Seeking projects supporting human and family wellbeing, educational opportunity, or economic vitality

Adirondack Foundation today announces that the 2019 Generous Acts Fund grant application is open and available online until 5 p.m., February 4, 2019. Nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities working to support human and family wellbeing, educational opportunities, and economic vitality are encouraged to apply.

Adirondack Foundation enhances the lives of people in the Adirondacks through philanthropy. The Generous Acts Fund combines individual generosity for greater impact to respond to pressing needs through grantmaking. Since 2014, the Foundation has awarded more than $400,000 to support Generous Acts Fund applications. Grant awards to date have ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, and recipients are collectively touching the lives of thousands of people across the region.

“The Generous Acts Fund is a force for good, thanks to unrestricted gifts from generous donors who care about the people and communities in our region,” said Cali Brooks, President and CEO. “There is as much power behind the people who donate to the fund as there is in the work being carried out by grant recipients.”

Application guidelines

Generous Acts Fund grants are single-year competitive awards focused on meeting pressing community needs. In previous years, Adirondack Foundation prioritized applications supporting early childhood development and quality of life for seniors. This year, the Foundation is broadening its focus to these priority areas:

• Human & Family Wellbeing – Providing basic needs for people such as food and housing, creating age-friendly opportunities for wellbeing, enhancing home and community-based services from early childhood development to elder care.
• Educational Opportunity – Promoting literacy, improving school readiness, enhancing educational experiences, developing work skills.
• Economic Vitality – Addressing economic challenges such as downtown revitalization, strengthening pathways toward upward economic mobility, bolstering community livability and vitality.

Projects are evaluated for their alignment with Adirondack Foundation’s priority program areas, overall effectiveness, articulation of needs being served, and capacity of the applicant to carry out the work.

Nonprofit organizations, schools and municipalities located in or serving the people of the Adirondack Region, defined for this purpose by Adirondack Foundation as all of Clinton, Franklin, Essex, and Hamilton counties as well as the parts of St. Lawrence, Warren, Herkimer, and Washington counties within the Adirondack Park boundary, are eligible to apply.

The Foundation anticipates issuing $125,000 in total this year from its Generous Acts Fund. Applications submitted through this process may also be shared with other funders to amplify the amount of grant dollars supporting local efforts. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online grants manager, which can be accessed here: adirondackfoundation.org/online-grants-manager

Visit adirondackfoundation.org/generousacts to learn more about Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts Fund. Interested applicants who have questions can contact Adirondack Foundation staff at 518-523-9904.

Adirondack Foundation’s mission is to strengthen community through philanthropy. Our vision for a thriving Adirondack Region is where communities are strong, just and inclusive, family wellbeing is supported through quality healthcare and education, environmental resources are protected and economic and cultural opportunities abound. As the community foundation serving the Adirondack region of northern New York, Adirondack Foundation awards $3 million in grants annually and works with generous people from all walks of life to support local causes. For more information, visit www.adirondackfoundation.org or call (518) 523-9904.