The Adirondack Foundation, alongside several funding partners has awarded close to $1.2 million over the course of 175 grants to nonprofits, schools, and community-based organizations towards COVID-19 response. This rapid-fire community response is due to a coalition of corporate, philanthropic, and nonprofit organizations and partnerships on the front lines. Several of these organizations serve those of us who were greatly affected during times of crises.

With over $1.3 million raised, grants are being gifted all throughout the region, alleviating the social and economic hardships of tens of thousands of Adirondack citizens. These grants consist of both emergency-response grants and long-term relief. The grants awarded fall into the categories listed below. If you would like to view the full list of recipients, you may do so by following this link.

• Food assistance  – 74 grants, including:

• • Clifton Fine Backpack Pantry, Hamilton County Community Action, Field & Fork Network’s Double-up Food Bucks program, AdkAction’s Fair Food Price Packages, The Salvation Army food pantry in Plattsburgh
• Health and wellness – 17 grants, including:
  • Mental Health Association of Franklin County, Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, Adirondack Samaritan Counseling Center,  emergency services in Wells, Plattsburgh, Keene, and other towns; Hudson Headwaters Health Foundation, Adirondack Health Foundation
• Shelter  – 4 grants, including:
  • Village of Tupper Lake and Ecumencial Council of Saranac Lake (to offset utility costs for low-income residents), Rural Preservation Company of Clinton County, Akwesasne Sunrise Acres senior housing, The Salvation Army – Empire Division, Plattsburgh Housing Authority
• Social services – 33 grants, including:
  • Bolton Health Committee, Plattsburgh Family YMCA, Adirondack Community Action Programs, Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, YMCA Adirondack Center in Brant Lake
• Education  – 19 grants, including:
  • Little Peaks Preschool; Clifton Fine, Indian Lake, Ticonderoga, and Minerva central schools (technology support); The Wild Center (digital drop-in programs for k-12 students)
• Community vitality – 24 grants, including:
  • Hamilton County IDA, Essex County IDA, and Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (small business support);  Central Adirondack Partnerships for the 21st Century;  libraries in Tupper Lake, Keene Valley, Chazy, and Willsoro; NCPR and other media outlets (critical COVID-19 updates and information)

The Adirondack Foundation and its partners have spoken on their partnership with other organization and the resulting community support, as well as the impact the pandemic has had on the region.

“As the pandemic rages on and community needs persist, we remain engaged with local leaders to learn how we can continue to direct philanthropic dollars to where they can make the biggest difference,” said Adirondack Foundation President and CEO Cali Brooks. “Pulling together for our community by joining with other funders and partners, as well as providing opportunities for people to give back is what we are here for as a community foundation.”

“The Charles R. Wood Foundation has been pleased to partner with Adirondack Foundation and many others to provide assistance through the Covid 19 rapid response initiatives and the SUN Fund.  It has been inspiring to see the response from the North Country and around the state to support our neighbors in this unprecedented time of need,” said Bobbie Wages, board member of the Charles R. Wood Foundation.

Donors can give directly online https://www.adirondackfoundation.org/give-now or contact Cali Brooks at cali@adkfoundation.org to learn more about how to support this regional response.

New grant period

Adirondack Foundation today announces that the 2021 Generous Acts grant application is open and available online until 5 p.m., February 1, 2021.

Application guidelines

Generous Acts grant applications can be submitted through the Foundation’s online grants manager, adirondackfoundation.org/online-grants-manager. The Foundation welcomes applications in these priority areas:

• Basic Needs – Providing basic needs for people such as food and housing, creating age-friendly communities, enhancing home and community-based services from early childhood development to elder care
• Educational Pathways – Promoting literacy, improving school-readiness for young children, strengthening post-secondary pathways and support networks for education and employment
• Community & Economic Vitality – Supporting workforce initiatives to train workers and fill jobs, improving access to child care and other support services for working families, overcoming economic or racial inequities, bolstering civic engagement, addressing community-defined needs

Eligibility and evaluation

Nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities serving the people of the Adirondack region, defined for this purpose as all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton counties as well as the parts of Herkimer, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties within the Adirondack Park boundary, are eligible to apply. Projects are evaluated for their alignment with Adirondack Foundation’s priority program areas, overall effectiveness, articulation of needs being served, and capacity of the applicant to carry out the work.