The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc is a public charity based in Albany, New York, formed in 1968. It stewards charitable funds and works with donors and community partners to support organizations, programs, and students in the Greater Capital Region and beyond.
Key facts about The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
In short: The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc gave $5.3M across 286 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in New York. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 14-1505623
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,313,320
- Grants made (2024)
- 286
- Average grant
- $18,578
- Median grant
- $10,175
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (72 of 246, 2024)
- Total assets
- $119,822,415
- Primary geography
- New York (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$119.8M
+8.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.3M
-19.3% YoY
Grant Count
286
-0.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-19.0% YoY
Is The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 72 of 246 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). 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 mission is to strengthen the community through philanthropy, in collaboration with donors and community partners. Its 2024 filing identifies human services, education, arts and culture, housing and shelter, and community improvement and capacity building as leading areas of its grantmaking. It also describes support for nonprofit capacity through awards for infrastructure, human resources, and management or board training.
The foundation’s competitive grant programs cover a range of specified interests, including homelessness, disabilities, wildlife-focused land conservation, programs serving new Americans, and programs benefiting Amsterdam residents. Other programs address Albany County tourism; arts, culture, education, history, and the environment; science and youth; and needs in Niskayuna. Its grant guidelines generally require competitive-grant applicants to be 501(c)(3) organizations or operate under a fiscal sponsor, and to serve residents and be located in the ten-county Greater Capital Region unless a program says otherwise.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Albany Symphony Orchestra describes its work as presenting performances, educational programming, and cultural events for a regional community. Hudson Valley Community College Foundation says it supports the welfare and programs of the college, its students, and alumni. Double H Ranch describes year-round programs for children and families living with serious or chronic illnesses, while Comfort Food Community says it works to fight rural hunger and expand access to healthy food. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing lists 286 grants totaling $5,313,320, with a median grant of $10,175; individual listed grants ranged from $5,000 to $180,000. The latter figure includes facilitated giving and reflects a broader count than the itemized grants in the filing.
Among the largest itemized 2024 awards were $180,000 to the Museum of Innovation and Science for unrestricted use; $138,250 to Albany Medical Center Foundation for the Dr. Myron & Karol Gordon OB/GYN Resident Education program; and $127,700 to Albany Symphony Orchestra for unrestricted use. Other examples include $100,000 to Hudson Valley Community College Foundation for its Applied Technology Education Center, $100,000 to Pendragon Theatre for its capital campaign, and $68,000 to Comfort Food Community for Comfort Food as Medicine.
Most of the foundation’s grants are made in partnership with donors, including through donor-advised funds. The foundation says it may refer proposals submitted during competitive grant cycles to donor advisors whose interests align with the proposals. Its website provides online applications and fund-specific guidelines. Listed competitive opportunities generally have defined subject areas, eligibility requirements, and award limits. The 2026 competitive-cycle dates shown on the schedule—including the Impact Grants, Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Fund, Bender Family Foundation, Bender Scientific Fund, and Niskayuna Community Foundation deadlines—have passed. The schedule lists Niskayuna Community Foundation mini-grants as rolling through 2026, with awards up to $2,000. The foundation’s grants page lists several application programs as closed. A Bebu Scholarship is also listed as active for eligible students planning to attend SUNY Adirondack; the foundation describes a universal application for students seeking to qualify for more than 30 scholarships.
Open Grants
29 open opportunities from The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
Amalia Scholarship Fund for Higher Education Grant
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
American Marketing Association NY Capital Region Chapter Scholarship Grant
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
B'nai B'rith Gideon Foundation Grant
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Albany and describes its work as serving the Greater Capital Region and beyond. For competitive grants, its general eligibility area is the ten-county region of Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington counties, unless a specific program states otherwise. In 2024, 92% of itemized grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 286 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2022) to $8.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 286 grants totaling $5.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Museum of Innovation and Science (Misci) ($180K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($101,062), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,620 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,469 grants of 1,620 (91%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of Innovation and Science (Misci) Schenectady, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for unrestricted use | $180,000 |
| Albany Medical Center Foundation Albany, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for the dr. Myron & karol gordon ob/gyn resident educa. | $138,250 |
| Albany Symphony Orchestra Albany, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for unrestricted use | $127,700 |
| Hudson Valley Community College Foundation Troy, NY | Grants directed by cfgcr: for the applied technology education center (ATEC) | $100,000 |
| Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative Inc Brooklyn, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: per agreement, attached. | $100,000 |
| Pendragon Theatre Saranac Lake, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for support of the capital campaign | $100,000 |
| Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch Lake Luzerne, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for support of camperships in honor of lisa moser | $92,800 |
| Hudson Taconic Lands Averill Park, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for unrestricted use | $81,000 |
| Iphny Inc Albany, NY | Grants requested by donor and approved by cfgcr: for support | $77,700 |
| Comfort Food Community Greenwich, NY | Grants Directed by CFGCR: Comfort Food as Medicine | $68,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Itemized grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $119,822,415 | $11,354,990 | $8,706,809 | $5,313,320 |
| 2023 | $110,463,310 | $8,960,281 | $10,411,637 | $6,582,035 |
| 2022 | $100,799,889 | $11,740,454 | $8,524,230 | $4,518,069 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $119,822,415 | $110,463,310 | $100,799,889 |
| Revenue | $11,354,990 | $8,960,281 | $11,740,454 |
| Expenses | $8,706,809 | $10,411,637 | $8,524,230 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,345,167 | $3,678,448 | $1,992,724 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Belinda Hilton as chair, Alicia Lasch as immediate past chair, Jean Bedell as vice chair, Robert T. Hennes as treasurer, and Robert S. Reynolds as secretary. It also lists Christopher L. Cimijotti, M. Christian Bender, Eldon Harris, Eileen McLoughlin, and Meaghan E. Murphy as directors.
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc is led by John G. Eberle, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 5 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John G. Eberle
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$176K (2020) → $213K (2024)
Belinda Hilton
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Cuilla
Director & Advancement Operations
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024)
Chester Opalka
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher L. Cimijotti CPA
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen McLoughlin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meaghan E. Murphy Esq.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Murray Carl Massry
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aimee Dake
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Craft Esq.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Knoblauch PhD
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert F. Audi CPA
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eldon Harris
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M. Christian Bender
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter Thorne
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Zhang CPA
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Osorio
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Hollander
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry D. Mariano
CFO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Mindy Derosia
Vice President & Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2024)
Shelly Connolly
Vice President & Community Grantmaking
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$114K (2024)
Alicia Lasch
Immediate Past Chair
First Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert S. Reynolds Esq.
Secretary
Director → First Vice Chair, 2022
First Vice Chair → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert T. Hennes
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Bedell CPA
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Dorcey Applyrs Drph MPH (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John W. Rodat (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Brenda Baddam Esq. (2023) — Director
- Former: Frank M. Slingerland (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jessica Backer Brand Esq. (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Eagan (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Frederick Wetzel (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jan Smith (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Kevin M. O'Bryan (2020–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Victor A. Oberting III Esq. (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Fran'cee Brown-McClure PhD (2021) — Director
- Former: Ann Sharpe Esq. (2020) — Director
- Former: G. Neil Roberts (2020) — Director
- Former: Hyacinth Mason PhD (2020) — Director
- Former: James A. Sidford (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael R. Breault (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $213K, to John G Eberle (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2 Tower Place Executive Park, Albany, NY 12203
Phone: (518) 446-9638
Website: https://cfgcr.org
Frequently asked questions about The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc
How much does The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc give each year?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc gave $5.3M across 286 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $6.6M across 287 grants.
What is The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's typical grant size?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,175, and its average grant was $18,578, across 286 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc that year got $19K on average.
Where does The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc give grants?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc gives mostly in New York: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Albany, NY (96 grants), Schenectady, NY (25 grants), Troy, NY (22 grants) and Saratoga Springs, NY (19 grants).
Does The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 41% of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (117 of 286) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Grants Requested by Donor and Approved by CFGCR: for Support" (3 grants).
Who are The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's largest grantees?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Museum of Innovation and Science (Misci) ($180,000), Albany Medical Center Foundation ($147,855 across 2 grants) and Albany Symphony Orchestra ($127,700), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($101,062), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc reported $119.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.4M.
What does The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to strengthen the community through philanthropy, in collaboration with donors and community partners. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cfgcr.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's EIN?
The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-1505623. 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 October 2026.
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