Community Foundation of Tompkins County to formally open new headquarters on Thursday

ITHACA — The Community Foundation of Tompkins County will officially open its new headquarters in downtown Ithaca at 200 E. Buffalo St. on Thursday.

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance will join the city of Ithaca and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce for a noon-hour ribbon cutting, with tours and light refreshments to follow, the alliance said in a news release.

The Community Foundation of Tompkins County is a nonprofit public foundation that works to “enhance the quality of life for all who live in, work in, and love Tompkins County,” according to its website.

The organization has seen “rapid growth” in gifts, donors, and grants over the last two years, George Ferrari, executive director of the Community Foundation, said in the news release.

“Support from a number of donors, including a major unrestricted bequest, enabled program and staff expansions and a move to new offices. We have invested in a downtown base for philanthropy education to prepare for and capitalize on the challenges and opportunities ahead and better serve even more donors, nonprofits, and advisors throughout Tompkins County,” said Ferrari.

Since its inception in 1999, the Community Foundation has awarded more than 1,600 grants, totaling nearly $6 million, that support a variety of charitable interests, including arts, literacy, and sustainability, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance said.

The Community Foundation also provides its partners with investment stewardship, financial analytics, and educational resources, the alliance added.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com