Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,613,812 (2024)
• Number of Awards: 77 grants (2024)
• Decision Time: 2 weeks (Mini-Grants); varies by program
• Grant Range: $200 - $40,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates Counties, NY (Southern Tier)

Contact Details

Address: 301 South Main Street, Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-3900
Fax: (607) 734-7335
Email: info@communityfund.org
Website: www.communityfund.org

For Grant Inquiries:
Sara Palmer, Vice President of Programs
Email: sep@communityfund.org
Phone: (607) 739-3900

Online Grant Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=communityfund

Overview

The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes was established in 1993 through the merger of the Community Foundation of Chemung County Area (founded 1977) and the Corning Community Foundation (founded 1972). The foundation has experienced remarkable growth under the leadership of President Randi Hewit, expanding from $10 million to $75 million in endowed assets since she assumed the presidency in 2007. The foundation serves Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates Counties in New York's Southern Tier region with a mission of "leveraging the power of philanthropy to create a great place to live, give, and thrive." As a publicly supported 501(c)(3) organization governed by a community-based volunteer board of directors, the foundation administers eight main competitive grant cycles annually, distributing over $2 million in grants and nearly $500,000 in scholarships to support community needs. The foundation holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong financial health and commitment to accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants Program (flagship program)

• Program Grants: $2,000 - $20,000
• General Operating Support: $20,000 - $40,000
• Supports arts and culture, education and youth, environment, animals, and human services
• Serves Chemung and Southeastern Steuben Counties
• Open, competitive application process

Mini-Grants

• Up to $1,000
• For new programs and projects that are small in scale
• Meets unanticipated needs or opportunities
• Falls outside larger funding cycles
• Rolling deadline with approximately 2-week notification
• Specifically excludes annual or ongoing programs

Fund for Women of the Southern Tier

• Helps girls and women achieve economic self-sufficiency
• Focus areas: education, health, wellness, career, and life skills
• Serves Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates Counties

Keuka Area Fund

• Serves residents of communities surrounding Keuka Lake
• Protects the physical environment of the region
• Three main categories: Program/Direct Service Grants, Capital Grants, and Organizational Development/Capacity Building Grants

Rose's Youth Philanthropists (RYP)

• Grants of $200 - $2,000
• Supports local youth-serving organizations

Central Christian Church Fund

• Supports Protestant-governed human service organizations in Chemung County
• Priority given to: child care and parenting resources, elder care, hospice care, and substance abuse treatment

Twin Tiers Christian Service Fund

• Rolling deadline
• 30-day notification period after submission

Priority Areas

The foundation evaluates all grants with the following funding priorities:

• Advancing Equity: Programs designed to give voice to underserved and economically diverse populations, fostering access and community connections
• Collaboration: Organizations that engage in collaborative approaches to addressing community needs
• Serving Vulnerable Populations: Programs serving low-income or underserved populations
• Creative Problem-Solving: Innovative approaches to addressing community needs

What They Don't Fund

• Annual or ongoing programs (for Mini-Grants)
• Programs involving proselytizing (for faith-based organizations)
• Religious services that do not benefit all regardless of religion
• Organizations outside their four-county service area

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Randi Hewit, President
Randi joined the Community Foundation in 2002 and became President in 2007. She holds a degree in sociology and women's studies from Rollins College and studied philanthropic leadership at Stanford University in 2008. Under her leadership, the foundation has grown from $10 million to $75 million in endowed assets.

Sara Palmer, Vice President of Programs
Sara joined the foundation in 2008 and holds a master's degree in public administration from Binghamton University. She is responsible for all program and grantmaking activities totaling over $2 million annually.

Katie Strickler, Scholarships and Youth Philanthropy Program Associate
Katie manages the scholarship program that awards almost $500,000 annually. Contact: cmm@communityfund.org

Board of Directors

The foundation is governed by a community-based volunteer board of directors that includes:

• Lynsey Hourihan, Finance Committee Chair, Principal at Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co.
• Neil Folnsbee, High School Teacher, English and Psychology at Horseheads High School
• Pauline Emery, Library Director, Southeast Steuben County Library

The board seeks 18-20 diverse community volunteers, civic and nonprofit professionals, business leaders, and educators to serve as grant reviewers for the Community Grant Program.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal: All grant applications are submitted through the foundation's online grant portal at www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=communityfund

For New Users: Click "Create New Account" to begin the registration process. The foundation provides video tutorials to help navigate the system.

For Returning Users: Log in with email address and password to access funding requests.

Application Schedule: Grant applications are accepted annually through eight main competitive grant cycles, with guidelines and deadlines publicized within each opportunity description.

Eligibility: Registered 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible. Faith-based organizations must meet specific criteria: (1) service benefits all regardless of religion; (2) service is not religious in nature; (3) no proselytizing associated with the service.

Decision Timeline

• Mini-Grants: Approximately 2 weeks notification after submission
• Twin Tiers Christian Service Fund: 30 days after submission
• Other Programs: Varies by program; consult specific grant cycle guidelines

Review Process

Each proposal is reviewed by a panel of community members and formally approved by the foundation's Board of Directors. Applications are first reviewed by the Vice President of Programs, followed by a panel of community members. Grant reviews and ratings are made in consultation with the grant review panel, with successful applicants formally approved by the Board of Directors.

Awards are determined based on:

• The proposal's value to residents and communities of the Finger Lakes region
• Availability of funding
• Quality and vision presented in the application

Reapplication Policy

For Unsuccessful Applicants: Applicants who meet all stated criteria but are not selected are encouraged to re-apply in future cycles without restriction.

For Successful Applicants: Organizations that receive certain grants (such as the executive sabbatical funding) cannot re-apply within ten years. Check specific program guidelines for reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Alignment with Equity Priorities: The foundation prioritizes programs that advance equity by giving voice to underserved and economically diverse populations. Applications should clearly articulate how they foster access and community connections for vulnerable populations.

Use a Holistic Approach: The foundation employs a holistic review process that values leadership, community service, and work ethic across diverse backgrounds. Applications should showcase these qualities through questionnaires and short answer statements.

Show Collaboration: The foundation specifically looks for grantees that engage in collaboration. Highlight partnerships and collaborative approaches to addressing community needs.

Emphasize Innovation for Mini-Grants: Mini-grants are specifically designed for emergent needs - programs that could not have been predicted or planned for, representing unforeseen or unexpected events signifying new or pressing problems requiring quick action. Clearly demonstrate the unanticipated nature of the need.

Serve Low-Income or Underserved Populations: The foundation prioritizes organizations serving vulnerable populations. Quantify and describe the populations you serve and demonstrate how your work addresses their specific needs.

Demonstrate Geographic Fit: Ensure your organization and the populations served are within the foundation's four-county service area (Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates Counties).

Recent Grant Examples: The foundation has recently supported organizations including Arnot Health Foundation of Elmira, Chemung County Habitat for Humanity, Chemung Valley Senior Center, Neighborhood Transformation Center of Elmira, Family Service Society of Corning, and Elmira College (which received a $20,000 grant for scientific equipment to enhance chemistry, forensic science, and environmental science education).

Leverage Available Support: The foundation emphasizes that staff are "here to help navigate the process" and are "happy to assist if applicants feel overwhelmed or have questions." Don't hesitate to contact Sara Palmer at sep@communityfund.org or (607) 739-3900 with questions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Equity is central: Every application is evaluated through the lens of advancing equity and serving underserved populations - make this explicit in your proposal
• Eight competitive cycles annually: Plan ahead and identify which of the eight grant cycles best fits your needs and timeline
• Size matters: Match your request to the right program - Mini-Grants ($1,000 or less) for emergent needs, Community Grants Program ($2,000-$40,000) for sustained programming
• Use the portal: All applications go through the online system at grantinterface.com - familiarize yourself with the platform and utilize the video tutorials
• Leverage staff expertise: The foundation explicitly encourages applicants to reach out with questions - take advantage of this by contacting Sara Palmer before applying
• Reapplication is welcomed: Unsuccessful applicants who met eligibility criteria are encouraged to reapply - don't be discouraged by an initial rejection
• Demonstrate community impact: With 77 awards from approximately $2.6 million in annual giving, competition is significant - clearly articulate your community value and impact on the four-county region

References

• Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes official website: https://communityfund.org/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Grants and Applications page: https://communityfund.org/grants-and-applications/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Board of Directors page: https://communityfund.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Our Team page: https://communityfund.org/who-we-are/our-team/ (Accessed February 2026)
• History page: https://communityfund.org/who-we-are/history/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Contact Us page: https://communityfund.org/contact-us/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Community Foundation Commitment to Equity: https://communityfund.org/community-foundation-commitment-to-equity/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory profile: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=CHEM001 (Accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/community-foundation-of-elmira-corning-and-the-finger-lakes (Accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/161100837 (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/161100837 (Accessed February 2026)
• Elmira College grant announcement: https://www.elmira.edu/news/2024/12/16/elmira-college-receives-20000-corning-community-impact-investment-grant (December 16, 2024)