Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation is a public charity based in Dunkirk, New York, focused on the long-term betterment of the northern Chautauqua region. It builds and stewards charitable endowments, promotes local philanthropy, and makes grants and scholarships to support community needs and opportunities.
Key facts about Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
In short: Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc gave $855K across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in New York. 67% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 16-1271663
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $854,926
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- Average grant
- $19,882
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 67% first-time grantees (29 of 43, 2024)
- Total assets
- $42,688,723
- Primary geography
- New York (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For Community Grants, submit a letter of interest by the applicable March 1 or September 1 deadline. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The next Community Grants letter-of-interest deadline listed by the foundation is September 1, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$42.7M
+15.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$855K
+31.8% YoY
Grant Count
43
+30.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+1.2% YoY
Is Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
67%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 29 of 43 grantees (67%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 28% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich the area where people live and work. Its goals include establishing endowments for present and future community benefit, providing a vehicle for donors’ varied interests, promoting local philanthropy, stewarding funds, and offering leadership and resources to address local challenges and opportunities.
Its website describes grantmaking in areas including community development, youth services, education, and the arts. Its grant programs also support classroom projects that combine learning with community service, and local charitable initiatives. Among organizations it supported in 2023, Lily Dale Assembly describes its mission as promoting understanding of the science, philosophy, and religion of spiritualism; Chautauqua County Rural Ministries says it provides advocacy, counseling, and referrals to rural and low-income people, minorities, farm workers, and others; and Chautauqua Institution describes its mission as exploring human values and enriching life through programs on religious, social, and political issues.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s 2023 filing reports $648,436 in grants across 33 grants. The 2022 filing reports $521,264 across 27 grants. The 2024 filing lists a grant count of zero. Three 2023 grants identified in the available information were $40,068 to Lily Dale Assembly, $27,403 to Chautauqua County Rural Ministries, and $11,750 to Chautauqua Institution.
The foundation’s Community Grants Program supports charitable programs addressing community needs and opportunities; awards generally range from $1,000 to $15,000. Letters of interest are due March 1 and September 1 each year. Its website also describes the DFT Communications/RMM Golf Tournament Community Betterment Fund, which has quarterly deadlines on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. Its guidelines give priority to projects with broad potential impact, innovative or efficient approaches, unmet needs, collaboration, and volunteer participation. Individuals, political organizations, candidates, and lobbying efforts are ineligible; organizations without 501(c)(3) status do not qualify, and salary, operating, and travel expenses are generally not funded.
The Service Learning Grants Program supports classroom-based projects for grades 4–12 in northern Chautauqua County. Awards generally do not exceed $1,000; salaries are ineligible, and transportation is considered separately. Projects need a clear educational outcome and a meaningful community service component. School clubs are not eligible. The listed deadline of April 17, 2026, has passed. The foundation also describes the Ripley Community & Heritage Fund, with grants up to $1,000 for projects benefiting Ripley, and the Silver Creek-Irving Heritage Fund, which supports charitable programs and community initiatives in those communities.
Review Cycle
The next Community Grants letter-of-interest deadline listed by the foundation is September 1, 2026.
How to Apply
For Community Grants, submit a letter of interest by the applicable March 1 or September 1 deadline. The DFT fund uses its application and quarterly deadlines; its guidelines request organizational and project information and a 501(c)(3) determination letter. The Service Learning Grants cycle with the April 17, 2026 deadline is past.
Open Grants
19 open opportunities from Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
Alice Reding Connell Nursing Scholarship Grant
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Benson-Cash Family Scholarship Grant
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Chadwick Bay NYS Women, Inc. Scholarship Grant
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic focus is the northern Chautauqua region. Individual programs specify narrower service areas, including northern Chautauqua County classrooms for Service Learning Grants, Ripley for the Ripley Community & Heritage Fund, and Silver Creek and Irving for the Silver Creek-Irving Heritage Fund.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $521K (2022) to $855K (2024). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $855K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chautauqua Region Economic Dev Corp ($100K). Together the top 10 received $520K.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 127 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chautauqua Region Economic Dev Corp Jamestown, NY | Community Benefit | $100,250 |
| Morgan Stanley Fredonia, NY | Community Benefit | $80,000 |
| Luca S Calanni Foundation Fredonia, NY | Community Benefit | $75,000 |
| 1891 Fredonia Opera House Fredonia, NY | Community Benefit | $67,341 |
| Uw of Northenr Chautauqua Cty Dunkirk, NY | Community Benefit | $43,169 |
| Feedmore WNY Buffalo, NY | Community Benefit | $42,500 |
| Lily Dale Assembly Lily Dale, NY | Community Benefit | $41,703 |
| Chaut Hospice and Palliative Care Lakewood, NY | Community Benefit | $30,054 |
| CRCF Jamestown, NY | Community Benefit | $20,000 |
| Ahira Hall Memorial Library Brocton, NY | Community Benefit | $19,797 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $42,688,723 | $4,303,670 | $1,836,605 | 0 grants |
| 2023 | $37,072,695 | $2,694,740 | $2,157,177 | $648,436 across 33 grants |
| 2022 | $32,783,815 | $2,512,103 | $1,939,625 | $521,264 across 27 grants |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,688,723 | $37,072,695 | $32,783,815 |
| Revenue | $4,303,670 | $2,694,740 | $2,512,103 |
| Expenses | $1,836,605 | $2,157,177 | $1,939,625 |
| Net Investment Income | $847,206 | $1,217,388 | $1,118,128 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sylvester Cleary as secretary and Rachel Foley as vice president. It lists Susan Crawford-Poster, Adam Dimitri, Nancy Adams Fry, Kathy George, John Hamels, Richard Johnson, Richard Ketcham, and Josiah Lamp as board members.
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc is led by Dave Travis, President on the 2024 filing; none of the 17 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dave Travis
President
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Alexandria Murphy
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Danielle Marx
Treasurer
Director → Director & T, 2023
Director & T → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John Hamels
Board Member
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy Adams Fry
Board Member
Vice President & President → President, 2022
President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rachel Foley
Vice President
Secretary → Secretary & V, 2023
Secretary & V → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Johnson
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Ketcham
Board Member
President & Director → Director, 2022
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephanie Stevens
Board Member
Director Be → Director, 2021
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sylvester Cleary
Secretary
Director → Director & S, 2023
Director & S → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Josiah Lamp
Board Member
Director Be → Director, 2022
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kathy George
Board Member
Director Be → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Kyle Leikam
Board Member
Director Be → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Susan Crawford-Poster
Board Member
Director Be → Director, 2023
Director → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Sandra Lewis
Board Member
Director Be → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Adam Dimitri
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Jessica Ross
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: David Travis (2020–2023) — Vice President & P
- Former: Diane Hannum (2020–2023) — Executive Di
- Former: Susan Wells Esq. (2020–2023) — Director Th
- Former: Katherine Brinkman (2021–2023) — Director Th
- Former: Gina Paradis (2020–2022) — Director Th
- Former: Katherine Tampio (2020–2022) — Director Th
- Former: Peter Ryan (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: James Rawcliffe (2020–2021) — Direct. Thr
- Former: Richard Ryan (2020–2021) — Director Th
- Former: Helen Baran (2020) — Director Th
- Former: Kathy Brinkman (2020) — Director
- Former: Priscilla Koch (2020) — Director Th
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 212 Lake Shore Dr West, Dunkirk, NY 14048
Phone: (716) 366-4892
Website: https://nccfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc
How much does Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc gave $855K across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $648K across 33 grants.
What is Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,882, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc that year got $18K on average.
Where does Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dunkirk, NY (13 grants), Fredonia, NY (7 grants), Jamestown, NY (3 grants) and Buffalo, NY (3 grants).
Does Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Benefit" (43 grants).
Who are Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Chautauqua Region Economic Dev Corp ($100,250), Morgan Stanley ($80,000) and Luca S Calanni Foundation ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc reported $42.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.3M.
What does Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich the area where people live and work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc?
For Community Grants, submit a letter of interest by the applicable March 1 or September 1 deadline. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1271663. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Inc by hand.
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