Rome Community Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Rome Community Foundation supports community development, including for children and youth, elderly, arts and culture, churches, human services, and historical preservation in and around Rome, New York.

IP TAKE: This is a local funder to know for capital support needs and one-time costs. Grants tend to be modest; however, they directly benefit smaller to mid-size organizations in the Rome area. This is an approachable funder with a clear application system that encourages local grantees to reach out.

PROFILE: Established in 1999, the Rome Community Foundation is a community foundation based in Rome, New York. The foundation manages over $6 million in funds and helps support the charitable needs of the local community here. The foundation aims to provide “monetary resources for the present and future enrichment of the Rome area community.” Foundation interests focus on community development, including support for children and youth, elderly, arts and culture, churches, human services, and historical preservation.

Grants for Community Development

As a community funder, the Rome Community Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofit needs at the local level. Grants are often made for building repairs and equipment needs. Past support has gone to the Floyd Historical Society, St. Paul’s Church, South Rome Senior Center, and Rome Community Job Fairs. The funder prefers to support one-time costs, capital needs, and considers both established and start-up groups. It also considers emergency support requests on a case-by-case basis.

View a list of past grantees and grant amounts on the funder’s website.

Important Grant Details

Foundation grants tend to be between $1,000 and $5,000. Learn more about the foundation’s local giving by examining its tax records. It has been awarding over $130,000 in grants annually in recent years. All grants must benefit Rome-area residents.

The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from local nonprofits. The application deadlines are on or about February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. Meanwhile, the foundation administered Stevens-Kingsley Fund has a deadline of November 1 each year for grant requests. Download the application form on the foundation website and submit it to the staff by mail. Direct general questions to the foundation staff at 315-723-7285 and info@romecommunityfoundation.org.

PEOPLE:

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