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THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION INC

SCHENECTADY, NY · EIN 611600398 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE T30 · Philanthropy & Grantmaking · Small ($100K-$1M)
revenue
$959K
expenses
$886K
net assets
$541K
employees
8
volunteers
145
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Schenectady Foundation Inc supports community-driven initiatives in Schenectady County, NY, focusing on food security, neighborhood development, and systems change to address inequities. It administers grant-funded programs, operates strategic initiatives, and provides operational support to advance local well-being. The foundation collaborates with nonprofits, government agencies, and residents to serve vulnerable populations across the county.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $526K
    STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION, INC. CARRIES OUT THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.IN 2024, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES INCLUDED:1. FOOD SECURITY:A. SCHENECTADY COUNTY FOOD COUNCIL - THE FOOD COUNCIL CONTINUED TO WORK IN THREE KEY AREAS TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM: A.) ACCESS & EQUITY; B.) ADVOCACY & EMPOWERMENT; C.) AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS. THE COUNCIL CONDUCTED MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY, AND TO PRESENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT A VARIETY OF FOOD AND NUTRITION TOPICS.B. WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM PROVIDES WEEKEND MEALS TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SCHENECTADY COUNTY. DURING 2024 THERE WERE 200 STUDENTS SERVED.2. NEIGHBORHOODS:A. THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS CHALLENGE PROJECTS, A PROGRAM SUPPORTING CITY OF SCHENECTADY RESIDENTS TO MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS, CONTINUED IN 2024. PROJECTS SUCH AS PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND CULTURAL/ EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WERE ADVANCED BY THE COOPERATIVE WORK OF 85 VOLUNTEERS WITH THE RESULTING IMPROVEMENTS BENEFITING ALL CITY RESIDENTS (65,000).3. COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SYSTEMS CHANGE:A. THE ONE SCHENECTADY SYSTEMS CHANGE STRATEGY BEGAN IMPLEMENTATION IN 2024 WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY CHANGE COUNCIL COMPRISED OF RESIDENTS, AND GRASSROOTS AND GRASSTOPS LEADERS. THE CHANGE COUNCIL FOCUSED ITS EFFORTS ON HOUSING ISSUES WITHIN THE CITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APP TO PROVIDE RENTERS WITH GREATER TRANSPARENCY AS TO CODE VIOLATIONS AND CONDITIONS AT RENTAL PROPERTIES. ONE SCHENECTADY SERVES THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF 150,000 PEOPLE BY CHANGING THE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE KEPT CURRENT SOCIETAL INEQUITIES IN PLACE.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

One Schenectady Systems Change
Community-driven strategy to address systemic inequities, including development of a renter transparency app and resident-led change council
Schenectady County Food Council
Community-led initiative working on access & equity, advocacy, and agriculture to improve the local food system
Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge
Supports resident-led neighborhood improvement projects such as park upgrades, cultural programs, and community pride initiatives
Weekend Backpack Program
Provides weekend meals to food-insecure elementary school children in Schenectady County through school-based distribution
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
    • Advancing housing equity through the Community Change Council
      Established the Community Change Council in 2024 to address systemic housing issues in Schenectady, including developing a rental property transparency app to improve housing access and accountability.
  • Food System Convening & Public Engagement 1 activity
    • Convening community discussions on food insecurity and nutrition
      Facilitated community meetings on food insecurity and nutrition in 2024 through the Schenectady County Food Council to inform policy and community action.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding community-accessible arts programs through the Arts Fund
      Established and manages the Arts Fund with a $322,000 bequest from donor Paul Hooker to support community-accessible arts initiatives, including funding free concerts by artists such as Brazilian violinist Nathan Amaral at Mont Pleasant Middle School.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Funding grassroots equity initiatives through the Grassroots Equity Fund
      Launched the Grassroots Equity Fund in 2023 to support community-driven efforts as part of the One Schenectady systems change movement, focusing on equitable community development.
  • Child & Youth Meal Programs 1 activity
    • Providing weekend meals to elementary school children via the Weekend Backpack Program
      Directly operates the Weekend Backpack Program to provide meals to elementary school children in Schenectady County during weekends when school meals are unavailable.
  • Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives 1 activity
    • Supporting community-led neighborhood improvement projects
      Engages and supports local residents in neighborhood revitalization efforts in Schenectady, including park enhancements and cultural/educational initiatives, involving 85 volunteers in 2024.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$959K
Contributions & grants$974K102%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$-17K
expenses
Total expenses$886K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$454K
Grants paid out$160K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$663K
Cash$477K
Investments$0
Liabilities$122K
Net assets$541K
Liquid reserves6.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +30.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ROBERT CARREAU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $183K
board members · 9
  • ALFRED TOMPKINS — DIRECTOR, SECRETARY
  • JENNIFER KENNEALLY — DIRECTOR
  • JOHAN MATTHEWS — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN SMITH — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • KIRK LEWIS — DIRECTOR
  • MONA GOLUB — VICE CHAIR
  • OMAYRA PADILLA DEJESUS — CHAIR
  • PAMELA PEARLMAN — DIRECTOR
  • RAYSHEEA TURNER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • City Mission of Schenectady Partner — Partner in the Weekend Backpack Program providing food to elementary school children.
  • Community Science Partner — Contracted in 2021 to support the One Schenectady systems change initiative through research and strategic development.
  • Jazz on Jay Partner — Supported by the Arts Fund to provide free community arts programming.
  • Kids Arts Fest Partner — Supported by the Arts Fund to provide free community arts programming.
  • MVP Health Care Partner — Partner in the Weekend Backpack Program providing food to elementary school children.
  • Music Haven Summer Concert Series Partner — Supported by the Arts Fund to provide free community arts programming.
  • Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Partner — Partner in the Weekend Backpack Program providing food to elementary school children.
  • SEFCU Partner — Partner in the Weekend Backpack Program providing food to elementary school children.
  • School Districts throughout Schenectady County Partner — Partner in the Weekend Backpack Program providing food to elementary school children.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Arts for Community Development
    methodology: arts-for-community-development
    By investing in the arts, we foster creativity, education, inclusion, and community connection, because artistic engagement serves as a catalyst for broader social cohesion and equitable community growth beyond cultural programming alone.
  • Community-Driven Systems Change
    methodology: community-driven systems change
    By centering residents and local leaders in solution design through initiatives like One Schenectady, we address structural inequities more effectively, because community-led processes produce more relevant, sustainable, and equitable systemic reforms.
  • Integrated Food Systems Approach
    methodology: integrated food systems approach
    By improving access and equity, supporting advocacy and empowerment, and strengthening local agriculture together, we create a more resilient and just food system, because isolated interventions fail to address the interconnected root causes of food insecurity.