The Cayuga Community Fund, an affiliate of the Central New York Community Foundation, offers annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving Cayuga County, New York. These grants support innovative projects in the fields of arts and culture, civic affairs, education, health, human services, and the environment. The fund places emphasis on programs that respond to identified community needs and foster positive, practical change.

For 2025, the grant application deadline is Friday, April 11. The Cayuga Fund only holds one grant round per year, and all applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. Organizations can expect to be notified of grant decisions approximately eight weeks after the deadline. Grant awards may not exceed $10,000. Applicants are encouraged to propose new initiatives and capacity-building efforts over ongoing or previously funded projects. Successful proposals often include elements like inter-agency collaboration, community support, problem-solving approaches, and preventive as well as remedial strategies.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits, publicly supported organizations such as schools or municipalities, and groups using a qualified fiscal sponsor. The proposed project must benefit residents of Cayuga County, and any organizations that have received prior grants must have completed those projects before submitting new applications.

The Fund does not provide recurring support to previously funded programs, general operating budgets (except for seed or bridge funding), endowments, religious activities, individual aid, medical or academic research (except where donor-directed), or reimbursement for past activities. If selected for funding, grantees are encouraged to share stories, photos, and impact data from their project. They may also be asked for additional reporting on previous grants if applying again in the future.

Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may apply using a fiscal sponsor that meets IRS and Foundation guidelines. The fiscal sponsor must provide specific documentation, including their IRS determination letter, financial statements, a current board list, and a letter of support confirming their agreement to manage the grant funds.