Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
The Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County is a private foundation based in Ithaca, an individual recipient Founded in 1945, it supports nonprofit organizations through grants for programs, projects, and capital expenditures, with a commitment to improving quality of life in Tompkins County.
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County at a glance
In short: Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County gave $214K across 61 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in New York. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $214,488
- +0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 61
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,516
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,600
- Total assets
- $3,578,948
- +8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (20 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications from tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. Its website asks applicants to seek support for a particular program, project, or one-time capital need; it does not fund endowments, budget deficits, loan repayments, assistance to individuals, or ongoing operating costs such as salaries or overhead. Applicants should explain how they will cover costs beyond the requested grant and how a new project will continue after the grant ends. For requests of $10,000 or more, applicants should contact the foundation before applying. The 2025 filing says requests should be in writing and include a brief description of the organization, the purpose of the request, and a budget; it lists Peter Grossman, President, as the contact for applying. The filing states there are no deadlines, while the website lists spring and fall cycles.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 15 for the spring cycle and September 15 for the fall cycle. Both listed 2026 dates have passed as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 15 for the spring cycle and September 15 for the fall cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Peter Grossman President
Mailing address: PO Box 97, Ithaca, NY 14851
Phone: (607) 592-5485
Website: https://tclegacy.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
Who Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier ($10K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Organizations only. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($25,580), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
268 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 268 grants of 268 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it prefers organizations located within Tompkins County and requires funded programs, projects, or needs to benefit Tompkins County residents. Its 2025 filing states that its funds are available to voluntary agencies serving the Tompkins County area. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient and 3% to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 20 of 52 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2024) to $242K (2020). In 2025 it made 61 grants totaling $214K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier Elmira, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $10,000 |
| Downtown Ithaca Children's Center Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $9,000 |
| YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $7,500 |
| First Baptist Church of Enfield Newfield, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $7,500 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $7,500 |
| Area Congregations Together Inc Shelton, CT | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $7,500 |
| Women's Opportunity Center Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $7,145 |
| Sciencenter of Ithaca Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $6,900 |
| 6 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $21,125 |
| The Learning Web Ithaca, NY | Awards, Contributions & Operations | $6,150 |
Ready to take the next step with Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s website reports that, as of December 31, 2023, its general endowment was $2,863,535. It says growth from that endowment supports annual grantmaking.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,578,948 | $646,793 | $345,036 | $214,488 | 61 | $214,488 | $235,889 | $164,114 |
| 2024 | $3,305,436 | $270,484 | $334,308 | $212,905 | 56 | $209,662 | $43,859 | $161,708 |
| 2023 | $3,186,013 | $303,559 | $337,384 | $214,103 | 48 | $209,573 | $41,362 | $149,567 |
| 2022 | $2,986,093 | $216,225 | $336,677 | $226,825 | 62 | $226,825 | $27,376 | $156,636 |
| 2021 | $3,731,343 | $318,604 | $349,170 | $237,560 | 41 | $237,560 | $134,041 | $178,422 |
| 2020 | $3,557,978 | $361,599 | $294,700 | $241,737 | 38 | — | $237,403 | $158,067 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its commitment as supporting local organizations that help make Tompkins County an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming place to live and work. Its six areas of interest are health, education, recreation, human and social services, aging, and the arts. It also considers seed funding for new or innovative projects and programs.
Examples of grantees’ work illustrate the range of organizations funded. The Learning Web describes its work as providing Tompkins County youth with hands-on experiential education through mentor-apprentice relationships. The Community Science Institute says it works to safeguard water resources through volunteer monitoring, laboratory analyses, and education. Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties describes its work as bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 61 grants totaling $214,488. Grants ranged from $837 to $10,000, with a median award of $2,600. The foundation’s website says awards are typically up to $5,000 and very seldom exceed $10,000.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $10,000 to Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier; $9,000 to Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center; $7,500 each to the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, First Baptist Church of Enfield, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Area Congregations Together; and $7,145 to Women’s Opportunity Center. The filing describes these grants’ purposes as “awards, contributions & operations.” Area Congregations Together says it provides food, shelter, and support services to people in need in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter Grossman as president, Jean McPheeters as vice president, and Dana Christofferson as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed on that filing are Gregory Galvin, David Iles, Thomas Livigne, Dr. David Evelyn, Stephen Romaine, Peter Salmon, and Ryan Lombardi.
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County is led by Perri Lopinto, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Perri Lopinto
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$65K (2024) → $65K (2025)
Peter Grossman
President
Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Galvin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Salmon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Livigne
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Romaine
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Evelyn
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Iles
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Lombardi
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Dickinson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Christofferson
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean McPheeters
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Mary Opperman (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Joanne Florino (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Amie Hendrix (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Gregory J. Hartz (2020–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $65K, to Perri Lopinto (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
How much does Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County give each year?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County gave $214K across 61 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $213K across 56 grants.
What is Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's typical grant size?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's median grant in 2025 was $2,600, and its average grant was $3,516, across 61 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County that year got $3K on average.
Where does Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County give grants?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Ithaca, NY (43 grants), Elmira, NY (2 grants), Groton, NY (2 grants) and Trumansburg, NY (2 grants).
Does Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 61 grants with a stated purpose on Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Awards, Contributions & Operations" (61 grants).
Who are Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's largest grantees?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's largest 2025 grantees include Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier ($10,000), Downtown Ithaca Children's Center ($9,000) and YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($25,580), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $214K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County fund?
The foundation’s website describes its commitment as supporting local organizations that help make Tompkins County an inclusive, welcoming, and affirming place to live and work. Its six areas of interest are health, education, recreation, human and social services, aging, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County?
The foundation accepts applications from tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations with a tax-exempt fiscal sponsor. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's EIN?
Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 15-6018481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/legacy-foundation-of-tompkins-county-morg_0c86c763e27d4c39ab36b666edd24b89
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_156018481_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/legacy-foundation-of-tompkins-county-morg_0c86c763e27d4c39ab36b666edd24b89},
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 Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County'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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