Rosen Library Fund

 

It continues to be a very busy time at the Community Foundation as we develop our Rosen Library Fund program.  The estate of Bernard Rosen left more than $2.4 million to create a fund which will assist 33 libraries in the Finger Lakes Library system in Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tompkins and Tioga counties.  We have the great benefit of summer intern Shannon David, an MPA student from Binghamton University, working on interviewing stakeholders and crafting our recommended policies and procedures for our board to adopt in launching this exciting new grant program.  Beginning in 2011, and every year thereafter, approximately $80,00-$100,000 will be granted to encourage young people to use their libraries, especially in rural areas of the system.  Please contact Shannon at our office if you have suggestions about how these grants should be designed to have maximum impact.    

Notice of Availability of Funds

 The Community Foundation is offering a Capacity Building Grant Cycle to assist non-profit organizations in achieving new levels of effectiveness.  This grant cycle is in response to the "Listening and Learning" Sessions that were carried out through 2009 which invited local organizations to respond to the current economic environment.  This Capacity Building grant cycle will only grant to tax-exempt organizations serving the people who live or work in Tompkins County, New York.  Grant application forms will be available on our website later this summer.

Grantmaking Objectives:

The goal of this grant cycle is to strengthen Tompkins County organizations with regard to the following:

Grantmaking Guidelines:

1. Grants must meet needs in at least one of the above identified areas
2. Grants must be between $1,000 - $4,000
3. The grant award will be used by June 30^th, 2011
4. A complete application must be submitted electronically to cotraccia@communityfoundationoftc.org  by 5 pm on September 24^th, 2010.  Applications can be found later this summer at www.communityfoundationoftc.org
5. Grants will be made for focused and strategically addressed needs to leverage and build capacity, not for general operating support. 
6. Applications meeting the basic requirements will be assessed by a review team with final approval by the Board of Directors. 

   

Howland Review Team Member Cate Hackett awarding a $5,000 Howland grant to SPCA Executive Director Abigail Smith for their enhanced spay and neuter program.

 

As administrative agent for the Howland Foundation, the Community Foundation of Tompkins County reviews all applications and makes funding recommendations to the Howland Foundation trustees.  The Howland Foundation supports grants in aging services, youth services, animal welfare, and the environment.  Grants are limited to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide substantial benefit to these areas.

The 2010 Howland Foundation grant recipients for aging services are Foodnet Meals on Wheels for a stand-by power generator, and the Kitchen Theatre for audio support for patrons with hearing loss.

The 2010 grant recipients for youth services are the Tompkins County Public Library for a summer reading program, the History Center for student historians, the Child Development Council for rural transportation, the Trumansburg PTO for playground renovations, and the Trumansburg Central School District Foundation for Trumansburg Kids Explore & Discover.

The 2010 grant recipient for animal welfare is the SPCA for enhanced spay and neuter services. 

The 2010 grant recipients for environmental programming are the Finger Lakes Land Trust for land acquisition, and WSKG for a new program, Pathways to Understanding.