Community Foundation announces $50K Community Choice Awards

UTICA — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties announced it is hosting its first Community Choice Awards, a $50,000 grantmaking contest that incorporates public voting to help determine the recipients of five $10,000 grants to local nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations in Herkimer and Oneida counties are invited to submit grant proposals for projects in the following categories: animals, arts and culture, health and wellness, human service, and youth. Community Foundation staff in consultation with category sponsors will select three finalists in each category with the winners to be determined by a public vote in September, according to a new release from the foundation.

“Determining which organizations are deserving of a grant requires a lot of input and the Community Choice Awards is a unique opportunity for community members to share their insight about which nonprofits are most valued in our community,” Alicia Dicks, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, said in the release.

Five of the Community Foundation’s donor-advised funds are sponsoring the contest including: Staffworks Charitable Fund, Bull Family Fund, Mele Family Fund, Ron & Sheila Cuccaro Family Fund, and M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund. 

Interested nonprofits must apply by Tuesday, Aug. 24 to be considered for participation. For more information on the rules and regulations of the contest and to apply, Visit www.ccawards.org.