Giving Voice | Spring 2026

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

A PUBLICATION OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SPRING 2026

AURORA OF CNY PG. 3 1

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

CONTENTS

SPRING 2026

02 | GIVING MATTERS

07 | COMMUNITY IMPACT

11 | SPECIAL FEATURE

Using your donor-advised fund to plan your annual giving

$765,000 in grants distributed to 21 nonprofit organizations

Resilia

03 | COVER STORY

09 | GRANTING MATTERS

Aurora of CNY

Community Insights Forum: Where You Fill In the Gaps

12 | OUR PEOPLE

05 | DONOR STORY

Doug Lippincott

14 | UPCOMING DEADLINES & EVENTS 10 | WHAT’S HAPPENING

As we look ahead to the Community Foundation’s 100th year in 2027, I’ve been spending time reflecting on what it really means to reach a milestone like this — not just marking the years behind us, but being intentional about what we are building next.

MELANIE LITTLEJOHN

President and CEO

The first 100 years of the Central New York Community Foundation mattered.

They mattered because people showed up. Because generosity took root.

Because, over time, we became part of this region’s story.

The next 100 years matter even more.

Here’s where that leads us. Our Centennial is not about a single celebration or a look back frozen in time. It’s about using this moment to strengthen the foundation beneath us. That means listening more deeply, opening more doors, and making sure more people see themselves as part of shaping Central New York’s future. It’s about reintroducing ourselves to parts of this region that may not know us well yet.

And showing, in very real ways, that the tent is big enough for all of us.

Cover: Vera, who is blind, stands in her home in Syracuse, N.Y., where support from Aurora of CNY helped her regain confidence and independence. Read her story on page 3.

Photo Credit: Ben Cleeton

Staff Updates and New Board and BE&E Council Members

You’ll see us centering voices that haven’t always been centered. You’ll see us creating more opportunities for residents, nonprofit leaders and young people to share their ideas, their creativity and their hopes for the next generation. And you’ll see us leaning into what we do best: bringing people together around shared purpose, with compassion, humility and resolve. Some of that work is already beginning.

1

This spring, we’re expanding our partnership with Resilia to launch a fivecounty capacity-building ecosystem for nonprofit and grassroots organizations.

This means practical, day-to-day support — tools to strengthen operations, clarify impact, plan for the future and connect with peers locally and nationally. It’s about helping organizations not just survive, but grow with confidence and sustainability.

And in 2026, we’ll once again invite residents to help decide how community dollars are invested through a multicounty participatory budgeting process.

This is democracy at the local level.

Neighbors will come together to surface ideas, shape solutions and vote on what matters most where they live. Real voices. Real decisions. Real impact.

These are early signals of a much larger commitment. Into 2027 and beyond, you’ll see us tell our story in new ways, engage people of all ages, and create space for learning, creativity and shared decision-making — all grounded in the belief that everyone has something to give.

It sounds big, because it is. Sleeves rolled up. Hearts open wide. Bringing everyone along.

If you would like to sign-up for our participatory budgeting process, please visit: CNYCF.ORG/PBFORM

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

GIVING MAT TERS

USING YOUR DONOR-ADVISED FUND TO PLAN YOUR ANNUAL GIVING USING SPENDING POLICY TO CREATE A GIVING BUDGET

WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION’S SPENDING POLICY?

One of the most common questions donor-advised fundholders ask is: How much should I give? While philanthropy is driven by passion and purpose, effective grantmaking also benefits from a clear plan. The Community Foundation’s spending policy offers a helpful framework for creating an annual grantmaking budget that is both impactful and sustainable. And voluntarily adhering to that spending rate is a tool for donor-advised fundholders who want their fund to last for a long time.

Community foundations design spending policies to ensure the long-term viability of their endowments. Each year we determine how much we can spend from our endowed funds by calculating the average balance of a fund over the past 20 quarters of time. Then, our annual spending rate — which is typically 4-5 percent — is applied to that average. This prevents overspending in periods when the market is up or underspending when the market is down.

For donor-advised fundholders, following this spending policy is not a requirement unless it was mandated in the fund agreement or succession plan. But it is a trusted guideline that provides a more stable, predictable basis for planning.

HOW THE SPENDING POLICY HELPS WITH BUDGETING CREATES A CLEAR STARTING POINT

MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF MARKET VOLATILITY

SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE GIVING

ENCOURAGES STRATEGIC DECISIONS

Following our spending policy allows you to estimate the amount available for grantmaking from your fund from year to year. This removes uncertainty and makes it easier to plan your giving in advance rather than responding to requests as they arise.

Because the policy is based on a five-year average, it helps smooth out short-term market fluctuations. This allows you to stay focused on your charitable goals rather than reacting to annual investment performance.

Following spending policy helps balance generosity today with the ability to give in the future.

It reduces the risk of unintentionally spending too much too quickly, or holding back out of concern about long-term impact.

With an estimated grantmaking budget in mind, you can be more intentional about how you give. Fundholders often use this tool to decide how much to allocate to longstanding nonprofit partners, new opportunities, multi-year commitments, or responsive grants for emerging community needs.

FLEXIBILITY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK The spending policy is a guide, not a limit. Some years may call for more or less giving based on personal circumstances or urgent community needs. The policy simply provides a thoughtful baseline for planning and conversation.

The Philanthropic Services team is available to help you apply the spending policy to your donor-advised fund and develop a grantmaking plan that aligns with your values and philanthropic goals.

2

Contact us to learn more: DONORSUPPORT@CNYCF.ORG OR 315.422.9538 EXT.1

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

Pictured: Vera stands with her white cane, a mobility tool that supports safe, independent travel by helping detect obstacles and orientation cues.

Photo Credit: Ben Cleeton

FINDING INDEPENDENCE, ONE STEP AT A TIME Aurora of CNY 3

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

Pictured: Vera scans a label with a PenFriend device, which reads aloud voice messages she records after placing special labels on clothing, food and other household items.

Photo Credit: Ben Cleeton

When Vera arrived in Central New York in 1993, she was nearly blind, newly immigrated from Ukraine and raising two young children — in a language she did not yet speak.

routinely face, from assumptions about their capabilities to limited access to transportation, technology and social connection.

What she found, alongside medical care, was Aurora of CNY (Aurora), an organization that provides hope, empowerment and support to people who are deaf, blind, visually impaired or hard of hearing.

Vera began losing her vision in her mid20s after a series of surgeries failed to stop damage to her optic nerve. By the time she settled in Syracuse, she could no longer recognize faces. Through referrals from her doctor, she connected with Aurora, which provided orientation and mobility training, instruction on using a cane and critical translation services.

Over time, however, her vision loss progressed. In 2016, following the death of her husband after a prolonged hospitalization, Vera lost the remainder of her sight. The combination of grief, blindness and aging brought new challenges — many shaped by persistent stigma and systemic barriers people who are blind or visually impaired

Today, Vera cooks, bakes, gardens, does laundry, travels independently and stays connected with family and friends using adaptive technology — from talking watches and money readers to a smartphone she once feared but now uses daily for email, social media and video. With Aurora’s help, she also learned how to use Centro’s Call-A-Bus service to travel independently to its weekly peer support group.

“Aurora has provided me with what I need to take care of myself,” Vera said.

“That means everything.”

“Aurora helped me learn how to live,” Vera said.

That early assistance helped Vera regain confidence and independence at a moment when isolation could easily have taken hold.

transportation, reconnect with peers and rebuild confidence.

Stories like Vera’s are why Aurora exists — and why continued investment in its work matters.

Pictured: Vera uses a liquid level indicator, a device that helps prevent overpouring.

“I was afraid,” Vera said. “Afraid to go places alone. Afraid to try new things.”

In 2022, encouraged by her doctor, Vera reconnected with Aurora and enrolled in its Social Work and Support Services program. Through personalized, at-home support, Aurora staff helped her navigate 4

In June we provided the organization with a $50,000 Community Grant to expand its Social Work and Support Services program, supporting increased staffing, more in-home assessments and expanded access to essential assistive devices — all designed to help individuals with sensory loss remain safely and independently in their homes.

“Sensory loss doesn’t just affect vision or hearing,” said Kate Weidman, executive director of Aurora of CNY. “It affects access — to transportation, healthcare, technology and community. Without support, people are at real risk of isolation.”

Learn more at: AURORAOFCNY.ORG

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

Pictured: Doug and Andrea Lippincott stand inside the King Ferry Food Pantry located in Cayuga County.

Photo Credit: Ben Cleeton

DONOR STORY

A LEGACY OF SERVICE, SUSTAINED The Lippincott Family’s Gift to King Ferry

5

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

Pictured: Pauline and Stacey Lippincott, Doug Lippincott’s parents.

Some legacies are built not in a single moment, but across a lifetime of quiet, consistent care for others.

For generations in southern Cayuga County, Pauline and Stacey Lippincott embodied that kind of steady, neighborly service — and now, their values will continue to nourish their community through the Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment Fund, established at the Community Foundation by their son, Doug, and daughter-in-law, Andrea.

With a $25,000 gift, the family created a permanent source of support for the King Ferry Food Pantry, an organization that was deeply close to Pauline’s heart.

“My parents grew up during the Great Depression and understood the challenges of food insecurity and were keenly aware those threats exist today in their own community,” Doug said. “The mission of the King Ferry Food Pantry is ‘to provide access to healthy food and resources for neighbors in need.’ That mission fits perfectly with mom and dad’s lifetime mission of service above self.”

Pauline and Stacey were high school sweethearts who graduated from King Ferry Central School in 1943 and were married in 1944, just before Stacey was deployed to serve in World War II in the Pacific. After his return home in 1946, the two built a life rooted in family, hard work and community — a partnership that lasted 79 years until Pauline’s death in 2023 at 98, followed by Stacey’s passing in 2024 at 99.

Pauline, who operated Pauline’s Beauty Shop in King Ferry for 25 years, was far more than a small-business owner. Around town, she was known as someone you could call when you

needed a ride to a doctor’s appointment, help watching children or simply a listening ear.

“Mom once said, ‘I enjoy helping people; I couldn’t turn anyone down,’” Doug shared.

A consummate community activist, Pauline volunteered with the King Ferry PTA, Our Lady of the Lake Church, the King Ferry Historical Association and many other local groups. She was also a founding volunteer of the King Ferry Food Pantry when it opened in 1996.

“The pantry was near and dear to her heart,” Doug said.

Stacey, a 1950 graduate of Ithaca College and a longtime employee of NCR before retiring in 1984, stood alongside Pauline in much of her community work. He also served as a Little League coach and umpire and helped found several local golf leagues.

Together, they lived the values of duty, service, love of family and responsibility to others.

Today, that legacy continues through the fund that will provide lasting support to the King Ferry Food Pantry, which served more than 7,500 people and provided nearly 160,500 meals in 2024 alone.

Across rural communities like southern Cayuga County, food insecurity is often driven by systemic challenges — including limited access to affordable groceries, transportation barriers and economic inequities — making trusted, community-based food pantries essential anchors of stability and care.

“Receiving perpetual distributions from the Pauline and Stacey Lippincott Endowment Fund ensures that we can 6

continue to serve our neighbors in need well into the future,” said Debbie Patrick, executive director of the King Ferry Food Pantry.

For Doug, creating the fund was about both honoring his parents and giving back to the community that helped shape them.

“King Ferry and southern Cayuga County are special to me,” Doug said.

“My parents were great role models, but I also reaped many benefits from the guidance and support of the good folks of King Ferry and surrounding communities.”

By establishing this fund at the Community Foundation, the Lippincott family ensured their gift will grow and provide support not just today, but for generations.

“Mom and dad made the most of their longevity, living full and caring lives,” Doug said. “Andrea and I hope this gift will inspire others to support the remarkable work of the pantry and ensure its permanence in the community.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the community you love, please contact a member of our Development Team:

DONORSUPPORT@CNYCF.ORG OR 315.422.9538 EXT.1

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

COMMUNITY IMPACT

In December, our board of directors approved $765,000 in grants, supporting 21 nonprofits through our Community Grantmaking program.

Pictured: Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HEALTH

$50,000

$9,260

$20,000

SEED SYRACUSE

FREEDOMCUSE

SYRACUSE STAGE

TILLIE’S TOUCH

Purchase and install commercial kitchen equipment for workforce training

Operate summer literacy program for K–8 students

Introduce young children to live theater

Purchase van to expand youth program access

$14,940

$39,100

$8,790

FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

LORETTO

HELIO HEALTH

SUNSHINE HORSES

Support an apprenticeship program for licensed practical nurses

Train counselors for youth substance use program

Provide equineassisted Memory Care Corral sessions for individuals living with dementia

$19,063

$57,400

$50,000

$40,400

$25,000

ADVOCATES, INC.

Install ADA-compliant doors in the Doug Klepper Community Center

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SYRACUSE

CENTER FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION

CLEAR PATH FOR VETERANS

COME OUT CENTRAL NEW YORK

Replace the roof at the Shonnard Street Club

Support driver education, testing and licensing costs for Latino residents

Train service dogs to support veterans’ recovery

Host monthly LGBTQIA+ community gatherings

$50,000

$50,000

$44,749

$15,000

COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP FOR MADISON COUNTY

HILLSIDE CHILDREN’S CENTER

Upgrade HVAC and install air conditioning

INTERFAITH WORKS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

LAKER TRANSPORTATION PROJECT

Replace HVAC units to improve air quality

Purchase accessible bus for older adults

$47,900

$50,000

$40,966

$50,000

CANTON WOODS SENIOR CENTER

GOOD LIFE YOUTH FOUNDATION

MADISON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

Install security upgrades to improve participant safety

Deliver youth entrepreneurship workshops and pitch competition

Hire a full-time housing coordinator

SYRACUSE-ONONDAGA FOOD SYSTEMS ALLIANCE (SOFSA)

Provide housing navigation and case management

PUBLIC AND SOCIETAL BENEFIT

$36,000

$46,889 Stock Upstate University Hospital pantry with nutritious food

HUMAN SERVICES

EDUCATION

7

Host community food access listening sessions

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

THESE GRANTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING FUNDS To learn more about these funds and many others that make our grantmaking possible, visit: CNYCF.ORG/FUNDS

5forCNY Fund Richard & Marilyn Alberding Charitable Fund Dianne Apter Fund Shirley M. Aubrey Fund Ellen T. & David R. Bacon Fund Charlotte & Donald Ball Fund Harry & Helen Barnes Jewell Fund William D. Barnet Memorial Scholarship Fund Elizabeth A. Bathke Fund for Madison County Peter & Barbara Baum Fund Benji Fund Besse Family Fund Bilford Family Fund Borer Family Fund for Education Charles F. Brannock Fund Shirley M. Brennan Fund William L. Broad Fund Bucci-Deserio Family Foundation Kenneth P. & Charlotte C. Buckley Fund Cabasino Fund Patricia M. & Vincent H. Callahan Fund Carriage House Foundation Fund Philip R. & Elizabeth Chase Fund Clarke Family Fund Laurie J. & Dr. William R. Clark, Jr. Community Fund James & Eileen Clinton Community Fund Cohen Fund for Early Childhood Development & Literacy Solly & Belle Cohen Fund William & Sylvia Cohen Community Fund Ruth J. & Robert J. Colvin Fund Community Council on Careers Fund CNYCF Community Fund Community Literacy Fund Community Public Art Fund The Coon Fund Mary Frances Costello Fund DeBenedictis Community Fund J. Henry & Martha E. DeBoer Fund Alfred & Grace DiBella Fund John S. & Julia G. Dietz Fund Olga Dietz Turner Fund Divot’s Fund DMC Memorial Fund Mary Louise Dunn Fund #2 M. Harold Dwyer & Frances M. Dwyer Fund Margaret J. Early Fund Education Endowment Fund Harold & Marian Edwards and O. M. Edwards Company Fund Steven A. Endieveri Memorial Fund Paul M. Engle Community Fund Environmental Fund Carlton R. Estey Fund

Pictured: Graduates of Loretto’s one-year apprenticeship program.

Future Fund of Central New York John M. & Mary L. Gallinger Fund Joseph C. Georg Fund Minnie O. Goodman Fund Viola M. Hall Fund Frances E. & John S. Hancock Fund Carroll A. Hennessy Fund Anthony A. & Susan Henninger Memorial Fund Hills Family Fund Laurence A. Hoefler Community Fund Holstein Family Fund for Citizen Engagement I. A. Hotze Fund Ursula T. Hubby Fund John H. & Mary P. Hughes Fund Iaconis, Iaconis & Baum Fund Jelly Bean Angel Fund for Innovation Leo & Natalie Jivoff Fund Kay/Sneider Literacy Fund Martha A. & Eugene F. Keppler Fund Marjorie D. Kienzle Fund David Kilpatrick Memorial Fund Faith T. Knapp Memorial Fund Frances C. & Albert C. Knight Charitable Fund George & Luella Krahl Fund Ruth E. Krull Fund Alicia A. & George W. Lee Fund Leonard Family Endowment Martha, Gracia & Robert Leopold Fund Lewis-Trinity Fund LFM Fund John Linderoth Fund MacAllister Fund Madison County Aging Enrichment Fund Maier Family Community Fund L.C. Maier Community Fund Candace & John Marsellus Community Fund Gay D. Marsellus Fund John F. Marsellus Fund Marsellus Nonprofit Leadership Endowment The Martha Fund Flora Mather Hosmer Fund Helen Hancock McClintock Fund Lucy McLean Community Fund Anne L. Messenger Community Fund James & Aileen Miller Charitable Fund Pauline M. Monz Fund H. Gillis & Letty M. Murray Fund Donald C. & Marion F. Newton Fund Peggy Ogden Community Fund Dorothy M. Olds Fund Onondaga Citizens League-Syracuse 20/20 Fund Pages’ Potluck Fund Carol W. & Emiel D. Palmer Fund 8

P-D Family Fund John R. Pelkey Community Fund Theodore & Marjorie B. Pierson Fund Robert & Anne Pietrafesa Fund Robert A. & Winifred S. Pond Family Fund Maggie & Roger Reid Fund Nicholas and Agnes Renzi Fund for Cortland County Brian Cole Retan Memorial Fund Dorothy Retan Irish Fund James A. & McDowell Smith Reynolds Fund Lettie H. Rohrig Fund for Music Lawrence E. Root Fund Lynne Ross Scheer Fund Tiny Rubenstein Animal Welfare Fund Rosalind & Seymour Rudolph Fund Elizabeth Salisbury Brooks Fund Robert & Dorothy Salisbury Fund Durston Sanford & Doris Sanford Fund Ralph Myron Sayer & Sophrona Davis Sayer Endowment Fund Helene C. Schroeder Fund Daniel & Jeanne Schwartz Fund Frederick B. & Laura B. Scott Fund Dorothy R. Shoudy Memorial Hearing Impaired Fund Shuart Family Fund Adelaide Louise Silvia Community Fund Virginia C. Simons & Dr. C. Adele Brown Fund Frances Singer Hennessy Fund Winifred & DeVillo Sloan, Jr. Family Fund The Lee & Alice Smith Fund Spanfelner Fund Allen Speiser Memorial Vocational Rehabilitation Fund Staff Advancement Endowment Fund Syracuse Dispensary Fund Syracuse SIDS Prevention Fund Walter A. Thayer Fund Frances M. Thompson Fund Dr. Robert J. Vitkus Fund Donald & Hilda Watrous Fund Virginia Wendel Fund Carolyn V. West Fund Westminster Presbyterian Northside Concerns Fund Robert & Patricia Williams Fund Jerome M. & Dorothy A. Wilson Family Fund John Winter Family Fund Dorothy C. Witherill Fund The Witherill Fund Forrest H. Witmeyer Fund Arthur W. & Mabel P. Wrieden Memorial Fund Peter Zerebny Community Fund Peter Zerebny Fund for Animal Care

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

Pictured: Participants connect and collaborate during our Community Insights Forum.

GRANTING MAT TERS

COMMUNITY INSIGHTS FORUM: WHERE YOU FILL IN THE GAPS (Formerly called State of the Community: Community Voices Forum) Our inaugural Community Insights Forum (formerly called State of the Community: Community Voices Forum) on November 5, 2025 gathered residents, community-based organizations, grassroots and nonprofit organizations to share their insight and reflections on our community’s most pressing needs while identifying areas we should be investing in. Attendees were residents who we met through our community engagement, participatory budgeting and participatory grantmaking projects, nonprofit and community based organizations, and board members and advisory councils. An estimated 50 attendees participated in person and 50 attendees listened in virtually.

The purpose of the forum was to share an overview of the resources that we offer and listen to the community’s thoughts on their greatest needs and

hopes. We intend to use what we heard to guide our Community Grantmaking process, discern focus areas for our participatory budgeting process and seek greater charitable donations in areas of greatest need.

During the session, our Community Investment team reported on community engagement data and facilitated an immersive session that engaged attendees around our Community Grants priorities. Attendees were assigned a table and tasked with identifying one gap in each of this spring’s grant round priority areas: arts and culture, civic engagement, education, environment and animals. A “wild card” need was also submitted to consider for future grants and participatory budgeting projects.

for the rest of the attendees to consider and vote on in a mini-dotmocracy activity.

Facilitators posted each table’s top need on poster paper and each attendee was given three stickers for each priority area to vote on the needs that resonated with them the most. Attendees identified the gaps (seen below) in each priority area.

Additionally, attendees identified the top three wild card needs as safe affordable housing, food security and unrestricted funding for community needs.

This feedback will inform our due diligence during the spring Community Grant round as well as our future impact investments, initiatives, participatory budgeting projects and development efforts.

Each table discussed and deliberated the priority areas and developed ideas

TOP GAPS PER PRIORITY

EDUCATION

ARTS & CULTURE

ENVIRONMENT & ANIMALS

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Increase literacy rates & wrap around services for student success

Increase FREE arts & culture programs for all

Safe drinking water & protection of natural resources (remove the lead pipes in Syracuse)

Increase youth civic engagement and education

9

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

W H A T ’S H A P P E N I N G

01 GRANTMAKING IN CORTLAND COUNTY Earlier this year, we received a $12 million bequest from the estate of Nicholas and Agnes Renzi to provide lasting charitable support for Cortland County residents. This transformational gift enabled us to expand our Community Grants program into Cortland County for the first time. Beginning with our Fall grant round (opening July 6, 2026, and closing August 28, 2026), Cortland County nonprofits will be eligible to apply for Community Grants ranging from $10,000 to $150,000, with approximately $600,000 available annually from the Renzi Fund.

Learn more at:

Pictured: JM Murray at Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland County.

CNYCF.ORG/COMMUNITYGRANTS

02 SINCERELY, CNY PODCAST LAUNCHED Central New York is more than a location — it’s our home. Our new podcast, Sincerely, CNY, is a love letter to this region, told through its most inspiring voices. Hosted by our President & CEO Melanie Littlejohn, each episode features intimate conversations with the quiet champions and visionary leaders shaping the future of Central New York. Be on the lookout for new episodes of Sincerely, CNY — where we’ll explore the passion and purpose driving our community forward.

Learn more at: CNYCF.ORG/PODCAST

03

04

CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF IMPACT THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON EQUITABLE INVESTMENT

As we approach our 2027 centennial, marking a century of impact, we are hosting participatory budgeting projects across our five-county region: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oswego and Onondaga counties. The initiative is now underway in Oswego County.

This fall, Community Foundation staff and board leaders played a key role in national conversations on equitable economic development. Melanie Littlejohn, president and CEO, served as an “Illuminator” at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Making Missing Markets convening, where Syracuse was one of four communities selected to explore how markets can better address unmet needs — a timely discussion as Micron’s investment brings new opportunity to CNY. Frank Ridzi, vice president of community investment, and board member Kevin Schwab of CenterState CEO represented Syracuse at the initiative’s Communities Roundtable. They were joined

by Mayor Sharon Owens and MACNY CEO Randy Wolken, demonstrating strong regional leadership and a shared commitment to ensuring future growth translates into inclusive investment, community ownership opportunities, and lasting quality-of-life improvements for Central New Yorkers.

In each county, community members are invited to partner with nonprofits and grassroots organizations to identify a priority funding area, co-design a project idea and vote on the projects they believe best address local needs. One winning project in each county will be selected and awarded funding.

If you are interested in participating, please visit: CNYCF.ORG/PARTICIPATORY

10

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

SPECIAL FEATURE

RESILIA Strengthening Central New York Nonprofits Through Free Capacity-Building Support As we approach our 100-year anniversary in 2027, we are marking this milestone by investing more deeply in the organizations that strengthen our communities. This spring, we expanded our partnership with Resilia, a national organization that helps nonprofits grow stronger, tell their stories more clearly and increase their impact.

Through this expanded partnership, we launched a new five-county Capacity Builder Ecosystem, offering free support to up to 250 nonprofit and grassroots organizations across Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oswego and Onondaga counties. Participating organizations join a regional cohort and receive access to Resilia’s online platform, designed to meet nonprofits where they are and support day-to-day organizational needs.

ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 2026-27 COHORT HAVE ACCESS TO TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM BUILD SKILLS, PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND SECURE FUNDING, INCLUDING: Support to measure and communicate impact A live online learning lab and peer community with other local nonprofits, including group coaching and connections to a national cohort Quarterly check-ins to track progress and goals Evaluation and planning tools Access to a grants database with more than 60,000 funders and 750,000 past grant awards

Pictured: Vietnamese Community of Syracuse, a former Resilia cohort participant.

Enrollment opened Feb. 2, 2026, and nonprofit and grassroots organizations in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Oswego and Onondaga counties enrolled at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis. The cohort runs June 1, 2026, to May 2027.

This is the largest Resilia offering we have made to date, both in number of organizations served and geographic reach. We have partnered with Resilia since 2022, supporting 59 local nonprofits through earlier cohorts.

11

This expanded program is one of the ways we are celebrating our upcoming centennial, ensuring nonprofits across Central New York have the tools, support and connections they need to continue serving our communities for the next 100 years.

Organizations can still apply at: CNYCF.ORG/RESILIA

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

OUR PEOPLE NEW STAFF MEMBERS

NEW BOARD MEMBERS

PARIS BABERS

DAVINE BEY

Events & Communications Manager

CEO of DKON Consulting Group Davine is a talent management executive with more than 25 years of experience in recruitment, workforce strategy, and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles with institutions including Syracuse University and Cornell University, where he led efforts to strengthen hiring, retention, and overall workforce effectiveness.

Paris plans and executes events and supports communications for Say Yes Syracuse and our affiliate funds.

REBECCA BALARA

Communications Manager CECELIA CANNON

Rebecca supports our storytelling, marketing and digital outreach.

Attorney and Managing Member at Bousquet Holstein PLLC Cecelia Cannon is a litigation attorney who focuses her practice on trust and estate disputes and commercial litigation. She represents clients in complex matters involving estate and trust administration, guardianships, business valuations and conflicts among partners in closely held businesses. Cecelia is known for working closely with her clients to develop practical, thoughtful strategies that take into account both legal and personal considerations.

KATE DOWNES

Program Manager Kate supports our grantmaking, capacity-building and community initiatives and leads our grantmaking in Cortland County.

ISABEL FOSS

BEN SIO

Program Associate

President of CenterState CEO

Isabel supports our Community Grants, strategic priority funding and capacity-building programs.

Ben Sio oversees CenterState’s day-to-day operations, including managing revenue and executing the organization’s growth strategy. Most recently, he served as CenterState’s chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning.

During his tenure with the organization, he has worked on a wide range of initiatives, including downtown revitalization, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Sio is committed to strengthening the region’s economy and expanding opportunities for businesses and communities throughout CNY.

SALMA MUSE

Scholarships and Student Success Manager Salma assists with the administration of our scholarship program and Say Yes Syracuse.

JEFF STOECKER

STAFF PROMOTIONS

Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Syracuse University Jeff Stoecker oversees executive and internal communications, media relations and Syracuse University’s overall communication strategy, and serves as its primary spokesperson. Previously, he was a vice president at FleishmanHillard, advising clients including Harvard University, Bose and Massachusetts General Hospital. Before entering communications, Jeff spent nearly 13 years as a journalist, earning two Emmy Awards, several AP Awards and contributing to a Peabody Award-winning team covering the Newtown school shootings. A native of Cazenovia, he is a graduate of Le Moyne College.

COLBY CYRUS, CAPM

Program Officer

Colby Cyrus has been promoted to program officer after serving as senior program manager for two years.

DANA C. FIEL

Senior Finance Manager Dana Fiel has been promoted to senior finance manager after serving as finance manager for three years.

NEW BLACK EQUITY & EXCELLENCE COUNCIL MEMBER

THOMAS M. GRIFFITH, AEP®, CAP®, CHFC®

MICHAEL JENNINGS

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Wealth Consultant at Brackens Financial Solutions Network, LLC

Tom Griffith has been promoted to chief philanthropy officer after serving as vice president of development for eight years.

Michael Jennings is a wealth consultant at Brackens Financial Solutions Network, LLC and a lifelong Syracuse resident with a strong commitment to financial empowerment and community service. He has worked in the financial industry since 2019 and is a 2016 graduate of Syracuse University. Jennings also serves in leadership and volunteer roles with several Central New York organizations, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to the Black Equity & Excellence Fund advisory council.

JAN L. LANE, CAP®

Director of Philanthropy Jan Lane has been promoted to director of philanthropy after serving as senior philanthropic advisor for four years.

12

CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNIT Y FOUNDATION

OUR PEOPLE RECENT STAFF OUTINGS

Syracuse Community Connections 2025 Black Men’s Mental Wellness Summit

Darrell Buckingham speaks at Advance Student Resource System’s Community Engagement Reception

Community Investment Team tours INSPYRE Innovation Hub

Staff visit the 1890 House in Cortland

CNY Women’s Network 2026 Summit

Melanie Littlejohn serves as the keynote speaker at Crouse Health’s Moving Forward MLK Day celebration

Omega Psi Phi Dennis Dowdell Awards Dinner

13

Tabling at Syracuse Community Connection’s Black History Month Bazaar

G I V I N G VO I C E - S P R I N G 2026

UPCOMING DEADLINES & EVENTS GRANT DEADLINES OPEN: APR 20, 2026 / CLOSE: JUNE 18, 2026

Women’s Fund of Central New York OPEN: MAY 4, 2026 / CLOSE: AUG 14, 2026

The Leadership Classroom (TLC) OPEN: JUNE 2, 2026 / CLOSE: JULY 14, 2026

Marsellus M.A.D.E. to Lead OPEN: MAY 18, 2026 / CLOSE: JUL 17, 2026

Oswego County Community Foundation OPEN: JULY 6, 2026 / CLOSE: AUG 28, 2026

Fall Community Grants (Onondaga, Madison & Cortland county nonprofits) Priority Areas: Health, human services, economic development projects OPEN: NOV 30, 2026 / CLOSE: JAN 29, 2027

Black Equity & Excellence Fund For more information, please visit: CNYCF.ORG/DEADLINES

EVENTS JUNE 2026 | DATE TBD

CNYCF Current & Former Board Reception JUNE 23, 2026 | TIME: 9:00AM – 11:00AM

N.E.W.S.: AI for Fundraising (Virtual) AUGUST 4, 2026 | TIME: 2:00PM – 4:30PM

Legacy Donor Social AUGUST 14, 2026 | TIME: 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Black Equity & Excellence Social SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 | TIME TBD

N.E.W.S.: Claim Your Career for Entry-Level Professionals OCTOBER 20, 2026 | TIME: 12:00 - 2:00 PM

Annual Professional Advisor Continuing Education Seminar (Virtual) OCTOBER 22, 2026 | TIME TBD

N.E.W.S.: Human Resources for Nonprofits NOVEMBER 19, 2026 | TIME: 6:00PM – 8:00PM

TLC Awards Dinner

Pictured: 2025 TLC Awards Dinner Photo Credit: Light to the Darkness Photography

To view event dates as they are added, please visit: CNYCF.ORG/EVENTS 14

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SYRACUSE, NY PERMIT NO. 1352

CNY PHILANTHROPY CENTER 431 EAST FAYETTE STREET SUITE 100 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13202 315.422.9538 | INFO@CNYCF.ORG

If you do not wish to continue receiving our mailings, please email us at: info@cnycf.org.

PRESIDENT & CEO MELANIE LITTLEJOHN, MBA NIKKI POLES

Executive Assistant COMMUNICATIONS KATRINA M. CROCKER

Vice President of Communications JULIET R. MALOFF

Director of Communications PARIS BABERS

Events & Communications Manager REBECCA BALARA

Communications Manager CORY C. SCHAD

Digital Communications Officer COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FRANK M. RIDZI, PHD

Vice President of Community Investment DANIELLE M. JOHNSON

Senior Director of Grants & Programs DARRELL BUCKINGHAM, MBA

Senior Program Officer COLBY CYRUS, CAPM

Program Officer KATE DOWNES

Program Manager ISABEL FOSS

Program Associate

DEVELOPMENT THOMAS M. GRIFFITH, AEP®, CAP®, CHFC®

Chief Philanthropy Officer

SCHOLARSHIPS AND STUDENT SUCCESS AHMEED H. TURNER

MONICA M. MERANTE, CAP®

Vice President of Scholarships & Student Success; Executive Director of Say Yes Syracuse

JAN L. LANE, CAP®

Scholarships & Student Success Manager

Senior Director of Philanthropic Services Director of Philanthropy PRAGYA S. MURPHY, CAP®, MBA

Director of Philanthropy & Impact Investment ELIZABETH GAGNÉ

DERARETU ABUBEKER SALMA MUSE

Scholarships & Student Success Manager BOARD MEMBERS

Philanthropic Services Officer

LISA D. ALFORD

TORI HART

JAIME ALICEA

Philanthropic Services Officer FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION KIMBERLY P. SADOWSKI, CPA

CATHERINE BERTINI WILLIAM H. BROWER III SUSAN FURTNEY, MPH, FACHE

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

LISA S. GERMAIN

LIZ HARTMAN, CPA

BEA GONZÁLEZ

Senior Director of Finance JENNY E. GREEN

Director of Information Systems & Strategy CARLY CHRISTIAN

MARK S. HALL DR. WARREN HILTON JOSEPH LAZZARO, CFP®, CLU®

Office Manager

ANGELA LEE

GERIANNE P. CORRADINO, SHRM-CP

LEYLA Z. MORGILLO, CFP®

Human Resources & Operations Officer DANA C. FIEL

DUANE B. OWENS

Senior Finance Manager

H. DOUGLAS PINCKNEY

DANA E. LYONS-CANTY

KEVIN E. SCHWAB

Special Projects Officer

MARTIN A. SCHWAB, ESQ.

YEISHA NÚÑEZ-DENSON

KATHLEEN L. WIESE

Accountant

ELISIA GONZÁLEZ

Grants Manager

GENERAL COUNSEL

QIANA WILLIAMS

MARY ANNE CODY, ESQ.

Senior Program Officer

A PUBLICATION OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION