Women's Fund of Central New York Grant

The Women's Fund of Central New York, established in 1998, empowers women and girls through grants and initiatives, promoting their advancement and full participation in the community. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, the fund supports innovative projects that address key challenges faced by women and girls in Central New York. By fostering collaboration and community engagement, the Women's Fund aims to create a stronger, more equitable society for all.

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that receives contributions from private donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive.
Since our inception in 1927, we have invested more than $230 million in community projects that strengthen our local nonprofits and address the most critical issues of our times.
CNYCF Grants
We offer a number of grant programs that seek to bring about positive change and impact while honoring diversity and building inclusion within and across our many communities. The following programs provide responsive support to projects that enhance the lives of residents within Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Cortland and Oswego counties.
The Women’s Fund of Central New York, founded in 1998, is a volunteer-led fund which supports, empowers and recognizes the advancement and full participation of women and girls in Central New York through an endowment fund, grants and initiatives. The Women’s Fund of Central New York is an affiliate fund of the Central New York Community Foundation.
Statement of Solidarity
From funding initiatives like Tubman Troupe in Auburn to helping provide meals at the Tucker Missionary Baptist Church during the current crisis, The Women’s Fund has long been committed to supporting the Black community in Central New York.
In recent years we have been proactive about diversifying our board to better represent the community of women and girls we serve. We will continue to do so in order to effect positive change from within our organization and find new ways to more effectively serve our community.
Moving forward, here’s what you can do to support and engage in this critical time:

• Have “Courageous Conversations”
• Support Black-owned businesses
• Donate to organizations or volunteer for organizations that seek to engage and support Black communities
• The Women’s Fund Leadership Council is committed to continuing support for Black women and girls in our community – now, and in the future.

Types of Projects
The Leadership Council looks for innovative programs that address problems to be solved, or opportunities to be seized, for the benefit of women and girls. Priority is given to capacity-building activities and new projects within an organization rather than ongoing projects/programs. We invite proposals that:

• Suggest practical approaches to community problems.
• Promote cooperation among agencies without duplicating services.
• Generate community support, both professional and volunteer.
• Strengthen an agency’s effectiveness or stability.
• Address prevention as well as remediation.

Eligibility

We accept applications from organizations whose primary focus is to address key issues affecting women and girls in Central New York.501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, publicly supported organizations such as schools and municipalities, and organizations using a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor
Organizations serving residents of Cayuga, Onondaga, Madison or Oswego counties
Organizations that have completed any projects/programs previously funded by the Women’s Fund

Ineligibility

Projects Not Supported- We do not make grants for the following:

• Recurring grants to a program previously supported.
• Annual operating budgets, except when it is “seed” or “bridge” funding.
• Endowments.
• Religious purposes.
• Loans or assistance to individuals.
• Medical or academic research (except where requested by a donor).
• Activities that occurred before the Women’s Fund’s decision date.