Adirondack Foundation has mobilized nearly $800,000 in philanthropic support to communities across the Adirondack region through its Generous Acts program, with additional grants to be awarded in the coming weeks.

The open call application annually invests in nonprofit organizations, schools and municipalities. Generous Acts grants aim to strengthen communities by addressing three strategic focus areas: basic needs, educational pathways and economic vitality.

“We remain committed to lifting up the Adirondack region through the generosity of the people who call this place home,” said Cali Brooks, president and CEO of Adirondack Foundation. “Generous Acts continues to evolve — generating grants will always be at the heart of what we do, but this work also helps us understand current and future trends so we can share this information with donors and leaders. Our communities continue to prioritize food access, health care, housing, early childhood development and career pathways, but we also noted emerging needs centered around STEM education, downtown revitalization, migrant and immigrant assistance, and emergency services preparedness.”

Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts program is fueled by unrestricted donations from thousands of generous individuals; its service area consists of the Adirondack Park, all of Clinton and Franklin counties and the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory.

“Generous Acts has proven to be an effective vehicle for funneling charitable funds to the programs, projects and people who are in the trenches and working to improve quality of life in the Adirondack region,” said Joe Steiniger, chair of Adirondack Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Acting as stewards of philanthropic assets is a big responsibility and one that we take seriously; it’s a privilege to announce this year’s worthy slate of grant recipients.”

A total of 107 organizations have received $794,000 to date in 2024. More grants will be announced in the coming weeks as co-funders — donors who have a charitable fund with Adirondack Foundation and award grants in conjunction with Generous Acts — make their decisions. Key funding partners include Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s Upstream Fund, the Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family Foundation and the WaterWheel Foundation Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation.

Basic needs grants build equity, access

The vision for the Foundation’s basic needs strategy is straightforward: residents of all ages should have equitable access to services that enable and promote a healthy quality of life. The Generous Acts program aims to accomplish this by expanding and strengthening the social safety net to facilitate upward mobility, providing resources to assist with emergency relief and ensuring quality support networks for all.

A total of $386,390 was awarded to over 50 organizations for programs that address everything from food scarcity and immigrant and migrant assistance to early child care and equitable access to outdoor recreation.

The Free Little Clothing Closet in Indian Lake was among the basic needs recipients this year. This project will fill the gap left behind by the closing of the former Our Mart, which provided a location for residents and visitors to drop off gently used items — including clothing — for individuals and families to pick up as needed.

“When COVID was at its peak, Hamilton County had to close the building where the former Our Mart was located for health and safety concerns,” said Joan Golden, who coordinates the new Free Little Clothing Closet on Main Street. “That’s when the idea came about to help continue to provide free clothing for all ages. Our inaugural season in 2022 was at the Town of Indian Lake’s Saturday summer Farmer’s Market. Three years later and after thousands of donated clothes, we are pleased to receive a grant from the Adirondack Foundation to allow us to open a storefront in the center of town, adjacent to our historic movie theater and our food pantry, providing us with the opportunity to go from a seasonal Saturday activity to a year-round operation.”

Helping communities thrive

The Foundation’s economic vitality focus envisions thriving communities that provide equitable and just economic opportunity, build generational wealth, attract residents and businesses, and inspire community participation. Generous Acts prioritizes programs that invest in towns and villages for regional uplift, support workforce development and business sustainability, and retain residents and encourage people to move here.

A total of 22 organizations addressing economic vitality received $176,700 in Generous Acts support. Grants were awarded to projects that provide enhanced data on the employment landscape, renovation and rehabilitation to community infrastructure, affordable housing and more.

In Essex County, a Generous Acts grant will help the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership and the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) implement employment opportunities programming and services, which will help the community retain and attract businesses and assist in workforce development.

“The Chamber seeks to create a thriving Ticonderoga area with sustainable economic growth,” said Matthew Courtright, TACC’s president and CEO. “Adirondack Foundation has been a key partner in our efforts, providing the necessary support to help fuel our growing economy.”

Blazing trails for quality education

The Foundation’s emphasis on educational pathways aims to ensure that all learners have meaningful opportunities to pursue pathways to gainful employment and fulfilling lives. Generous Acts focuses on organizations that foster a systems approach for cradle-to-career education, support early childhood development and invest in career-preparedness.

Generous Acts funneled $230,850 in grants to 32 organizations in 2024, including support for North Country Community College’s Non-Credit Career Pathways initiative.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the funding provided by Generous Acts,” said Erin Walkow, executive director of the NCCC Foundation. “Over the last few years, Adirondack Foundation has made it possible for students to attend college and pursue their academic and career goals. Most recently, Generous Acts allowed the college to provide training for childcare workers, one of the many foundational needs across the North Country. We look forward to providing more of those opportunities for residents in our region.”

To view a complete list of 2024 Generous Acts recipients, visit adirondackfoundation.org/2024-generous-acts-grant-recipients-list.

To learn more about Generous Acts at Adirondack Foundation, or to make a gift in support of future grants, visit adirondackfoundation.org or contact Jennifer Russell at jennifer.russell@adkfoundation.org.