The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes is a public charity based in Corning, New York. It supports arts and cultural activities, artists, arts and cultural organizations, and schools through grantmaking and other regional arts services.
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc at a glance
In short: The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc gave $194K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $193,640
- +401.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +380.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,068
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,650
- Total assets
- $2,338,456
- -17.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted online. Applicants are encouraged to read the grant guidelines before applying; the council also offers application guidance and encourages applicants to discuss projects and seek draft review.
- Review Cycle
- No application deadline is stated in the available program information.
- Deadline
- No application deadline is stated in the available program information.
- Contact
Mailing address: 79 West Market Street, Corning, NY 14830
Phone: (607) 962-1332
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
Community Arts Grants
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
$500 - $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grants
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Individual Artist Grants (Artist Crossroads)
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
Amount
$2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Finger Lakes Pride ($11K). Together the top 10 received $98K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 47 grants of 47 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council says it primarily administers grants in Cattaraugus, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Tioga counties. Its program descriptions identify those five counties for Statewide Community Regrants. The 2025 filing’s grant dollars went to recipients in New York (85%), Pennsylvania (5%), and an unidentified state (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc gives
- Giving grew 494% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2021) to $194K (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $194K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Finger Lakes Pride | Statewide Community Regrants | $11,400 |
| Economic Opportunity Program Elmira, NY | Quick Arts & Statewide Community Regrants | $11,050 |
| Steele Memorial Library (Chemung County Library District) Elmira, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $10,000 |
| Tioga County Tourism Owego, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,700 |
| Family Service Society Inc Corning, NY | Quick Arts & Statewide Community Regrants | $9,530 |
| 360 Pronoia Elmira Heights, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,500 |
| Corning High School PTSA Corning, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,250 |
| Endless Mountain Music Festival Wellsboro, PA | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,100 |
| Watkins Glen Promotions Watkins Glen, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,100 |
| Coburn Free Library Owego, NY | Statewide Community Regrants | $9,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,338,456 | $577,824 | $1,118,379 | $193,640 | 24 | $80,349 |
| 2024 | $2,835,345 | $1,479,509 | $888,395 | $38,600 | 5 | $56,018 |
| 2023 | $2,152,368 | $1,255,940 | $837,155 | $64,641 | 8 | $27,538 |
| 2022 | $1,545,147 | $1,065,264 | $755,764 | $32,614 | 4 | $30,549 |
| 2021 | $1,437,407 | $766,480 | $541,533 | $32,283 | 6 | $18,483 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s mission is to empower artists and encourage arts advocacy, foster creativity and economic vitality, build diverse connections and collaborations, and champion innovation and equity in the arts. It also describes work to increase public access to arts programming, support arts education, assist artists and arts organizations, and promote awareness of the arts’ economic importance.
Its grant programs include Community Arts grants for arts and cultural activities serving local residents; Teaching Artist grants for sequential arts education projects for K–12 students; and Individual Artist grants supporting the creation of new work. The council’s 2023 filing also describes a folk arts program supporting regional folk traditions and traditions from other parts of the world, and Artist Development grants supporting professional opportunities for artists from Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben counties.
The grantees include a range of community and cultural organizations. For example, Family Service Society says its mission is to provide counseling and community services that help individuals and families address challenges. Watkins Glen Promotions describes its mission as fostering community well-being in Watkins Glen, Montour Falls, and Schuyler County. The Endless Mountain Music Festival says it brings musicians to Northern Pennsylvania and Southern New York to enrich the region’s cultural, economic, and educational life.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the council reported 24 grants totaling $193,640. Grants ranged from $5,200 to $11,400, with a median of $8,650. Among the largest listed awards were $11,400 to Southern Finger Lakes Pride, $11,050 to Economic Opportunity Program, $10,000 to Steele Memorial Library, and $9,700 to Tioga County Tourism. Other listed awards included $9,530 to Family Service Society, $9,100 each to Watkins Glen Promotions and the Endless Mountain Music Festival, and $9,000 to Coburn Free Library.
The council’s grants page says the next Statewide Community Regrants cycle—Community Arts, Individual Artist, and Teaching Artist grants—will open in fall 2026. Its Community Arts page says applications for the 2027 cycle will open in September 2026. The council directs applicants to review program guidelines and submit online. It says community members serving on grant panels evaluate and score applications against the criteria in the guidelines. The council’s application guidance advises applicants to provide clear, complete, and specific information. Its program descriptions list awards of $500–$5,000 for Community Arts and Teaching Artist grants; the council’s Community Arts page also describes grants of up to $7,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Martin as president, Eric Meek as secretary, John Sirianni as treasurer, and Michelle Caulfield as vice president. It also lists Babatunde Ayanfodun, Shabnam Allwood, Joy Perry, Dipak Chowdhury, Nancy Goetz, and Dave Rochelle as board members. Joy Perry’s listing notes service through February 3, 2025.
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc is led by Constance Sullivan-Blum, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Constance Sullivan-Blum
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$66K (2021) → $77K (2025)
Chris Walters
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$3K (2025)
Karen Martin
President
Vice President → President With Fiscal Responsibility, 2023
President With Fiscal Responsibility → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clare Van Den Blink
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Caulfield
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Irvine
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Babatunde Ayanfodun
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Rochelle
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Perry
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Meek
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Sirianni
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Sarno
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dipak Chowdhury
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Goetz
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shabnam Allwood
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Willa Vogel
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Beth Manwaring (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Cynthia Raj (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Dressen (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: David Hertel (2021–2023) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Jessica Ober (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Andy Rochester (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Erin McMurrough (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Leslie Connolly (2021–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Vani Akula (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Eaton (2021) — Board Member
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 $77K, to Constance Sullivan-Blum (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc
How much does The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc give each year?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc gave $194K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $39K across 5 grants.
What is The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's typical grant size?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,650, and its average grant was $8,068, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc give grants?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc gives mostly in New York: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Elmira, NY (7 grants), Corning, NY (3 grants) and Owego, NY (2 grants).
Does The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Statewide Community Regrants" (20 grants) and "Quick Arts & Statewide Community Regrants" (4 grants).
Who are The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's largest grantees?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Finger Lakes Pride ($11,400), Economic Opportunity Program ($11,050) and Steele Memorial Library (Chemung County Library District) ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $578K.
What does The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc fund?
The council’s mission is to empower artists and encourage arts advocacy, foster creativity and economic vitality, build diverse connections and collaborations, and champion innovation and equity in the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc?
Applications are submitted online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's EIN?
The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0999315. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 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 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-arts-council-of-the-southern-finger-lakes-inc-morg_2991ae0d83384f7292f49b8fa9b11cfb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_160999315_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-arts-council-of-the-southern-finger-lakes-inc-morg_2991ae0d83384f7292f49b8fa9b11cfb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 The Arts Council of the Southern 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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