The Steven and Marcy Schaeffer Family Foundation concentrates local giving in the Ithaca/Tompkins County region (and nearby Tioga County), emphasizing community arts, reentry and support for people impacted by incarceration, and direct assistance to low-income, elderly and medically vulnerable residents. They favor a small number of meaningful awards to community-based nonprofits, often providing repeat funding to organizations delivering programmatic services and safety-net supports.
A defining feature of Steven and Marcy Schaeffer Family Foundation Inc is its repeated support for Tompkins County organizations serving people affected by incarceration, arts groups, and direct assistance nonprofits. In 2023 and 2024, Opportunities Alternatives and Resources of Tompkins County Inc received $25,000 grants in consecutive years to assist incarcerated individuals and their families, while the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County received $26,000 in 2023 and $24,000 in 2024 for the arts. That pattern points to a foundation that favors multi-year support for local community organizations rather than one-off, highly restricted awards. The foundation also funds social safety-net work in nearby counties. Tioga County Rural Ministry received $30,200 in 2025 to provide unmet needs to the poor, sick and elderly, and advocacy, housing, food, and service organizations appear throughout the recent grants list. Its portfolio reaches beyond core human services as well, with support for science programming, youth activities, food economy projects, refugee resettlement, and services for people affected by ALS. The grant amounts in the recent record are generally modest, often in the five-figure range, and they are directed to nonprofits delivering practical services at the community level.
In arts and cultural programming, the foundation backed several Ithaca organizations. The Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County received $24,000 in 2024 and $24,000 in 2025 to support the arts, while The Cherry Arts received $12,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for arts and entertainment. State Theatre of Ithaca also appeared in the recent grants list with $15,000 in 2024 for arts and entertainment. Their social-services giving includes support for residents facing homelessness, poverty, and basic-needs insecurity. Rosie's Place received $10,000 in 2024 and another $10,000 in 2025 to support women struggling with homelessness and poverty, and Foodbank of the Southern Tier received $5,000 in 2025 to support sustaining hunger-free communities. The foundation also funded Shared Kitchen - Ithaca with $10,000 in 2025 to support entrepreneurs and not-for-profits in the local food economy. Youth and reentry-related grants are also part of the portfolio. More Than Words received $10,000 in 2025 for young-adult job training, and Opportunities Alternatives and Resources of Tompkins County Inc received $25,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2023 to assist incarcerated individuals and their families.
$272K
$2.7M
$285K
$289K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, place-based giving: a handful of mid-sized grants with repeated multi-year support to the same local organizations rather than many one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Tompkins County, Tioga County Rural Ministry (TCRM)
Typical grants cluster around the middle of the five-figure range: p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent record shows both recurring support and repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including several multi-year patterns. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list suggests a relationship-based approach with many awards renewed for organizations already in the portfolio.
Grantmaking is strongly centered in New York, which accounts for 77% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Ithaca appears most often in the recipient list, including awards to the Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, The Cherry Arts, Weave Community Inc, and Shared Kitchen - Ithaca. Other New York recipients include Owego and Elmira, indicating a regional footprint around Tompkins County and the Southern Tier. Outside New York, the recent grants list also includes Boston, Waltham, Westborough, and Arlington in Massachusetts.
The recent grants list shows a strong mix of community arts, reentry services, basic-needs support, and local social-service organizations. Examples include arts groups in Ithaca, organizations assisting incarcerated individuals and their families, and nonprofits serving people facing homelessness, poverty, hunger, and health-related vulnerability.
The foundation’s typical grant sizes are relatively modest: p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $15,000. The recent list includes grants at $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000, along with larger awards such as $24,000, $25,000, and $30,200.
Yes. The recent record shows repeated support across multiple years for several organizations, including a pattern of annual funding to some grantees. This suggests the foundation often renews support for organizations it already knows rather than treating every grant as a one-time award.
New York is the top state by grant count, with 77% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recipient cities shown in the list include Ithaca, Owego, and Elmira in New York, plus several Massachusetts cities.
No. The foundation is listed as not funding individuals and not making program-related investments. Its recent record is instead built around grants to nonprofits serving local community needs.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITHACA WELCOMES REFUGEES INC | ITHACA, NY | $65,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT REFUGEES RESETTLING IN TOMPKINS COUNTY |
| TIOGA COUNTY RURAL MINISTRY (TCRM) | OWEGO, NY | $46,500 | 2026 | TO PROVIDE UNMET NEEDS TO THE POOR, SICK AND ELDERLY |
| COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $24,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | OWEGO, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES |
| THE CHERRY ARTS | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |
| COMPASSIONATE CARE ALS | FALMOUTH, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT PEOPLE DIAGNOSED AND FAMILIES COPING WITH ALS |
| OARS OF CONCORD | CONCORD, MA | $14,000 | 2026 | TO PROTECT,IMPROVE & PRESERVE WATERWAYS |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE |
| SHARED KITCHEN - ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS IN THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY |
| OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES |
| WEAVE COMMUNITY INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY |
| MORE THAN WORDS | WALTHAM, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | TO PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS WITH JOB TRAINING |
| GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER INC | ITHACA, NY | $8,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT BOXING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND TEENS |
| ITHACA UNDERGROUND | ITHACA, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| TIOGA COUNTY RURAL MINISTRY (TCRM) | OWEGO, NY | $30,200 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE UNMET NEEDS TO THE POOR, SICK AND ELDERLY |
| COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $24,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $19,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE |
| ALS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSSETTS CHAPTER | WESTBOROUGH, MA | $12,500 | 2025 | TO SERVE,ADVOCATE FOR & EMPOWER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ALS |
| THE CHERRY ARTS | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |
| MORE THAN WORDS | WALTHAM, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS WITH JOB TRAINING |
| SHARED KITCHEN - ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS IN THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY |
| TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | OWEGO, NY | $7,075 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES |
| ITHACA WELCOMES REFUGEES INC | ITHACA, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT REFUGEES RESETTLING IN TOMPKINS COUNTY |
| FOODBANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | ELMIRA, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SUSTAINING HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES |
| YOUTH FARM PROJECT INC | ITHACA, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN BUILDING LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES |
| WEAVE COMMUNITY INC | ITHACA, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY |
| SECOND WIND | NEWFIELD, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THE HOMELESS |
| THE CHILDREN'S ROOM | ARLINGTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT GRIEVING CHILDREN, TEENS & FAMILY |
| NATURE CONNECTION | CONCORD, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | TO HELP PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND A DEEPER BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE |
| OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC | ITHACA, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES |
| COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $24,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| WEAVE COMMUNITY INC | ITHACA, NY | $16,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY |
| STATE THEATRE OF ITHACA | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT |
| ALS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSSETTS CHAPTER | WESTBOROUGH, MA | $12,500 | 2024 | TO SERVE,ADVOCATE FOR & EMPOWER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ALS |
| THE CHERRY ARTS | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |
| ROSIE'S PLACE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY |
| YOUTH FARM PROJECT INC | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN BUILDING LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES |
| MORE THAN WORDS | WALTHAM, MA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE YOUNG ADULTS WITH JOB TRAINING |
| CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION | ITHACA, NY | $4,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE |
| OARS OF CONCORD | CONCORD, MA | $2,500 | 2024 | TO PROTECT,IMPROVE & PRESERVE WATERWAYS |
| COMMUNITY UNITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (CUMPE) | ITHACA, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LOW-TO-NO COST MUSIC & ARTS EDUCATION TO YOUTH |
| COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $26,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE ARTS |
| OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC | ITHACA, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES |
| FREE SCIENCE | ITHACA, NY | $16,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SCIENCE |
| GREATER ITHACA ACTIVITIES CENTER INC | ITHACA, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT BOXING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND TEENS |
| THE CHERRY ARTS | ITHACA, NY | $12,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT |
| TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | OWEGO, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES |
| ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE |
ITHACA WELCOMES REFUGEES INC
$65,000TO SUPPORT REFUGEES RESETTLING IN TOMPKINS COUNTY
TIOGA COUNTY RURAL MINISTRY (TCRM)
$46,500TO PROVIDE UNMET NEEDS TO THE POOR, SICK AND ELDERLY
COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$24,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC
$20,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES
THE CHERRY ARTS
$15,000TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
COMPASSIONATE CARE ALS
$15,000TO SUPPORT PEOPLE DIAGNOSED AND FAMILIES COPING WITH ALS
OARS OF CONCORD
$14,000TO PROTECT,IMPROVE & PRESERVE WATERWAYS
SHARED KITCHEN - ITHACA
$10,000TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS IN THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY
OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC
$10,000TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WEAVE COMMUNITY INC
$10,000TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY
TO SUPPORT BOXING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND TEENS
ITHACA UNDERGROUND
$2,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
TIOGA COUNTY RURAL MINISTRY (TCRM)
$30,200TO PROVIDE UNMET NEEDS TO THE POOR, SICK AND ELDERLY
COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$24,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION
$19,000TO SUPPORT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE
ALS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSSETTS CHAPTER
$12,500TO SERVE,ADVOCATE FOR & EMPOWER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ALS
THE CHERRY ARTS
$12,000TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SHARED KITCHEN - ITHACA
$10,000TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS IN THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY
TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC
$7,075TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES
ITHACA WELCOMES REFUGEES INC
$5,000TO SUPPORT REFUGEES RESETTLING IN TOMPKINS COUNTY
YOUTH FARM PROJECT INC
$5,000TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN BUILDING LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES
WEAVE COMMUNITY INC
$5,000TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY
SECOND WIND
$5,000TO PROVIDE HELP FOR THE HOMELESS
THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
$5,000TO SUPPORT GRIEVING CHILDREN, TEENS & FAMILY
NATURE CONNECTION
$2,500TO HELP PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND A DEEPER BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND NATURE
OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC
$25,000TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES
COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$24,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
WEAVE COMMUNITY INC
$16,000TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST SOCIETY
STATE THEATRE OF ITHACA
$15,000TO SUPPORT ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
ALS ASSOCIATION MASSACHUSSETTS CHAPTER
$12,500TO SERVE,ADVOCATE FOR & EMPOWER PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ALS
THE CHERRY ARTS
$12,000TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
YOUTH FARM PROJECT INC
$10,000TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN BUILDING LOCAL FOOD COMMUNITIES
OARS OF CONCORD
$2,500TO PROTECT,IMPROVE & PRESERVE WATERWAYS
COMMUNITY UNITY MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (CUMPE)
$2,000TO PROVIDE LOW-TO-NO COST MUSIC & ARTS EDUCATION TO YOUTH
COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$26,000TO SUPPORT THE ARTS
OPPORTUNITIES ALTERNATIVES AND RESOURCES OF TOMPKINS COUNTY INC
$25,000TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES
FREE SCIENCE
$16,000TO SUPPORT SCIENCE
TO SUPPORT BOXING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AND TEENS
THE CHERRY ARTS
$12,000TO SUPPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC
$10,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS' ACTIVITIES
ADVOCACY CENTER OF TOMPKINS COUNTY
$10,000TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE