor-Advised
$10,303,603
n Field-of-Interest
$6,100,007
n Designated & Special Projects
$5,707,654
n Community
$1,523,323
n Scholarships
$1,092,455
GRANTS BY FUND TYPE
n Donor-Advised
$11,776,366
n Designated & Special Projects
$5,900,813
n Community
$2,414,052
n Field-of-Interest
$1,736,777
n Scholarships
$1,534,098
$434,019,187 ASSETS BY
GRANTS BY YEAR
$23,688,106
$434,019,187 $23,362,106
BOARD
LISA D. ALFORD
JAIME ALICEA*
CATHERINE BERTINI
WILLIAM H. BROWER III
KARIN SLOAN DELANEY, ESQ.**
MARTIN T. DURKIN, JR.*
DANIEL J. FISHER**
STEPHEN D. FOURNIER
KATE FELDMEIER FRANZ**
MARK A. FULLER, CPA**
SUSAN FURTNEY, MPH , FACHE
LEE GATTA, CLU® , CHFC® , AEP®**
LISA S. GERMAIN*
BEA GONZÁLEZ
MARK S. HALL*
DR. WARREN HILTON
JOSEPH LAZZARO, CFP® , CLU®
LEYLA Z. MORGILLO, CFP®
DUANE B. OWENS*
DR. EMAD RAHIM, PPMP, OMCP, CSM, CM, CKF, CCPM**
REBECCA BRONFEIN RAPHAEL
STAFF
PRESIDENT & CEO
MELANIE LITTLEJOHN, MBA
COMMUNICATIONS
KATRINA M. CROCKER Vice President of Communications
JULIET R. MALOFF Senior Communications Officer
LEILA R. MOGHADASI Communications Associate
CORY SCHAD Senior Events & Communications Manager
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
FRANK M. RIDZI, PH.D. Vice President of Community Investment
DARRELL D. BUCKINGHAM Program Officer
COLBY CYRUS, CAPM Senior Program Manager
ELISIA GONZALEZ Grants Manager
DANIELLE M. JOHNSON Senior Director of Grants & Programs
KANISCHA MILLER Program Associate
QIANA WILLIAMS Program Officer CNY PHILANTHROPY CENTER
KEVIN E. SCHWAB
MARTIN A. SCHWAB, ESQ.
KATHLEEN L. WIESE*
GENERAL COUNSEL
MARY ANNE CODY, ESQ. *Term commenced July 1, 2024 **Board service completed June 30, 2024
DEVELOPMENT
THOMAS M. GRIFFITH, AEP®, CAP®, CHFC® Vice President of Development
ELIZABETH GAGNÉ Philanthropic Services Officer
TORI HART Philanthropic Services Officer
JAN L. LANE, CAP® Senior Philanthropic Advisor
MONICA M. MERANTE, CAP® Senior Director of Philanthropic Services
PRAGYA S. MURPHY, CAP® , MBA Senior Philanthropic & Impact Investment Advisor
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
KIMBERLY P. SADOWSKI, CPA Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
GERIANNE P. CORRADINO, SHRM-CP Human Resources & Operations Officer
TERRI M. EVANS Administrative Associate
DANA C. FIEL Finance Manager
JENNY E. GREEN Senior Information Systems Officer
ELIZABETH T. HARTMAN, CPA Senior Director of Finance
DAVONA LAWRENCE Finance Associate
DANA E. LYONS-CANTY Special Projects Officer
YEISHA NÚÑEZ-DENSON Accountant
