As we reflect on 2014, we have much to celebrate!  A record setting $1.6 million was granted out (compared to $973,000 in 2013), most of it invested in our local community. 305 grants were made in 2014, compared to 230 made in 2013.In addition to over 200 grants made from our Donor Advised and Field of Interest Funds, eight grant cycles were carried out in 2014:

1. The Women's Fund carried out its second annual grant cycle, granting $22,806 to 12 organizations promoting educational, economic and social equality for women as well as women's health. 
2. The Library Grant Cycle granted $142,113 to 18 libraries in the Finger Lakes Library System encouraging the love of reading in youth from birth to age 21.
3. The Spring Grant Cycle granted $82,660 to local non-profits serving needs in the areas of aging, youth, animal welfare and environmental preservation.
4. The Excellence in Equity Grant Cycle awarded $8,000 to the BJM Elementary School for students to attend the National Math Foundation Summer Institute at Ithaca College. Three recognition awards of $1,000 were awarded to GIAC, the School Success Transportation Coalition and Groton Public Library.
5. A Collective Impact Grant Cycle awarded grants to three organizations to send representatives to the Tamarack Institute's Collective Impact Summit in Toronto. These grants were supported in part by the Park Foundation and private donors.
6. Year two of our 2013 Fall Two Year Grant Cycle celebrated the successes of year one with a Community Report Back event in December. The community learned about 15 local programs and there progress thus far on issues such as food security for rural populations, workforce diversity of Tompkins County, the SPCA's sheltering of pets whose owners are in crisis and the success of a community play addressing police/community relations.
7. (&8) There were two opportunities for non-profits to submit Letters of Inquiry to request funding for projects that do not fit into any of our grant cycles. $18,844 was granted out in response to these inquiries for a broad range of projects.

Over 35 community volunteers participated on review teams, learning about best grantmaking practices, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the needs of those served by our non-profit community.

Participation on review teams, as well as attendance at a broad range of community events, enhances philanthropy education in our community. We celebrate these and many other successes as we continue to Magnify Philanthropy in Tompkins County!