Northern New York Community Foundation
The Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) is a 501(c)(3) community foundation established in 1929 and headquartered in Watertown, New York. The organization raises, manages, and administers an endowment and collection of funds for the benefit of the community, built through gifts from individuals and organizations. The foundation operates as a philanthropic fundraising services organization with approximately 9-10 employees.
Key facts about Northern New York Community Foundation
- EIN
- 15-6020989
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,673,746
- Grants made (2024)
- 112
- Average grant
- $23,873
- Median grant
- $11,022
- Total assets
- $172,890,176
- Primary geography
- New York (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Northern New York Community Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Northern New York Community Foundation's 112 itemized 2024 grants were New York (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, NY (25 grants), Lowville, NY (12 grants), Potsdam, NY (8 grants) and Clayton, NY (7 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$172.9M
+13.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+15.0% YoY
Grant Count
112
+51.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-24.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To inspire and celebrate giving, steward resources honorably, and foster vibrant North Country communities.
The foundation's grant programs are focused on stewardship, impact, inclusion, and better communities for all. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and creative writing
- Historic buildings and preservation
- Journalism
- Human and social services
- Poverty alleviation
- Hospice care
- Nonprofit capacity building
Grantmaking
The foundation manages multiple grant programs and donor-advised funds. Recent grant programs include:
Ready to take the next step with Northern New York Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves three counties in Northern New York:
- Jefferson County
- Lewis County
- St. Lawrence County
Funding is available exclusively to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within these tri-county regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $172,890,176
- Total Revenue: $16,886,995
- Total Expenses: $6,036,544
- Total Giving: $4,475,553
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $153,000,000
- Total Revenue: $19,200,000
- Total Expenses: $5,810,000
The organization maintains a four-star rating (97% score) for accountability and finance.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $172,890,176 | $152,557,376 | $127,657,866 |
| Revenue | $16,886,995 | $19,223,854 | $11,176,800 |
| Expenses | $6,036,544 | $5,810,387 | $5,130,714 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,067,041 | $5,993,274 | $2,544,124 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
451 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
31 open opportunities from Northern New York Community Foundation
10th Mountain Division (Light) Scholarship Grant
NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Canton Community Fund Grants
NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $2,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund Grant
NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Watertown Family Ymca ($173,125), City of Watertown ($147,067), Wilderness Health Care Foundation - Hynes ($137,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WATERTOWN FAMILY YMCA WATERTOWN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $173,125 |
| CITY OF WATERTOWN WATERTOWN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $147,067 |
| WILDERNESS HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION - HYNES STAR LAKE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $137,500 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WATERTOWN WATERTOWN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $120,581 |
| ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM CLAYTON, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $112,140 |
| WATERTOWN URBAN MISSION WATERTOWN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $83,724 |
| LOWVILLE ACADEMY AND CENTRAL SCHOOL LOWVILLE, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $71,429 |
| UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SACKETS HARBOR SACKETS HARBOR, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $61,308 |
| JEFFERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION WATERTOWN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $59,500 |
| COMPASSIONATE CARE FOUNDATION DEXTER, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $58,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Rande Richardson: Executive Director
- Stephen Magovney: Chief Financial Officer
- Max Delsignore: Vice President
- Ken Eysaman: Director of Communications
- Emily Sprague: Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHERYL STECKLY | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| MARK R LAVARNWAY | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 3 | — |
| ELIZABETH PERRY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| FAYE C WATERMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARIE A HESS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE BURNS QUENCER | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 3 | — |
| JEFFREY GINGER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| THERESA L QUINTIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ROBERT M SLIGAR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK THOMPSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| VICTORIA HASSELER COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| EMILY SPRAGUE | VICE CHAIR | 3 | — |
| BRENT V SANFORD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LISA A WEBER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY SAVAGE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RANDE S RICHARDSON | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $200,734 |
| STEPHEN MAGOVNEY | CFO | 40 | $110,000 |
| MAX DELSIGNORE | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $110,339 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Food Insecurity Support:** The foundation awarded more than $152,000 to combat food insecurity and hunger across Northern New York
Community Foundation Awards More Than $152,000 to Combat Food Insecurity**Six Town Community Fund Grants:** Supported seven community projects in southern Jefferson County
Six Town Community Fund Supports Seven Community Projects in southern Jefferson**Rock Charitable Fund:** Supported projects at seventeen St. Lawrence County organizations
Community Foundation\u2019s Rock Charitable Fund Supports Projects at Seventeen\**Historic Preservation:** Provided grant funding to help restore Massena's historic Schine Theater
Community Foundation grant funding helping to restore Massena\u2019s historic\**Scholarship Challenge:** Launched the Class of 2026 Scholarship Challenge for tri-county schools
Community Foundation Launches Class of 2026 Scholarship Challenge for Tri-CountyContact Information
- Address: 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601-6788
- Phone: 315-782-7110
- Website: www.nnycf.org
- EIN: 15-6020989
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Northern New York Community Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To inspire and celebrate giving, steward resources honorably, and foster vibrant North Country communities. The foundation's grant programs are focused on stewardship, impact, inclusion, and better communities for all. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and creative writing • Historic buildings and preservation • Journalism • Human and social services • Poverty alleviation • Hospice care • Nonprofit capacity building
How do I apply for a grant from Northern New York Community Foundation?
The foundation manages multiple grant programs and donor-advised funds. Recent grant programs include: **Community Fund Grant Program:** A place-based funding initiative pooling community-specific funds to magnify impact across Northern New York. Eligible organizations are federally classified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. **Specific Community Funds:** • **George R. Davis Fund for Lowville:** Up to $20,000 available, supporting quality of life projects in …
Where does Northern New York Community Foundation make grants?
The foundation serves three counties in Northern New York: • Jefferson County • Lewis County • St. Lawrence County Funding is available exclusively to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within these tri-county regions.
What size grants does Northern New York Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Northern New York Community Foundation awarded 112 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Northern New York Community Foundation's EIN?
Northern New York Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 15-6020989. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northern New York Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.