To stimulate, coordinate and strengthen library and information services within Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins counties.
Finger Lakes Library System stands out for using grantmaking to strengthen library and information services across Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. Its funding is built around member libraries and library-related projects, with a clear emphasis on access, literacy, outreach, and resource sharing. In the recent grant record, Tompkins County Public Library in Ithaca received the largest award at $558,094 in 2025, reflecting the scale of support that can flow through the system for special-purpose needs. Other recurring recipients show how the foundation works with libraries across the service area rather than through a single venue or program. Cortland Free Library in Cortland appears multiple times in the recent grants list, including awards in both 2024 and 2025, while Seymour Public Library District in Auburn also appears across more than one year. The foundation’s active programs point to a practical grantmaking model: mini-grants for member libraries, outreach support for underserved groups and people with special needs, and public library construction grants applied through FLLS. The result is a funder focused on local library capacity, service access, and targeted projects that improve use of library services.
Public library access is a central theme. The Community Foundation Library Grant Cycle is designed to improve access for youth to local libraries and to support intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of reading and learning. Family literacy is another clear area of support: FLLS Family Literacy Grants are intended for at-risk youth ages birth through 21 and may cover collection development, supplies and materials, and performers or presenters tied to library literacy work. The system also funds outreach and equity work through FLLS Outreach Mini-Grants, which are meant to help underserved groups and people with special needs use their library. Construction and facilities projects appear as well, through New York State Public Library Construction Grants applied for via FLLS, which can fund up to 90 percent of a three-year project.
Typical awards are modest: the 25th percentile is $6,050, the median is $7,449, and the 75th percentile is $13,314. That pattern fits a mini-grant and special-purpose model, even though a few grants are much larger. The recent record also shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially Tompkins County Public Library, Cortland Free Library, and Seymour Public Library District, which suggests ongoing support for local library operations and projects rather than one-off-only giving. FLLS is a public charity, and the active programs indicate structured, promoted grant cycles. Several programs accept unsolicited applications, including outreach mini-grants, family literacy grants, and construction grants applied through FLLS.
$745K
$4.5M
$1.6M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $6K and $13K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$13K
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Giving is tightly local: 100% of grants in the recent record went to recipients in New York. The top-recipient cities include Ithaca, Cortland, Auburn, Groton, and Trumansburg, with additional grants to communities such as Seneca Falls, Dryden, Homer, Lansing, and Newfield. The service-area framing also points to Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins counties as the main geographic footprint for grant activity.
It funds library and information services, with active programs for public library access, outreach to underserved groups, family literacy, digital and eContent access, interlibrary loan and resource sharing, services to correctional facilities, and accessibility services such as TBBL. The recent grants also show special-purpose support for member libraries across the service area.
The active programs are promoted to FLLS member libraries and public libraries in the service area. Examples include the Community Foundation Library Grant Cycle for FLLS members, outreach mini-grants for FLLS member libraries, and New York State Public Library Construction Grants applied through FLLS.
Recent grant sizes cluster in the small-grant range: the 25th percentile is $6,050, the median is $7,449, and the 75th percentile is $13,314. The outreach mini-grants program also states awards of between $300 and $3,000 each year.
The giving is local and concentrated in New York. Active program geography points to Cayuga, Cortland, and Seneca counties, while the broader service-area description includes Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. In the recent grants list, recipients appear in cities including Ithaca, Cortland, Auburn, Groton, and Trumansburg.
Yes. The recent grants list includes repeated recipients across years, including Tompkins County Public Library in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Cortland Free Library in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Seymour Public Library District in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Finger Lakes Library System that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: FLLS member libraries in the FLLS service area may apply. Projects should help underserved groups and people with special needs use their library.
Deadline: Typically opens in November; applications are due in March.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tompkins County Public Librar | Ithaca, NY | $558,094 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, CDLA, BULLET |
| Cortland Free Library | Cortland, NY | $25,322 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Groton Public Library | Groton, NY | $23,340 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Ulysses Phiomathic Library | Trumansburg, NY | $20,514 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Seneca Falls Library | Seneca Falls, NY | $14,993 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Seymour Public Library Dist | Auburn, NY | $14,776 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Hazard Library Association | Poplar Ridge, NY | $13,493 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Southworth Library Assoc | Dryden, NY | $10,993 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT, |
| Cady Library | Nichols, NY | $10,742 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Lamont Memorial Free Library | McGraw, NY | $9,623 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Phillips Free Library | Homer, NY | $8,594 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Lansing Community Library | Lansing, NY | $8,532 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Newfield Public Library | Newfield, NY | $7,993 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET |
| Peck Memorial Library Assoc | Marathon, NY | $6,566 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Waterloo Library & Historical | Waterloo, NY | $5,579 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Waverly Free Library | Wavery, NY | $5,493 | 2025 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Tompkins County Public Librar | Ithaca, NY | $36,673 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Seymour Public Library Dist | Auburn, NY | $16,360 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Cortland Free Library | Cortland, NY | $13,276 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Phillips Free Library | Homer, NY | $7,470 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Waterloo Library & Historical | Waterloo, NY | $6,153 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Groton Public Library | Groton, NY | $6,089 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Berkshire Free Library | Berkshire, NY | $5,331 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Seneca Falls Library | Seneca Falls, NY | $5,308 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Candor Free Library | Candor, NY | $5,121 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Edith B Ford Memorial Library | Ovid, NY | $5,016 | 2024 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Tompkins County Public Librar | Ithaca, NY | $33,099 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Weedsport Free Library | Weedsport, NY | $20,401 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Seymour Public Library Dist | Auburn, NY | $18,845 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID |
| Lodi Whittier Library Assoc | Lodi, NY | $16,867 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Port Byron Library Inc | Port Byron, NY | $14,678 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID |
| Fair Haven Public Library | Fair Haven, NY | $13,428 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID |
| Interlaken Public Library | Interlaken, NY | $12,171 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE, |
| Cortland Free Library | Cortland, NY | $12,066 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Stewart B Lang Memorial Libra | Cato, NY | $9,678 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Edith B Ford Memorial Library | Ovid, NY | $8,804 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID |
| Tappan Spaulding Memorial Lib | Newark Valley, NY | $7,978 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI |
| Coburn Free Library | Owego, NY | $7,928 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI |
| Cady Library | Nichols, NY | $7,428 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Apalachin Library Association | Apalachin, NY | $6,928 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID |
| Berkshire Free Library | Berkshire, NY | $6,778 | 2023 | LLSA, OUTREACH, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BU |
| Candor Free Library | Candor, NY | $6,468 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI |
| Seneca Falls Library | Seneca Falls, NY | $6,428 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Groton Public Library | Groton, NY | $6,080 | 2023 | LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Lansing Community Library | Lansing, NY | $5,961 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT |
| Waverly Free Library | Wavery, NY | $5,928 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Spencer Library Association | Spencer, NY | $5,928 | 2023 | LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
| Phillips Free Library | Homer, NY | $5,558 | 2023 | LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE |
Tompkins County Public Librar
$558,094LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, CDLA, BULLET
Cortland Free Library
$25,322LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Groton Public Library
$23,340LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Ulysses Phiomathic Library
$20,514LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Seneca Falls Library
$14,993LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Seymour Public Library Dist
$14,776LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Hazard Library Association
$13,493LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Southworth Library Assoc
$10,993LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT,
Cady Library
$10,742LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Lamont Memorial Free Library
$9,623LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Phillips Free Library
$8,594LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Lansing Community Library
$8,532LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Newfield Public Library
$7,993LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET
Peck Memorial Library Assoc
$6,566LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Waterloo Library & Historical
$5,579LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Waverly Free Library
$5,493LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Tompkins County Public Librar
$36,673LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Seymour Public Library Dist
$16,360LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Cortland Free Library
$13,276LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Phillips Free Library
$7,470LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Waterloo Library & Historical
$6,153LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Groton Public Library
$6,089LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Berkshire Free Library
$5,331LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Seneca Falls Library
$5,308LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Candor Free Library
$5,121LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Edith B Ford Memorial Library
$5,016LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Tompkins County Public Librar
$33,099LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Weedsport Free Library
$20,401LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Seymour Public Library Dist
$18,845LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID
Lodi Whittier Library Assoc
$16,867LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Port Byron Library Inc
$14,678LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID
Fair Haven Public Library
$13,428LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID
Interlaken Public Library
$12,171LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE,
Cortland Free Library
$12,066LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Stewart B Lang Memorial Libra
$9,678LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Edith B Ford Memorial Library
$8,804LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID
Tappan Spaulding Memorial Lib
$7,978LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI
Coburn Free Library
$7,928LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI
Cady Library
$7,428LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Apalachin Library Association
$6,928LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BULLET AID
Berkshire Free Library
$6,778LLSA, OUTREACH, SPECIAL PURPOSE, BU
Candor Free Library
$6,468LLSA, BULLET AID, MINI GRANT, SPECI
Seneca Falls Library
$6,428LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Groton Public Library
$6,080LLSA, MINI GRANT, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Lansing Community Library
$5,961LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE, MINI GRANT
Waverly Free Library
$5,928LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Spencer Library Association
$5,928LLSA, BULLET AID, SPECIAL PURPOSE
Phillips Free Library
$5,558LLSA, SPECIAL PURPOSE
