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A Message from our CEO, George Ferrari
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As we enter the 15th year of serving the philanthropic needs of Tompkins County, we are so appreciative of the impact made possible by the thoughtful, kind, and generous people who live in, work in, and love this very special place. Your donations have contributed to more than $6.6 million of grants in our first decade and a half. To celebrate, we are offering three special events over the course of 2015. See details elsewhere in this enewsletter.
Your Community Foundation is also preparing to explore new ways of assembling people and tools to solve problems and improve our quality of life. Our next strategic plan, which will cover the period August 2015-July 2018, is in development now. We want your input and ideas, your constructive criticism and feedback, and your participation as grantee, donor, and community members in helping us to determine how we can do even more. I invite you to contact me directly by phone at (607) 272-9333, by email at [email protected], or in person at our offices with any ideas, concerns, or opportunities for us to consider as we plan for the next 3 years of magnifying philanthropy.
You might find the information at the following websites of interest. And if you find additional information, please share it with us. We are your Community Foundation.
What's Next for Community Philanthropy
A New Anchor Mission for a New Century: Community foundations deploying all resources to build community wealth
Beyond Grantmaking: Reimagining the Potential of the Community Foundation in Its Second Century
As always, keep connected by visiting our website at www.cftompkins.org
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Reflecting on Growth in 2014!
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By Janet Cotraccia, Program Officer
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- The Spring Grant Cycle granted $82,660 to local non-profits serving needs in the areas of aging, youth, animal welfare and environmental preservation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- (&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!
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| Who Knows What One May Discover Looking Back at the Past |
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By Amy LeViere, Donor Services Officer
The History Center in Tompkins County is one of eight fascinating sites of Ithaca's Discovery Trail. The Discovery Trail is a partnership of eight educational organizations promoting the connections between science, nature, and culture.
One of our newest funds was opened with a gift from an anonymous donor. As an endowment fund, The History Center Fund will provide annual support for the operations of The History Center. Other donors with close ties to The History Center immediately stepped up, giving generously.
Please consider joining these donors and others helping to preserve and encourage access to the unique collections of The History Center.
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Community Foundation Hosts Tompkins County Chamber After Hours at Coltivare
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Celebrating 15 years of philanthropic excellence with the local impact of $6.6 million of grants and assets of more than $14 million, the Community Foundation's track record has improved the quality of life in Tompkins County by inspiring and supporting enduring philanthropy.
Highlights of this event will include the debut of a celebratory video as well as a special drawing for a corporate philanthropic plan consultation, which includes a grant of $1,500, that the winner can direct to the nonprofit agency of their choice.
Registration is required and advanced registration before the day of the event is recommended. Community Foundation donors, donor advisors, professional advisors, board, and staff may register for this event free by using the special promo code Community at this registration link.
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10 Trade-Offs Donors Face That Make Philanthropy Tough but Rewarding
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Title: 10 Trade-Offs Donors Face That Make Philanthropy Tough but Rewarding
Credit: Melissa A Berman, Chronicle of Philanthropy
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Philanthropists often say that giving away money is tougher than any other job they have had. What makes philanthropy particularly demanding are the tensions and trade-offs donors constantly struggle with to achieve thoughtful, effective giving.
As F. Scott Fitzgerald aptly said, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see things as hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise."
After advising wealthy donors for more than a decade, my colleagues and I at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors have identified 10 tensions with which every strategic donor wrestles. The dichotomy should make clear that there is no right or wrong, but that each of these ideas factors into the giving equation, resulting in philanthropy that is both inspiring and challenging.
Read the full article here.
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The Community Foundation now has access to GrantStation and we would like to share it with you!
GrantStation is a tool for non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies that helps these groups find both private and federal grantmakers in their local area, for a specific area of interest, or for a specific project.
GrantStation is very user-friendly and operates using both simple and advanced search features. As a grant seeker, you can simply search within an area of interest or for a specific keyword, or do a more intricate search and find exactly what you are seeking.
There are also many resources provided by GrantStation to aid in the grant seeking process. GrantStation is divided into four sections: Search, Write, Learn, and Read. Each of these sections will help you in different ways and guide you toward writing better grants to the right people.
To give GrantStation a try in our offices or to conduct more thorough research, reserve a one-hour GrantStation time slot by contacting our Administrative Assistant, Matthew Fisher:
(607) 272-9333
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Community Foundation hosts Chamber After Hours
- February 11, 2015
- 5pm - 7pm
- Coltivare
235 S Cayuga St
Ithaca, NY 14850 - More information
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A Night On the Town Arts Showcase
- June, 2015
- Location and Time TBD
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Gala Banquet
- November 7, 2015
- Saturday evening
- Celebrations
2331 Slaterville Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
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2015 Philanthropy Learning Exchanges
(continuing education credits available pending content approval)
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Power of Attorney [POA] and their Role in Gifting
- March 4, 2015
- 12pm for professional advisors
- 5pm for donors
- Location TBD
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Are You Ready to Make a Major Gift?
- April 29, 2015
- 12pm for professional advisors
- 5pm for donors
- Location TBD
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Using Charitable Assets in a Socially Responsible Way
- June 17, 2015
- 12pm for professional advisors
- 5pm for donors
- Location TBD
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Financial Planning 101 for Young Professionals
- Sept. 22, 2015
- 12pm for professional advisors
- 5pm for donors
- Location TBD
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Learning to Give, Giving to Learn.
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What Are Community Foundations?
Community Foundations are not-for-profit organizations founded and staffed by people who are dedicated to seeking out what is needed in our community and what is valuable about Tompkins County and to helping those valuable assets grow important results. We understand our community's needs and help you to turn your charitable passions into results-oriented philanthropy. We show donors how to make gifts go further and accomplish more.
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New Board Member Spotlight: Alice Moore
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Alice Moore
Donor Services Committee
Alice learned the importance of community as a child growing up in a small, rural town near Ithaca and has been an active community volunteer for nearly 40 years. She has served on the Board of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, Hospicare and Palliative Care of Tompkins County, and The History Center. Alice worked at Cornell University for 22 years -- the last 12 years as Human Resources Director of the Industrial and Labor Relations School and then of NYS Cooperative Extension. In 1986 she left Cornell to become a Realtor and is now with Warren Real Estate.
Alice and her husband, Robert Smith, have five children and thirteen grandchildren. Most of their children are in helping occupations. Alice enjoys travel immensely and cooking is her favorite pastime.
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Meet the Board and Staff
Board of Directors
Chair
Alan Mathios
Vice Chair
Randy Ehrenberg
Secretary
Sandra Dhimitri
Treasurer
Diane McDonough
Immediate Past Chair
Robin Masson
Richard Banks
Mary Berens
Susan Brown
Tom Colbert
Fabina Colon
Paula Davis
Ross Feldman
Marcie Finlay
Bob Jewell
Sara Knobel
Robin Masson
Philip McPheron
Alice Moore
Bill Murphy
Susan Murphy
Stephen Pope
Ron Poole
Nancy Potter
Kevin Shreve
Carol Travis
Lucia Tyler
Baruch Whitehead
Stephanie Wiles
Incorporating Board
Jeff Furman
Howard Hartnett
Bill Myers
John Semmler
Diane Shafer
Robert Swieringa
Staff
Click on a name to send an email.
Chief Executive Officer
George Ferrari, Jr.
Program Officer
Janet Cotraccia
Donor Services Officer
Amy LeViere
Administrative Assistant
Matthew Fisher
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