United Way of Tompkins County, in collaboration with others, transforms the dynamics of poverty in Tompkins County by addressing human needs and creating conditions for economic security for all.
United Way of Tompkins County Inc uses multi-year competitive grantmaking and direct community investments to address poverty-related needs in Tompkins County. Its grant programs include the United Tompkins Impact Fund, Youth and Philanthropy Awards, FOCUS awards for Dryden, and an ALICE mini-grant program for urgent household expenses. That structure points to a funder that works across both organizational support and short-term assistance, with a strong local emphasis on basic needs, health access, housing stability, food security, and financial stability. Recent grants show repeated support for a small set of Tompkins County nonprofits. Family & Children's Services received $54,360 in 2024 and $53,245 in 2025 for general assistance, while Ithaca Community Childcare Center Inc received $45,141 in 2024 and $43,764 in 2025. Foodnet Meals on Wheels, Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Catholic Charities of Tompkinstioga, and Ithaca Health Alliance also appear with substantial general-assistance awards across the two years on file. The pattern suggests ongoing operating support for organizations that serve residents facing basic-needs pressure. The foundation also includes youth-led grantmaking. Through Youth and Philanthropy programs, local 10th-12th grade students review community needs and help award funding to organizations responding to those needs. In addition, FOCUS supports programs in the Town or Village of Dryden, adding a smaller-place-based layer to its countywide work.
In food security, United Way of Tompkins County Inc awarded $47,222 in 2024 and $41,104 in 2025 to Foodnet Meals on Wheels for general assistance, and also gave $24,533 in 2025 to Foodbank of the Southern Tier for general assistance. Those grants place food access among the foundation’s recurring priorities. Health access is another clear theme. Ithaca Health Alliance received $39,133 in 2024 and $35,900 in 2025, both as general assistance, while the Urgent Rx Prescription Program provides free prescription vouchers for uninsured patients with urgent health needs through partner sites in Tompkins County. The foundation also supports child and youth-serving organizations. Ithaca Community Childcare Center Inc received awards in both 2024 and 2025, and The Village at Ithaca Inc also appears in consecutive years. Youth and Philanthropy programs extend that emphasis by involving 10th-12th grade students in grant review and distribution.
$1.4M
$1.3M
$1.4M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $9K and $26K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$26K
MICHAEL RAMOS
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Typical grant size clusters at $8,720 at the 25th percentile, a median of $12,290, and $25,645 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants table also shows some larger general-assistance awards above $50,000, alongside many awards in the low-to-mid five figures. Recipients appear across multiple years, including several organizations funded in both 2024 and 2025, which points to recurring support rather than one-time gifts. United Way of Tompkins County Inc also uses a mix of competitive programs and direct assistance tools, including Foundant-based applications for general grants, youth-led review in YAP, and non-application mini-grants for the ALICE program. Some programs accept unsolicited applications; others do not.
Giving is concentrated entirely in New York, with 100% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient map is heavily centered in Ithaca, where many of the recent grants land, but it also reaches nearby Tompkins County places such as the Town of Dryden and Village of Dryden through FOCUS awards. One recent grant also went to Elmira: Foodbank of the Southern Tier. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 90 grants in the United States.
It combines competitive grant programs with direct assistance models. The active programs include the United Tompkins Impact Fund, Youth and Philanthropy Awards, FOCUS awards for Dryden, Foundant-based general grants, and the United Way / 2-1-1 ALICE mini-grant program.
The foundation supports community needs, social services, basic needs, youth development, health access, food security, housing stability, and financial stability. Recent grants include general assistance to agencies such as Family & Children's Services, Foodnet Meals on Wheels, Ithaca Community Childcare Center Inc, and Ithaca Health Alliance.
No. It funds both ongoing organizational support and short-term assistance. The ALICE mini-grant program provides one-time grants of up to $500 for eligible households, while other programs such as the United Tompkins Impact Fund and general grants support agencies and organizations through competitive awards.
It is local. All recipient grants in the data go to New York organizations, and the programs are set in Tompkins County, with some specifically limited to the Town or Village of Dryden.
Youth play a direct role through the Youth and Philanthropy Awards. Local 10th-12th grade students review community needs and distribute grant funding, and the FOCUS program extends that youth-engaged model with competitive $2,000 awards for Dryden-area programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of Tompkins County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must have operations in Tompkins County and be a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization, a tax-exempt church, a tax-exempt governmental organization, or have a tax exempt 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Applications must be for a program request.
Deadline: Applications for the 2026 YAP cycle open in early October 2026.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES | ITHACA, NY | $53,245 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $50,779 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA COMMUNITY CHILDCARE CENTER INC | ITHACA, NY | $43,764 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA | ITHACA, NY | $43,101 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES | ITHACA, NY | $42,790 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $42,656 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS | ITHACA, NY | $41,104 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA | ITHACA, NY | $39,613 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE | ITHACA, NY | $37,850 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE | ITHACA, NY | $35,900 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $35,025 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS | ITHACA, NY | $34,290 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| HUMAN SERVICES COALITION | ITHACA, NY | $33,132 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| THE VILLAGE AT ITHACA INC | ITHACA, NY | $31,525 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| YMCA OF ITHACA AND TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $31,030 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL | ITHACA, NY | $27,030 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ALCOHOL & DRUG COUNCIL | ITHACA, NY | $26,302 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL | ITHACA, NY | $26,220 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| LEARNING WEB INC | ITHACA, NY | $25,645 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| HUMAN SERVICES COALITION | ITHACA, NY | $25,400 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| LEARNING WEB INC | ITHACA, NY | $25,050 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| FOODBANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | ELMIRA, NY | $24,533 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $24,361 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF CORTLAND COUNTY | CORTLAND, NY | $20,866 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $20,805 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK | SYRACUSE, NY | $20,568 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL | ITHACA, NY | $20,302 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF CORTLAND COUNTY | CORTLAND, NY | $19,665 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK | SYRACUSE, NY | $19,242 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS SERVICE OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $17,860 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $15,737 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA COMMUNITY CHILDCARE CENTER INC | ITHACA, NY | $15,470 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF BUFFALO & ERIE CO | BUFFALO, NY | $14,655 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER | ITHACA, NY | $14,191 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES | ITHACA, NY | $13,077 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF BUFFALO & ERIE CO | BUFFALO, NY | $12,365 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SALVATION ARMY ITHACA & TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $12,338 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC | ITHACA, NY | $12,243 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,170 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SALVATION ARMY ITHACA & TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $11,830 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS SERVICE OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $11,295 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ULYSSES COMMUNITY COUNCIL | TRUMANSBURG, NY | $11,241 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| TIOGA UNITED WAY INC | OWEGO, NY | $10,529 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS | ITHACA, NY | $10,519 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| GADABOUT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES | ITHACA, NY | $10,408 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| LOAVES AND FISHES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,397 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,386 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| ITHACA NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,227 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| GADABOUT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES | ITHACA, NY | $10,151 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
| OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RES | ITHACA, NY | $10,100 | 2025 | GENERAL ASSISTANCE |
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
$53,245GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ITHACA COMMUNITY CHILDCARE CENTER INC
$43,764GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA
$43,101GENERAL ASSISTANCE
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
$42,790GENERAL ASSISTANCE
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS
$41,104GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF TOMPKINSTIOGA
$39,613GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE
$37,850GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ITHACA HEALTH ALLIANCE
$35,900GENERAL ASSISTANCE
FOODNET MEALS ON WHEELS
$34,290GENERAL ASSISTANCE
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION
$33,132GENERAL ASSISTANCE
THE VILLAGE AT ITHACA INC
$31,525GENERAL ASSISTANCE
YMCA OF ITHACA AND TOMPKINS COUNTY
$31,030GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
$27,030GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ALCOHOL & DRUG COUNCIL
$26,302GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CHILD DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
$26,220GENERAL ASSISTANCE
LEARNING WEB INC
$25,645GENERAL ASSISTANCE
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION
$25,400GENERAL ASSISTANCE
LEARNING WEB INC
$25,050GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$24,361GENERAL ASSISTANCE
UNITED WAY OF CORTLAND COUNTY
$20,866GENERAL ASSISTANCE
DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER
$20,805GENERAL ASSISTANCE
HEALTHY FOOD FOR ALL
$20,302GENERAL ASSISTANCE
UNITED WAY OF CORTLAND COUNTY
$19,665GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS SERVICE OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$17,860GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$15,737GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ITHACA COMMUNITY CHILDCARE CENTER INC
$15,470GENERAL ASSISTANCE
DOWNTOWN ITHACA CHILDREN'S CENTER
$14,191GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES
$13,077GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SALVATION ARMY ITHACA & TOMPKINS COUNTY
$12,338GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SALVATION ARMY ITHACA & TOMPKINS COUNTY
$11,830GENERAL ASSISTANCE
SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS SERVICE OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$11,295GENERAL ASSISTANCE
ULYSSES COMMUNITY COUNCIL
$11,241GENERAL ASSISTANCE
TIOGA UNITED WAY INC
$10,529GENERAL ASSISTANCE
CHALLENGE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
$10,519GENERAL ASSISTANCE
GADABOUT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
$10,408GENERAL ASSISTANCE
LOAVES AND FISHES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC
$10,397GENERAL ASSISTANCE
GADABOUT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
$10,151GENERAL ASSISTANCE
OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RES
$10,100GENERAL ASSISTANCE