We bring people and resources together to build a more equitable Tompkins County by inspiring diverse philanthropy, catalyzing collaborations and championing inclusion and justice.
A 2025 grant of $608,625 to Cornell University for a conference on economic theory stands out in the Foundation’s recent giving, alongside large unrestricted awards to major local institutions. Community Foundation of Tompkins County Inc. uses grant cycles, off-cycle requests, and field-of-interest funds to support organizations in Tompkins County and nearby upstate New York communities. Recent awards show a mix of operating support, building improvements, program-specific funding, and unrestricted gifts. The foundation’s local role is visible in repeated support for Ithaca-based groups. Greater Ithaca Activities Center received multiple grants, including funding for building renovation, food programming, technology, and internships, as well as community-building support in a prior year. First Unitarian Society of Ithaca also appears more than once with different purposes, including community building, general support, and unrestricted funding. Those patterns point to a funder that backs both ongoing operations and targeted projects. Its giving also reaches specialized interest areas through named funds and broader community grantmaking. The Women’s Fund supports organizations serving women and girls, while the library grant cycle extends to neighboring counties for access to libraries and youth reading and learning. Across these activities, the foundation combines endowment-based grantmaking with responsive support for emergent community needs.
Community resilience and equity are central to the foundation’s competitive grant cycles. In 2026, its general cycle offered grants from $0 to $15,000 for local nonprofits doing work already underway in Tompkins County. The same framework also supports operating flexibility through general grants tied to racial equity, social justice, and community well-being. Basic needs and food-related work appear in several recent awards. Greater Ithaca Activities Center received $194,340 for building renovation, food programming, technology, and internships, while Southside Community Center received $65,007 for food programming and technology-related needs. Food Bank of the Southern Tier also received support in 2024 for general support and for human services, hunger, and housing. Education and youth learning show up through both place-based and field-of-interest funding. The Library Grant Cycle is designed to promote access to local libraries and support youth reading and learning in Cayuga, Cortland, and Seneca counties. In education, the Foundation also awarded $78,400 to Center for Transformative Action.
$2.1M
$31.9M
$7.8M
$5.2M
Most grants fall between $8K and $26K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$26K
THEORIA CASON
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Community Foundation of Tompkins County.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 486 | $11.5M | 99.8% |
| 2 | Switzerland |
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Typical awards are modest: the p25 grant size is $8,021, the median is $11,463, and the p75 is $26,377. The recent record also includes larger one-time and unrestricted grants, including endowment-related awards and estate gifts. The pattern suggests a mix of recurring institutional support and responsive, off-cycle funding rather than a single-program-only approach. Grantmaking is organized through annual and general cycles, field-of-interest funds, and off-cycle requests. Several programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Community Foundation Grant Cycle and off-cycle emergent-need grants. The Women’s Fund grants are annual but not unsolicited. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 88% of grants go to recipients in New York, and Tompkins County is the main geography for most programs. Ithaca is the clearest hub, with repeated awards to organizations there, while nearby upstate recipients include Endicott and Elmira. The Library Grant Cycle extends beyond Tompkins County into Cayuga, Cortland, and Seneca counties. Outside the United States, the recipient list includes one grant to Switzerland, tied to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Community Foundation Grant Cycle is open to local nonprofits, school districts, municipalities, and faith communities for programs open to all. It also allows fiscal sponsorship for other applicants. The cycle is focused on Tompkins County and offers grants from $500 to $15,000.
The recent distribution centers on smaller awards: p25 is $8,021, median grant size is $11,463, and p75 is $26,377. The data also includes larger outliers, but those percentile figures give the clearest picture of the usual range.
Yes, for several programs. The Community Foundation Grant Cycle accepts unsolicited requests, and off-cycle funding requests for emergent or time-sensitive needs are also open. The Women’s Fund grants are different: they are annual but not unsolicited.
Its active programs and recent grants point to community resilience, community building, education, environment and sustainability, health and human services, arts and culture, social justice, and women’s issues. Recent awards also show support for food programming, technology, libraries, and operating support.
New York is the main recipient state, accounting for 88% of grants. Ithaca appears frequently in the recent grants list, and the Foundation’s core grant cycles are centered on Tompkins County. The Library Grant Cycle also reaches neighboring counties in New York.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $131K |
0.2% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation of Tompkins County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Intended for organizations in Tompkins County responding to emergent or time-sensitive needs. Specific eligibility and review determined case-by-case by Foundation staff.
Deadline: Rolling consideration for emergent needs (no set deadline).
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASCADILLA BOAT CLUB | ITHACA, NY | $145,272 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $120,250 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS |
| GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER (GIAC) | ITHACA, NY | $104,767 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | ELMIRA, NY | $94,710 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $66,788 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH |
| SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $57,320 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF DURANGO DBA SUMMIT CHURCH | DURANGO, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS |
| GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY | ITHACA, NY | $47,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THREEFOLD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION-DBA EURYTHMY SPRING VALLEY | CHESTNUT RIDGE, NY | $39,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| US-RILM OFFICE | ITHACA, NY | $36,557 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-MUSEUM |
| PALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION | ITHACA, NY | $35,450 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-PHILANTHROPY |
| VILLAGE AT ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $33,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $32,979 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH |
| UNITED WAY OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $32,790 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-PHILANTHROPY |
| HOSPICARE & PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES OF TC | ITHACA, NY | $32,750 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH |
| SENIOR LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS OF ITHACA INC | ITHACA, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| TOMPKINS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | ITHACA, NY | $29,238 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY |
| STATE THEATRE OF ITHACA INC | ITHACA, NY | $28,783 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| LOAVES & FISHES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $27,510 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| FINGER LAKES REUSE INC | ITHACA, NY | $26,700 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE |
| FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS | ITHACA, NY | $26,275 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC | ITHACA, NY | $26,260 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| LANSING COMMUNITY LIBRARY | LANSING, NY | $23,298 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY |
| ITHACA YOUTH BUREAU A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $22,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE | ITHACA, NY | $20,727 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA | ITHACA, NY | $20,706 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| ADVOCACY CENTER FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $20,500 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $18,733 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING |
| FAMILY READING PARTNERSHIP | ITHACA, NY | $18,563 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| SUSAN CHRISTOPHERSON CENTER FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING A PROJECT OF THE CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $18,494 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| KITCHEN THEATRE COMPANY | ITHACA, NY | $17,800 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| SAOIRSE PASTURES | ITHACA, NY | $16,000 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE |
| FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH | RICHMOND, VA | $15,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS |
| SEYMOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT | AUBURN, NY | $15,305 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY |
| SOUTH SUDAN NATION BUILDERS | MIDLOTHIAN, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH |
| SHARED KITCHEN ITHACA INC | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| LODI WHITTIER LIBRARY | LODI, NY | $14,685 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY |
| SCIENCENTER | ITHACA, NY | $14,350 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| OPEN DOORS ENGLISH A PROJECT OF THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $14,250 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING-PHILANTHROPY |
| CORTLAND FREE LIBRARY | CORTLAND, NY | $13,451 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY |
| RUNNING TO PLACES THEATRE COMPANY | ITHACA, NY | $13,033 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| KHUBA INTERNATIONAL | ITHACA, NY | $13,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED NETWORK | TRUMANSBURG, NY | $12,600 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE |
| CIVIC ENSEMBLE INC | ITHACA, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| DISCOVER CAYUGA LAKE | ITHACA, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE |
| THE ITHACA VOICE | ITHACA, NY | $12,200 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION (BIKE WALK TOMPKINS) | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| BLACK MOMBA FISCAL SPONSOR VILLAGE AT ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF TOMPKINS AND CORTLAND COUNTIES | ITHACA, NY | $11,800 | 2026 | COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER |
CASCADILLA BOAT CLUB
$145,272COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF ITHACA
$120,250COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER
$94,710HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK
$66,788HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH
SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER
$57,320COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF DURANGO DBA SUMMIT CHURCH
$50,000COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
$47,000EDUCATION
THREEFOLD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION-DBA EURYTHMY SPRING VALLEY
$39,500COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
US-RILM OFFICE
$36,557ARTS AND CULTURE-MUSEUM
PALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION
$35,450COMMUNITY BUILDING-PHILANTHROPY
VILLAGE AT ITHACA
$33,000COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN TOMPKINS COUNTY
$32,979HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH
HOSPICARE & PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES OF TC
$32,750HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH
SENIOR LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS OF ITHACA INC
$30,000COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
TOMPKINS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$29,238ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY
STATE THEATRE OF ITHACA INC
$28,783ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER
LOAVES & FISHES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$27,510HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS
$26,275HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
LANSING COMMUNITY LIBRARY
$23,298ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY
ITHACA YOUTH BUREAU A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF ITHACA
$22,000EDUCATION
ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE
$20,727HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA
$20,706HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
ADVOCACY CENTER FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY
$20,500HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER
$18,733HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HUMAN SERV/HUNGER/HOUSING
FAMILY READING PARTNERSHIP
$18,563COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
KITCHEN THEATRE COMPANY
$17,800ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER
SAOIRSE PASTURES
$16,000ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE
FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
$15,500COMMUNITY BUILDING-RELIGIOUS
SEYMOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
$15,305ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY
SOUTH SUDAN NATION BUILDERS
$15,000HEALTH & HUMAN SERV. - HEALTH
SHARED KITCHEN ITHACA INC
$15,000COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
LODI WHITTIER LIBRARY
$14,685ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY
SCIENCENTER
$14,350EDUCATION
COMMUNITY BUILDING-PHILANTHROPY
CORTLAND FREE LIBRARY
$13,451ARTS AND CULTURE-LIBRARY
RUNNING TO PLACES THEATRE COMPANY
$13,033ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER
KHUBA INTERNATIONAL
$13,000COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
CAYUGA LAKE WATERSHED NETWORK
$12,600ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE
CIVIC ENSEMBLE INC
$12,500ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER
DISCOVER CAYUGA LAKE
$12,500ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABILITY/ANIMAL WELFARE
THE ITHACA VOICE
$12,200COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION (BIKE WALK TOMPKINS)
$12,000COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
BLACK MOMBA FISCAL SPONSOR VILLAGE AT ITHACA
$12,000ARTS AND CULTURE-OTHER
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF TOMPKINS AND CORTLAND COUNTIES
$11,800COMMUNITY BUILDING- COMM. ORGANIZING/OTHER
