Schuyler County Fund Grant

The Schuyler County Fund is administered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes. The fund provides a vehicle for individuals, families, and businesses to invest in the residents of Schuyler County and to protect the physical environment of the region. The Community Foundation is a public charity that encourages funding requests from nonprofit organizations. The fund supports projects serving Schuyler County and is guided by the Community Foundation's broader commitment to building community and inspiring philanthropy through creative, effective, and innovative programs. Grantmaking priorities include human services, arts and culture, education and youth, health, the environment, and civic affairs. Successful projects are expected to address community needs while demonstrating sustainable impact and measurable outcomes. The Foundation also values collaborative approaches that improve or develop healthier community conditions. Programs should establish clear goals for incorporating diverse cultures, philosophies, and experiences, with diversity reflected in program delivery as well as organizational mission, boards, and operations. Programs that foster community connections for underserved and economically diverse populations are preferred. Reviewers consider the proposal's value to Schuyler County residents, availability of funding, and the quality and vision presented in the application. Eligible applicants include organizations classified as nonprofit charitable organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and publicly supported organizations such as school districts and municipalities. Applicants that have previously received Community Foundation funding must have submitted a grant evaluation for any completed funded program. Projects addressing pressing issues and benefiting from strong community partnerships are supported. Faith-based organizations may be considered only when the funded service benefits everyone regardless of religion, is not religious in nature, and does not involve proselytizing. Eligible programs associated with private schools and faith-based organizations must also be open and accessible to the greater community, available regardless of religious affiliation, and accessible to low-income or underserved students or participants. The Schuyler County Fund generally does not support annual campaigns, special event fundraisers or sponsorships, religious purposes, political or partisan purposes, activities occurring before grant decisions are made, school or club trips, deficit funding, debt retirement, or grants to individuals. The program information supplied by the Community Foundation identifies an award range of $500 to $2,000. No matching or cost-sharing requirement is stated in the provided materials. Organizations may submit one application per annual funding cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their grant request with Community Foundation staff before beginning the application process. Applications are required to be submitted through the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager online application system. All applications must include a completed project budget and expense form, which is provided as a fillable PDF and must be uploaded to the online grants system. The program webpage additionally states that applicants must upload their organization's operating budget for the current year. If the applicant is a private school or the proposed project is funded in part by tuition, the applicant must also complete and upload the operating budget and school demographics form. Each proposal is reviewed by a panel of community members and formally approved by the Community Foundation's Board of Directors. Grant decisions are based on the proposal's value to Schuyler County residents, available funding, and the quality and vision demonstrated in the application. Applicants receive an acknowledgment after their proposal is received and are notified of approval or declination following the Board of Directors meeting. The official grant guidelines identify April 3 as the annual application deadline and May as the notification period. Because applications are accepted once per year and the April 3 deadline has passed as of August 13, 2026, the next expected deadline is April 3, 2027. Questions may be directed to the Vice President of Programs at sep@communityfund.org or 607-739-3900.

Discuss the request with Community Foundation staff before beginning the application; demonstrate clear value to Schuyler County residents; present strong quality and vision; address community needs with sustainable impact and measurable outcomes; demonstrate strong community partnerships; establish clear goals for incorporating diverse cultures, philosophies, and experiences; foster access for underserved and economically diverse populations