Community grants focus on capacity building at nonprofits in the areas of staff and board development, resource diversification, and improving efficiencies, the foundation said. Programs that connect with members of the community are also supported. The Gifford Foundation listed in a news release the following community grants, adding up to nearly $116,000, that it made to area nonprofits:
§ CancerConnects will use a grant of $6,940 for mentor training and special workshops with Dr. Maria Sirois, a trainer/facilitator on self-care and caregiving.
§ Catholic Charities of Onondaga County will furnish its new homeless shelter for men with its grant of $15,000.
§ Clear Path for Veterans received a grant of $20,000 to help renovate its kitchen and add some upgrades.
§ The Everson Museum of Art received a grant of $15,000 to support the “The Art of Video Games” exhibition and provide vouchers to school students and community members.
§ The Fayette Street Boys and Girls Club will use its grant of $15,000 to enhance and upgrade its Teen Room.
§ The Food Bank of Central New York received a grant of $15,000 to use toward board development and strategic planning.
§ Home Aides of Central New York received a $10,000 grant to help implement a caregiver support program based on the REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health) program.
§ Red House Arts Center was awarded a community grant for $5,000 to upgrade its current box office and database system.
§ Syracuse Poster Project was awarded $4,000 to help start its Civic Art Initiative pilot program.
§ Syracuse Stage received a grant of $10,000 for a voucher program to build and strengthen relationships with local community organizations.
The Gifford Foundation says that “What if…” mini grants are made to neighborhood associations and organizations who are working to develop their community’s resources and assets. It gives these grants to projects with a total budget of $5,000 or less for neighborhoods within the city of Syracuse. The following are the more than $31,000 in these grants it listed in the news release:
§ 338 Gifford Street, a resident association in the James Geddes Apartment complex, will seek to strengthen resident interaction with its $1,000 grant for new bingo equipment.
§ High Octane Youth Basketball, a youth-development program, received a What If… Mini Grant of $4,500 to enhance its “Books and Balls” program — a tutoring program in conjunction with ongoing basketball leagues.
§ Northside Karate, a neighborhood program run by Washington Square residents, was awarded $5,000 to provide youth with the equipment needed to move to the next level in karate.
§ The Reducing Teen Violence In Our Neighborhood Initiative, a community program for Latino youth, was awarded $3,700 towards a mural showing community pride and unity and to support its first Achievement and Recognition Event.
§ T.E.A.M. Rock, a mentoring program for young women, received $5,000 to support a day trip to New York City for youth participants and mentors to experience history and culture together.
§ Toomey Abbott Resident Association received a grant of up to $5,000 for landscaping improvements and gardening to the backyard area of the Toomey Abbot Towers.
§ The Westside Youth Advisory Council, a part of the PEACE Westside Resource Center, received up to $3,000 for a seven-week summer leadership opportunity for youth to mentor other youth.
§ Women Transcending Boundaries received $4,200 to be put towards its “Journey to the Tent of Abraham: The Second Step” event.
The Gifford Foundation (www.giffordfoundation.org) says it is a private foundation supporting community needs in Central New York since 1954. The foundation had nearly $19 million in total assets at the end of 2011, according to its IRS Form 990-PF filing. The Gifford Foundation is headquartered at 126 N. Salina St. in downtown Syracuse.
Contact Carbonaro at mcarbonaro@cnybj.com