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2009: Banner Year for The Community Foundation

Record amount of grant money awarded, gifts received

(Utica, NY) During 2009, The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. awarded 313 grants totaling more than $5.8 million to 139 not-for-profit organizations that serve the residents of Herkimer and Oneida counties; included in this is more than $93,000 in scholarships. Grants were made from a variety of funds such as unrestricted, family, corporate, donor-advised, field of interest and agency funds.

The largest grants made were three $100,000 awards. Utica College received one to purchase cutting-edge equipment for its biology laboratory. Masonic Medical Research Laboratory was awarded one as a challenge grant, also for the purpose of purchasing new research equipment. Valley Health Services received the third to create an Adult Day Health Care program at Little Falls Hospital.

Smaller projects such as flooring renovations at the Salvation Army buildings in Rome and Herkimer, the hiring of a research intern for the Little Falls Historical Society and replacing an inefficient boiler with a new money- and energy-saving model at the Sherrill-Kenwood Free Library were also supported by Community Foundation monies. A complete list of grants is online at foundationhoc.org/grantmaking/2009Grants.

The Foundation also received 1,633 gifts totaling $8,634,244, which surpasses records set in 2008, and 14 new funds were created. Three of these funds – The Mele Family Fund, The Matthew A. Carton Fund and The Mohawk Valley Healthcare Foundation Fund – were established with the assets of dissolved private foundations.

The Legacy Society, which is comprised of individuals who will leave a future planned gift such as a bequest to The Foundation, added eleven new members.

“We remain awed by the good work of our not-for-profit community partners. Each day they demonstrate great dedication to the people of Herkimer and Oneida counties,” said Peggy O’Shea, The Community Foundation’s president and CEO. She continued, “Of course, our work would not be possible without our donors, who collectively made a record $8.6 million in gifts for the benefit of our area. We are supported yearly by the public – hundreds of donors giving at all levels. It is truly humbling.”

The Community Foundation has been a force for improving lives and promoting charitable giving throughout Herkimer and Oneida counties since 1952. The Foundation has made more than 4,500 grants totaling over $35.2 million in support of causes ranging from education to health care, the arts to the environment. Grants are generated by the more than 275 component funds that comprise The Foundation’s endowment, established and advanced by area individuals, families and businesses.

For more information about The Community Foundation, call 315-735-8212 or visit www.foundationhoc.org.

Top Myths about The Community Foundation’s Grant Making

Myth 1: You have to hire a professional grant writer to prepare the application

If you do not already have someone on staff to help write grants, there is no need to hire one! Foundation staff work closely with not-for-profit staff to help them with their applications, including reading drafts of proposals and giving suggestions prior to the official grant submission.

Myth 2: The process is too complicated

As a community foundation, we feel strongly about being here to help organizations through the process of applying for funding. We also know that not-for-profits prefer to spend their time delivering programs and services, so we have made our application process as concise as possible. A recent survey showed that organizations receiving grants from The Community Foundation later comment on the ease of the process.

Myth 3: Only a few selected organizations receive grants

In 2008, almost 200 organizations received grants from The Community Foundation. Some had received funding from us at other times, but for some, 2008 was the first year they were awarded a Foundation grant.

Myth 4: It’s only for the LARGE not-for-profit organizations

The Community Foundation funds not-for-profit organizations of all sizes. Visit our website at www.foundationhoc.org to see the list of organizations that have received grants.

Myth 5: They granted us money before and won’t consider us again

The Community Foundation considers applications from both new and familiar not-for-profits. Organizations are welcome to come back and seek additional funds for new high priority needs.

Myth 6: We’re too small

Many organizations receiving grants have few staff members or are all volunteer run. As long as your not-for-profit organization has a 501(c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service prior to applying for a grant, the size of your volunteer or work force does not come into consideration.

Myth 7: They only fund projects in a few focus areas

Call the Senior Program Officer at The Foundation at 315-735-8212 to ask about your idea. The Foundation funds programs benefiting residents of Herkimer and Oneida counties in health, human services, quality of life, arts, education, and youth and families.

Myth 8: They don’t award grants to religious organizations

Although discretionary grants cannot be made for religious purposes, religious organizations may receive funding for a food pantry, for example, that serves the entire community.

Myth 9: They don’t award grants for programs

Many of The Foundation’s grants are for start-up or expansion of existing programs.

Myth 10: They don’t award grants for operating expenses

Although The Foundation is not an ongoing funder of operating expenses, we do award grants for new and expanding programs.

Myth 11: They don’t award grants for capital projects

Many of our grants are for small and large capital projects.

Myth 12: They don’t award grants for equipment

We often award grants for equipment that will help an organization operate more efficiently.

Fact: If your not-for-profit organization serves the residents of Herkimer and/or Oneida counties and is interested in applying for a grant, we welcome your call.

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc.

1222 State Street

Utica, NY 13502

(315) 735-8212

www.foundationhoc.org

2009: Banner Year for The Community Foundation

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