COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
WATERTOWN, NY · EIN 156020989 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T31 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Large ($10M-$50M) · nnycf.org
revenue
$16.9M
expenses
$6.0M
net assets
$157.0M
employees
10
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

SEE PAGE 2 FOR COMPLETE MISSION STATEMENT.

profile · synthesized from sources

NORTHERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC is a community foundation based in Watertown, NY, serving Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. It supports charitable giving through donor-advised funds and manages scholarship programs for local students. The foundation stewards permanent endowments and facilitates grants that reflect donor interests in education, community service, and regional development.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $1.33M
    SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ARE ESTABLISHED BY INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN HELPING STUDENTS WITH THEIR EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DOES STEWARD FIRST-YEAR AND NON-TRADITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER RESTRICTED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF CITIZENS RESIDING IN JEFFERSON, LEWIS AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTIES. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FACILITATES SCHOLARSHIPS WITH UNIQUE CRITERIA AND EDUCATION FOCUS. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WORKS CLOSELY WITH DONORS TO FULFILL THEIR CHARITABLE INTERESTS RELATED TO SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS OF STUDENT RECIPIENTS.
  2. #2 $1.33M
    THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WORKS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES SEEKING A STRUCTURED, ORGANIZED METHOD TO COMPLETE GRANTMAKING TO ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS PROVIDE A SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT VEHICLE TO MANAGE AND FULFILL A DONOR'S CHARITABLE GIVING INTERESTS AND PASSIONS AS THEY CHANGE OVER TIME. DONOR ADVISED FUND GRANTS ARE DISTRIBUTED FOLLOWING APPROVAL FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FROM TIME TO TIME.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Donor Advised Funds
Provides individuals, families, and businesses with a structured vehicle to manage charitable giving, allowing donors to recommend grants to eligible nonprofits over time
Named Memorial Funds
Establishes and stewards permanent funds in honor of individuals, supporting causes such as education, arts, faith-based organizations, and community service
Scholarship Programs
Administers a variety of scholarship funds for students residing in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties, including first-year, non-traditional, and restricted scholarships established by donors
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Administering scholarship programs for students in Northern New York
      Administers a wide range of scholarship programs, including merit-based, restricted, and need-based awards, providing over $28 million in scholarships since 1980 to students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties; stewards nearly 500 donor-established scholarship funds and awards annual first-year and non-traditional student scholarships.
  • Municipal and Community General Support 1 activity
    • Awarding community project grants through the Six Town Community Fund
      Administers the Six Town Community Fund and provides $5,000 grants to support community projects in the Six Town region, including funding for playground redevelopment in Adams and Deferiet.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Developing youth leadership and community engagement
      Runs the LEAD Council, a group of 22 young professionals addressing regional challenges like poverty and child care access, and develops future philanthropists through leadership initiatives that include student-led projects and school-based giving programs.
  • Donor-Advised Fund Grantmaking 1 activity
    • Distributing grants via donor-advised funds
      Manages donor-advised funds and distributes grants to eligible nonprofit organizations based on donor recommendations, with final approval granted by the foundation’s Board of Directors.
  • General Operating Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding nonprofit organizations through the Grants for Good program
      Stewards the Grants for Good program to support nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties with quarterly grant reviews and final approval by its Board of Directors.
  • Integrated Community-Led Development Programs 1 activity
    • Implementing creative community development initiatives
      Develops and implements hyperlocal initiatives such as "Canstruction for Northern New York," enhancements to early childhood programs, anti-poverty support, community giving challenges, and student-led philanthropy projects in schools.
  • Community Foundation & United Way Support 1 activity
    • Partnering with regional nonprofits to strengthen communities
      Partners with more than 150 nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties and has awarded grants to organizations such as the Visiting Nurse Association, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Mercy Hospital’s Children’s Division, American Red Cross, Watertown Community Chest, and YMCA.
  • Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
    • Producing media content on community philanthropy
      Produces a podcast series that captures and shares stories of community philanthropy and service in the North Country, including integration into local history projects like “Take a Walk Through History.”
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Providing meeting space for local nonprofits
      Offers access to first-floor conference rooms and meeting facilities for use by local nonprofit and community organizations.
  • Public School Support Fundraising 1 activity
    • Supporting youth-led philanthropy initiatives
      Operates the Youth Philanthropy Council, where 18 high school students steward an annual $20,000 grant program, and runs the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge, enabling middle school students to award grants to local nonprofits.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Funding capital projects and institutional development
      Provides grants for capital improvements and institutional capacity building, including a $1.5 million grant to Samaritan Medical Center, $500,000 to Watertown Family YMCA, $300,000 matching grant for Thompson Park Conservancy endowment, $350,000 to North Country Children’s Clinic, $250,000 to Flower Memorial Library, $20,000 plus $25,000 matching grant to Clifton-Fine Hospital, $10,000 to Lyons Falls Free Library, and $3,500 to Double Play Sports Community Center for planning.
    • Providing emergency and basic needs support through grants
      Provides grants to support food security and essential services, including $1,000 to fund 8,350 meals through the Community Lunch Program for Kids, $1,600 for music therapy equipment at Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, and grants in 2018 to 50 organizations supporting food pantries, soup kitchens, and thrift stores across the region.
    • Supporting arts, culture, and historical preservation
      Funds cultural and historical initiatives such as the "Take a Walk Through History" project in Ogdensburg using digital signage and podcasts, supports jazz education through the Jazz in the Classroom Program with $15,000 annually for three years, and awarded $35,000 to the St. Lawrence County Historical Association for the Silas Wright House Museum endowment.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$16.89M
Contributions & grants$8.69M51%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$8.07M48%
Other revenue$132K
expenses
Total expenses$6.04M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$1.11M
Grants paid out$4.48M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$172.89M
Cash$1.60M
Investments$162.97M
Liabilities$15.88M
Net assets$157.01M
Liquid reserves327.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -12.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RANDE S RICHARDSON PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $228K
MAX DELSIGNORE VICE PRESIDENT 40 $141K
STEPHEN MAGOVNEY CFO 40 $121K
board members · 15
  • BRENT V SANFORD — BOARD MEMBER
  • CATHERINE BURNS QUENCER — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
  • CHERYL STECKLY — CHAIR
  • ELIZABETH PERRY — BOARD MEMBER
  • EMILY SPRAGUE — VICE CHAIR
  • FAYE C WATERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEFFREY GINGER — BOARD MEMBER
  • LISA A WEBER — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARIE A HESS — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARK R LAVARNWAY — SECRETARY/TREASURER
  • MARK THOMPSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • ROBERT M SLIGAR — BOARD MEMBER
  • THERESA L QUINTIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • TIMOTHY SAVAGE — BOARD MEMBER
  • VICTORIA HASSELER COLLINS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 31

Who they work with

  • Advocate Drum (Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization) Partner — Occupies office space on the Robert and Jean Sturtz Nonprofit Collaboration Floor at the Philanthropy Center.
  • Benjamin P. and Margaret B. Coe Family Partner — Established the Benjamin P. and Margaret B. Coe Family Fund to support community service and connection.
  • Business donors Partner — Partners with businesses to facilitate charitable grantmaking and scholarship funding.
  • Carthage Savings and Loan Association Partner — Supports the LEAD Giving Circle program
  • Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) Partner — Occupies office space on the Robert and Jean Sturtz Nonprofit Collaboration Floor at the Philanthropy Center.
  • Clayton Jazz Festival Partner — Receives multi-year grants to support the Jazz in the Classroom Program for Jefferson County high school students.
  • Community Giving Challenge Partner — Annual giving initiative that encourages community participation in charitable giving.
  • Double Play Sports Community Center Partner — Receives grant funding to support planning for a future building project in Lowville.
  • Family donors Partner — Works with families to support their charitable interests through structured giving vehicles.
  • Flower Memorial Library Partner — Received a $250,000 grant for a capital campaign.
  • Food Bank of Central New York Partner — Occupies administrative office space on the Robert and Jean Sturtz Nonprofit Collaboration Floor at the Philanthropy Center; no food is held or distributed on site.
  • Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Annual Fund Funder — Provides donor-supported funding that partially enables the Grants for Good program.
  • Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley Partner — Receives grant funding to support the Music & Memory Program for dementia patients in Potsdam.
  • Hospice of Jefferson County Partner — Received a $100,000 grant from the Foundation to help establish operations.
  • Hyde-Stone Charitable Foundation Partner — Supports the LEAD Giving Circle program
  • Individual donors Partner — Collaborates with individuals to establish and manage scholarship funds and donor advised funds.
  • Jefferson Community College Foundation Partner — Partnership to administer the Jefferson-Can Community Scholars Program
  • LEAD Council Partner — Youth leadership program focused on developing community leaders through civic engagement and philanthropy.
  • Lyons Falls Free Library Partner — Receives $10,000 in grants for capital improvements and community-supported upgrades.
  • Max DelSignore Partner — Assistant Director at Northern New York Community Foundation
  • Morgia Wealth Management Partner — Supports the LEAD Giving Circle program
  • North Country Children’s Clinic Partner — Received a $350,000 grant for a capital campaign.
  • Northern New York Philanthropy Center Partner — Permanent home where the foundation brings people together to discuss community challenges and develop solutions.
  • Samaritan Medical Center Partner — Received multiple grants including a $1.5 million grant, the largest in the Foundation's history.
  • St. Lawrence County Historical Association Partner — Receives grants to support endowment building, educational outreach, and museum programming at the Silas Wright House Museum in Canton.
  • Thompson Park Conservancy Partner — Received a $300,000 matching grant to establish an endowment.
  • Thousand Islands Foundation Network — Affiliate organization of the Northern New York Community Foundation focused on regional scholarships and community development.
  • WPBS-DT Partner — Media partner collaborating on the production and distribution of the Northern New York Community Podcast.
  • Watertown Family YMCA Partner — Received a $500,000 grant for its new addition.
  • Wilderness Health Care Foundation/Clifton-Fine Hospital Partner — Receives grants for capital improvements and endowment support to maintain rural health care services in Star Lake.
+ 1 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Convened Collaborative Problem Solving
    methodology: community-convening
    By operating a dedicated philanthropy center to convene donors, nonprofits, and community organizations, we enable collaborative solutions to shared challenges, because structured stakeholder engagement strengthens regional capacity and collective impact.
  • Endowment- and Legacy-Driven Sustainable Support
    methodology: perpetual_stewardship
    By establishing endowments, bequests, and donor-advised funds, we ensure long-term, sustainable investment in local charities and scholarships, because permanent stewardship mechanisms align donor legacy goals with enduring community needs.
  • Holistic and Targeted Scholarship Access
    methodology: holistic_scholarship_review_for_nontraditional_students
    By transitioning from loans to scholarships and using holistic review processes and field-specific criteria, we increase equitable access to education, because removing financial barriers and recognizing diverse student pathways improves educational outcomes and workforce development in Northern New York.
  • Youth-Led Philanthropy and Grantmaking
    methodology: youth_led_philanthropy
    By engaging youth in leadership initiatives and grantmaking decisions, we cultivate lifelong community philanthropists and strengthen regional giving, because early empowerment fosters lasting civic responsibility and leadership.