Community Grants
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Thanks to generous donations from Corporate Cornerstone Partners, |
United Way of Tompkins County funds 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations--providing service to Tompkins County residents--through one-year grants that create the capacity to meet immediate needs and effect long term community change.United Way donors may direct their gifts to United Way's Community Care Fund, community and member organizations, or our targeted impact areas: Hunger & Food Security, the Urgent Rx Prescription Program, and the student engagement programs.
Our grant funding model relies on a process that includes: researching the needs of the community, applying best practices from proven programs, identifying agency partners using a competitive grant process, and tracking implementation. Funded programs are reviewed annually by our panel of volunteers (Fund Distribution and Evaluation Committee) with the expertise to make sure we are maximizing your contributions and achieving measurable results.
Click here, if you would like more information on how to apply. For additional information please contact Meg Cole via email or call (607) 272-6286.
Hunger and Food Security Fund
| "One of the greatest feelings in the world is knowing that we as individuals can make a difference. Ending hunger in America is a goal that is literally within our grasp." - Jeff Bridges |
United Way of Tompkins County continues to document an increased demand of food and personal care items and is focusing its efforts on addressing the many complex food and hunger issues. UWTC is working to support programming to make an impact or improve the quality of life of area residents.
All local nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for Hunger & Food Security Funds. As indicated by community conditions, UWTC has established Fall and Spring Hunger & Food Security grant cycles.
United Way of Tompkins County continues to document an increased demand for basic need services including requests for services from households who have never sought or considered seeking assistance.
FOCUS - Focus On Community Understanding Service
FOCUS is an extension of UWTC's Youth and Philanthropy Program. Middle school students in select towns distribute $3,000 to local nonprofit organizations that serve their communities.
What do students in FOCUS do?
- Participate in consensus building activities
- Review grant applications
- Conduct interviews
- Deliberate about how to award funds
- May engage in a documentary photography project, where they capture on film what they like about their community and what they would like to change.
Since the program's inception in 2002, the towns of Dryden, Caroline, Newfield, Groton, Enfield, Trumansburg and Danby have hosted FOCUS Programs. This year, Lansing hosted the program. To date, students have granted $21,500 to nonprofit organizations.
T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund
This fund was established to honor T. Merrell Shipherd, former Director of United Way of Tompkins County, who, throughout his life, worked to bring people together to find effective solutions to community challenges. The purpose of this funding is to provide financial support to quality programming and services, to address current, new or emerging needs in the community, to support efforts to improve organizational efficiency and encourage collaborations such as mergers and service delivery joint ventures.
United Way Member organizations are eligible to apply for Flexible Funds. Non-United Way Member organizations may apply in partnership/collaboration with United Way of Tompkins County Member Organizations.
Ithaca College Philanthropy Corps
The Philanthropy Corps is a new student partnership with United Way of Tompkins County. The hope of this program is to generate money through event sponsorship, campus alliances, and its connection with the Ithaca College faculty United Way campaign. Once funds have been collected, trained IC students review applications from Ithaca community non-profits, and allocate monetary grants to those in need.
| Ithaca College Philanthropy Corps' Mission Statement: "We strongly believe that through the combined efforts of all Ithaca College organizations, we can make a larger impact on the community". |
We exist to provide a repository and allocation service for Ithaca College organizations to place charitable funds, believing in the values of student leadership, philanthropy, and cooperation so that the collective efforts of campus organizations might better serve worthy Tompkins County non-profit organizations. All area nonprofits organizations may apply.
Youth and Philanthropy
All Tompkins County nonprofits are eligible to apply for Youth and Philanthropy funds. Grants are awarded to quality programs and services that demonstrate substantiated need, clear goals, effective collaborations, and measurable outcomes.
Thanks to a generous grant from Park Foundation, $25,000 is available through the Youth and Philanthropy Grant process.
For additional information, please contact Meg Cole.
