2021-2022 Community Foundation Priorities

The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Otsego County invites applications from Otsego County nonprofit organizations. We want to channel the creativity, know-how, and responsiveness of nonprofit organizations to build their capacity to address the priorities revealed in the CFOC community survey and the COVID-19 Community Needs Assessment Update prepared by Opportunities for Otsego (OFO).

What do we mean by capacity building?

  • Supporting efforts to meet increased needs.
  • Adopting new methods of serving existing constituencies.
  • Experimenting with new ideas.
  • Trying new methods to deliver services.
  • Identifying and meeting the needs of underserved segments of the community.
  • Enhancing communication capabilities to reach constituents.

Collaborations among nonprofit organizations are encouraged.

Priorities

We invite applications by Otsego County nonprofit organizations that expand their ability to address one or more of the following priorities:

  1. Meeting Immediate Human Needs
    • Addressing the increase in food insecurity with new approaches to include expanding the food safety net, building collaboration between local producers and communities, offering solutions to “food deserts,” supporting farmers markets, and/or other strategies.
    • Focusing on the increased need for housing by encouraging new low-income housing projects, supporting affordable residential projects (including conversion of abandoned properties), addressing needs of people who are homeless, and/or other strategies.
  2. Promoting Economic Development
    • Projects that inspire entrepreneurship, business incubation, collaborations that support small businesses, job skill development, and/or other strategies. (While the need for high-speed broadband throughout Otsego County was identified in the Community Survey, achieving this important goal is beyond the scope of this 2021 award round.)
  3. Addressing one (or more) of the following priorities identified in the Community Survey
  • mental health,
  • access to quality childcare,
  • lack of transportation,
  • substance abuse,
  • the arts,
  • social isolation of the elderly,
  • women’s issues,
  • addressing the needs of undocumented immigrants, and
  • revitalizing downtowns.

Social Justice

We envision a community that provides healthy, prosperous, and enriching opportunities for all. Please explain if and how your proposal addresses issues of equality and promotes fairness. If your program or your organization has a statement on this topic, we would appreciate your sharing with us.

 

What We Fund with 2021-22 Awards

  • Existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating within Otsego County, New York
  • Groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are eligible but must submit evidence of the sponsorship (funds will be disbursed through that sponsor, which must also provide the identifying information requested in our application).

What We Do Not Fund with 2021-22 Awards

  • capital projects
  • fundraising aid
  • general operating expenses
  • direct grants to individuals
  • direct grants to businesses

Award Details

  • The Community Foundation has allocated up to $200,000 for this award round.
  • Awards may be requested in any amount.
  • Awards of $10,000 or less will be reviewed by our Initiatives Committee and approved by our Executive Committee. Requests exceeding $10,000 will be considered in a special category and require the additional approval of our full Board.
  • There are no deadlines and applications may be submitted until funds are fully committed. The Initiatives Committee reviews applications on a monthly basis, usually on the last Friday of the month. (Due to the end of the year Holiday schedule, the next meeting is on December 22. Applications must be submitted by December 15 to be considered. After the 15th, the Awards Cycle will be closed.)
  • While general operating support cannot be the focus of the award application, up to 10% of each award budget can be allocated for general operating support.
  •  To submit an application, click here.
2021-22 Awards to date  
RecipientAmountPurpose
Saturday’s Bread$100Survey winner
Family Planning of South Central New York$7,250Transportation to the Oneonta Medical Center for patients
Helios Care$10,000Upgrade software and hardware technology for in-home client services
Film – COOP (Otsego 2000 fiscal agent)$1,500Diversity and Inclusion expenses for professional filmmaker
Orpheus Theatre$6,600Purchase of computers, large format printers and software
First Baptist Church of Cooperstown$9,800Fall 2021 after school program
Unadilla Community Farm Education Center$8,000Farmer Training Program and the Veggie Box Delivery Program
The Angel Network of Cooperstown$5,000Scholarships to enable children to attend afterschool program
Oneonta Reading is Fundamental$3,000Matching Award to purchase books for children in Oneonta schools
Catholic Charities of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties$10,000Keeping the Warming Station in Oneonta open throughout the winter
Safe Schools Mohawk Valley$6,824.10To create a Resilience Room at Richfield Springs Central School
Pathfinder Village$10,000Pathfinder Produce Healthy Food Prescriptions Project and Study
Greater Oneonta Historical Society$11,000Small Community, Big Ideas: Greater Oneonta exhibit (media, AV and interactive components)
Unadilla Community Farm$3,000Off-grid solar-powered classroom for Beginner Farmer Training Program
Otsego County System of Care$18,192Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Materials
Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO)$12,000Capacity building award to support interim executive director
Friends of the Oneonta Community Health Center, Inc.$6,600Dental and mental health care services
United Way of Delaware and Otsego Counties$7,500Otsego Micro-Loan Project
Helios Care$7,500Increased Capacity to Market Hospice Services and Education
CADE$10,000Vision 2050: Creating a Profitable, Sustainable, Equitable Food System in New York
Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO)$6,000Oneonta Juneteenth Festival
Worcester Free Library$500Book delivery to homebound seniors
Otsego 2000$5,000Glimmerglass Film Days screening equipment
Otsego Rural Housing Association$7,400Technology upgrades

Railroad and Local YMCA of Oneonta

Catskill Symphony

Bugbee Children’s Center

Family Resource Network

Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County

CFEE

Catholic Charities of Delaware Otsego and Schoharie Counties

Cherry Valley Artworks

ARC Otsego

$7,500

$7,500

$2,500

$10,000

$7,525

$1,500

$25,000

$2,500

$5,500

 

New YMCA software

Technology upgrade for admissions and administration 

Classroom Expansion Project

Electronic Clinical Record Project

Tools to increase house-building capacity

Sensory Library

Warming Station

Upgrading Cherry Valley Sculpture Trial through Use of a Consultant

Increasing Reach and Effectiveness of Food Delivery to Families in The ARC Otsego Service Area.

 

Application Instructions

  • Please answer all questions.
  • If an award is offered, funds will be disbursed upon written acceptance of our award and compliance with any conditions of the award.
  • We request a report be submitted on the use of award funds. Reports must include metrics on what the program or activity accomplished, evaluations of how it performed in comparison to expectations, lessons learned, and what changes will be made if the program continues. Reports for prior awards are required before new applications will be considered.
  • Applications must be submitted online.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Questions Welcome

If you have any questions about the application or awards round, we are glad to help. Please email contact@cfotsego.org or call 607-286-3750 .

Have questions?

For more information, please contact us.