Lafayette Park in the Village of Oxford, nearby are 6 on the Square and Hoppies. (Submitted photo)

By Sophia Root,

Commerce Chenango

CHENANGO COUNTY - This week, Commerce Chenango would like to highlight the Community Foundation for South Central New York, based in Johnson City. The Community Foundation for South Central New York is a focal point for philanthropy in the five-county region they serve; Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga.

Founded in 1997, The Community Foundation manages an endowment, what Development Officer Shawn Graham describes as a “community savings account of funds either established or contributed by individuals, families, businesses, foundations and other donors.” The Community Foundation for South Central New York is sustained by charging a management fee on the assets that they manage.

Graham is responsible for donor and fund stewardship and the communication strategy of the Foundation. He says, “whether you’re a community member thinking about how you might give back to the place you call home, an attorney, trust officer or financial advisor seeking to advise a client about charitable giving, or a nonprofit looking for a grant, we’re here to help.”

The Community Foundation for South Central New York has five full-time employees. In 2023 alone, they awarded $2,898,848 to 488 organizations and $316,250 to 114 scholarship recipients. Graham acknowledges this achievement and gives credit to the “thoughtful and engaged community, from nonprofit organizations on the ground doing the work to involved donors who make that work a possibility.”

Along with employees, the community foundation is also run by a board of directors, comprised of volunteers from the region. Some of whom work and reside in Chenango County.

There is a long list of help The Community Foundation for South Central New York has given Chenango County. They have supplied grants to the Earlville Opera House, DCMO Boces, the Chenango County Historical Society, the Chenango River Theatre, and more. In 2023 and 2024, they have supplied a grant from their Women’s Fund to the Development Chenango Corporation for the Chenango Women’s Leadership Conference. The second annual conference is planned for March 2025.

Graham is currently working with Chenango County stakeholders and is managing the Greater Oxford Community Fund. “Started in 2016 by engaged donors, the fund’s goal is to provide financial support to community endeavors. The fund has issued $48,000 in grants to date, including $25,000 for the community pool project.” Since the pool’s completion, the Greater Oxford Community Fund has been used to support the Oxford Historical Society, the Oxford Academy and Central School District Hall of Distinction and Lafayette Park beautification efforts.

Donors Neil Bartle and his wife Linda, David and MaryEl Emerson and Tom and Bonnie Emerson are also in early discussions with Sarah Smith and the local organization Promote Oxford Now on how to increase availability of livable housing in Oxford.

Greater Oxford Community Fund Donor Neil Bartle stated, “I believe I can speak for all of us when I say:  we all believe the support for and from the community is as important as ever, which is how the Greater Oxford fund came together- to support initiatives that will continue to aid, support, and grow the community, and to help it continue to be a great place to live, do business, and raise a family, and for future generations to be able to love Oxford as much as we all do.” Bartle thanked Graham and the Community Foundation for their support and for managing the Greater Oxford Community Fund.

The community foundation funds organizations of all sizes during the 16 grant cycles they have per year, so there are plenty of opportunities to apply. Their offices are open Monday – Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm. To donate to a fund or to learn more, visit their website at  www.donorswhocare.org  and their Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/CFSCNY.