Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc. is a public charity based in Horseheads, New York. It supports charitable organizations and individuals through grants and scholarships, serving Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties in New York’s Southern Tier.
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc at a glance
In short: Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc gave $2.1M across 84 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in New York. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,124,741
- +30.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 84
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,295
- +19.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $83,695,539
- +10.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (20 of 82, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
- How to Apply
-
Review the guidelines for the relevant grant program and apply through the foundation’s online grant portal. Program Support requests may be up to $10,000; eligibility and geographic restrictions vary by opportunity.
- Review Cycle
- The Leadership Advancement Award lists a deadline of November 1, 2026. It offers up to $10,000 for an executive director or equivalent to take a two-to-three-month sabbatical. Requirements include at least ten years of paid service to the current organization, a current strategic plan, a DEIB plan, staff able to assume duties during the sabbatical, and a service area that includes Chemung County. The organization must also have received a foundation grant within the prior five years and continue the executive’s full salary and benefits during the sabbatical.
- Deadline
- The Leadership Advancement Award lists a deadline of November 1, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 301 South Main Street, Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-3900
Website: https://communityfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
63 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
American Association of University Women Scholarship Grant
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
US $600
Deadline
Deadline not published
Barbara & Joseph C. Littleton Scholarship Grant
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
US $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Bertram L. Newman Memorial Scholarship Grant
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
US $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chemung County Performing Arts Inc DBA Clemens Center ($233K). Together the top 10 received $957K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($64,893), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
366 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 322 grants of 366 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it serves Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties in New York’s Southern Tier. Its reported 2025 grant dollars went primarily to New York recipients: 97% were in New York, with smaller shares reported for Nebraska, Colorado, Florida, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 84 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 20 of 82 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $17K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2022) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 84 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chemung County Performing Arts Inc DBA Clemens Center Elmira, NY | General Operating Support, Conference, and Stage Curtains | $232,700 |
| Chemung County Child Care Council Inc Elmira, NY | General Operating Support | $125,660 |
| Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira Inc Elmira, NY | Roof Replacement and Masonry | $118,000 |
| Pro Action of Steuben and Yates Inc Bath, NY | General Operating Support and Wheels to Work | $88,810 |
| The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Corning, NY | General Operating Support | $77,970 |
| Economic Opportunity Program Inc Elmira, NY | General Operating Support | $70,640 |
| Southeast Steuben County Library Corning, NY | General Operating Support and Performance | $65,450 |
| Horseheads Family Resource Center Horseheads, NY | General Operating and Program Support | $62,000 |
| Family Services of Chemung County Inc Elmira, NY | The Child Advocacy Center Expansion Project | $60,672 |
| Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum Elmira, NY | General Operating Support and Canopy Walkway | $55,270 |
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,695,539 | $6,490,909 | $4,354,692 | $2,124,741 | 84 | $1,464,606 |
| 2024 | $76,020,987 | $12,580,282 | $3,740,860 | $1,633,138 | 77 | $9,603,653 |
| 2023 | $68,654,981 | $3,876,742 | $3,897,826 | $1,618,826 | 72 | $1,311,331 |
| 2022 | $64,263,618 | $4,077,451 | $3,358,282 | $1,458,273 | 61 | $1,994,821 |
| 2021 | $75,391,064 | $3,272,819 | $3,433,097 | $1,855,294 | 72 | $1,259,412 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to help realize the potential in the community by matching the generosity of its donors with the community’s greatest needs. Its grants and scholarships support people in Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties.
The foundation’s website identifies human services, arts and culture, education and youth, health, animal welfare, the environment, and civic affairs among the areas of community impact it supports. It describes its funding priorities as advancing equity, community impact, collaboration, innovation and creativity, and sustainability.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations working across a range of community needs. For example, the Clemens Center describes its mission as providing diverse performing arts programming to improve quality of life across the region. The Chemung County Child Care Council says it promotes affordable, accessible, available, quality child care through advocacy, education, and coordination. Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira describes its work as preserving the cemetery’s historical integrity and natural beauty and educating the public about its history.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 84 grants totaling $2,124,741. Grants ranged from $5,100 to $232,700, with a median of $15,000.
Among its largest reported 2025 grants were $232,700 to Chemung County Performing Arts Inc. for general operating support, a conference, and stage curtains; $125,660 to Chemung County Child Care Council Inc. for general operating support; $118,000 to Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira Inc. for roof replacement and masonry; and $88,810 to Pro Action of Steuben and Yates Inc. for general operating support and Wheels to Work. Other substantial awards included $77,970 to The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for general operating support and $70,640 to Economic Opportunity Program Inc. for general operating support.
The foundation’s Community Grant Program is described as an open, competitive program for nonprofit organizations. Proposals are reviewed by a community panel and formally approved by the board. Its Program Support grants cover one-year periods, may request up to $10,000, and can support programs or direct services, capital costs, or organizational development and capacity building. General Operating Support grants are flexible, one-year grants with a renewal option; the foundation describes successful applicants as having a clear community role, evidence of effectiveness, and a written strategic plan covering at least two years. General Operating Support grantees submit a final report used to determine whether a renewal will be awarded.
The website says grant applications are accepted annually through an online portal. The 2026 Community Grant application materials direct applicants to read the relevant guidelines and request that proposals describe the organization, its board, and its nondiscrimination policy. The foundation’s 2024 filing narrative also says it conducts pre-grant inquiry, may request a written proposal and budget, requires a written grant agreement, and requires written reporting at least annually during the grant term.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul Sydlansky as chair, Kathleen Schweizer as vice chair, Jan Van Den Blink as past chair, Eileen Huff as treasurer, and Sara Ciccotti as secretary. It also lists Alison Wolfe, Neil Folnsbee, Olivia Khristan, L Dale Cole, and Janna Lindsay as directors.
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc is led by Randi Hewit, President on every filing since 2021; 3 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randi Hewit
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$152K (2021) → $176K (2025)
Paul Sydlansky
Chair
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janna Lindsay
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Eisner
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theodore Goldwyn
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Paul Passmore
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Odessa Petzold
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jarvis Marlow-McCowin
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Wilbert-Smith
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
L. Dale Cole
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Wolfe
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil Folnsbee
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Khristan
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Rivera
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynsey Hourihan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Mix
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pauline Emery
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trung Tran
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Sirianni
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$104K (2022) → $124K (2025)
Sarah Shaut
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $120K (2025)
Kathleen Schweizer
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Ciccotti
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Huff
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jan Van Den Blink
Past Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Anita J. Brooks Lewis (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Arie Van Den Blink (2021–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Megan Reed (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Angelina Hanrahan (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: George Winner (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Judith Rowe (2021–2023) — Chair
- Former: Mark Rogus (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Printup (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Dale Cole (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Grace Park (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Monica Bankston (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Carl Hayden (2021) — Past Chair
- Former: John Brand (2021) — Director
- Former: Martin Curran (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $176K, to Randi Hewit (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc
How much does Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc give each year?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc gave $2.1M across 84 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 77 grants.
What is Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's typical grant size?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $25,295, across 84 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc give grants?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Elmira, NY (30 grants), Corning, NY (22 grants), Bath, NY (6 grants) and Painted Post, NY (3 grants).
Does Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 84) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (6 grants).
Who are Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's largest grantees?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Chemung County Performing Arts Inc DBA Clemens Center ($232,700), Chemung County Child Care Council Inc ($125,660) and Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery of Elmira Inc ($118,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($64,893), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc reported $83.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.5M.
What does Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to help realize the potential in the community by matching the generosity of its donors with the community’s greatest needs. Its grants and scholarships support people in Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc?
Review the guidelines for the relevant grant program and apply through the foundation’s online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's EIN?
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1100837. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-elmira-corning-and-the-finger-lakes-inc-morg_67ac4f683f55408ba6f32fc390a989f5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161100837_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/community-foundation-of-elmira-corning-and-the-finger-lakes-inc-morg_67ac4f683f55408ba6f32fc390a989f5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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