About Central New York Community Foundation
A defining feature of Central New York Community Foundation Inc is its mix of large community investments and scholarship support across Central New York. Recent grants include $2,462,750 to Manlius Pebble Hill School for general and program/project support, $1,500,000 to Onondaga County Department of Child & Family Services for scholarship support, and $1,061,350 to the Skaneateles Lake Association for general support, project support, and sponsorship support. The foundation also backs higher education, healthcare, literacy, arts, housing, and community organizations through a broad set of operating, project, capital, and student awards.
Its grantmaking reaches institutions as well as direct student support. Examples in the recent grants list include Syracuse University, St Joseph's College of Nursing, Le Moyne College Office of Advancement, and Bryant & Stratton College. The foundation also funds place-based community work through groups such as United Way of Central New York, Home Headquarters, Redhouse Arts Center, and The Reading League.
The organization’s public charity structure, scholarship administration, and affiliate funds point to a community foundation model that combines donor stewardship with local grantmaking. Its stated purpose is to grow philanthropy, steward charitable funds, and make grants and scholarships that strengthen communities across Central New York.
What Central New York Community Foundation Funds
Education and student aid are a major part of the foundation’s work. It gave $587,762 to St Joseph's College of Nursing for student support, $304,245 to Bryant & Stratton College for student support, and $202,882 to University at Buffalo for scholarship support.
Literacy is another visible focus. The foundation awarded $396,307 to United Way of CNY with support for literacy included in the purpose text, and $303,700 to The Reading League for general support and staff support. A separate 2025 grant of $245,800 to The Reading League supported a program/project.
Health and human services also appear in the recent grants list. Upstate Foundation received $249,859 for student support, program/project support, staff support, sponsorship support, and healthcare support. Interfaith Works of Central New York received $215,690 for staff support, general support, event support, sponsorship support, and program/project support.
Housing and lead-related work show up as well through Home Headquarters, which received $463,614 for lead support and project support, plus a later $246,372 capital and program/project grant.
