The Central New York Community Foundation offers a variety of funding opportunities, with its largest being the Community Grants program. Nonprofit organizations located in Onondaga and Madison counties are encouraged to apply for grants to fund innovative projects across several key areas: arts and culture, civic affairs, education, health, human services, and the environment. The Foundation’s focus is on promoting community impact, building capacity, and fostering diversity through these funding opportunities.

Eligible applicants for these grants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, publicly supported organizations such as schools and municipalities, and organizations using a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Additionally, the organization must serve the residents of Onondaga and/or Madison counties. To apply, organizations must not have received a community grant from the Foundation in the past 12 months, and they must have submitted a grant report for any previously funded programs.

The Foundation supports several types of projects, including capital projects, programmatic initiatives, and organizational development efforts. Capital projects might include large-scale capital campaigns, repairs, technology upgrades, and the purchase of equipment and furnishings. Programmatic support is available for new or expanded programs that address pressing community needs. Organizational development efforts may involve capacity building around strategic planning, board development, and succession planning. Additionally, the Foundation supports outdoor parks and recreation area projects, particularly those that involve youth, conservation efforts, or offer access for activities like hunting and fishing.

Funding is available in the range of $10,000 to $150,000 through the Dr. Robert J. Vitkus Fund for outdoor parks and recreation projects. Eligible organizations must be located within Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, or Oswego counties. The Foundation has outlined specific preferences for projects that offer naming opportunities, enhance wildlife habitat, and involve youth programming.

The Foundation does not fund annual operating budgets (except in cases of "seed" or "bridge" funding), endowments, religious purposes, loans or individual assistance, medical or academic research (unless specifically requested by a donor), or activities that occurred before the Foundation’s decision date. Additionally, any applicant must submit progress and final reports on funded projects, assisting the Foundation in assessing the impact and success of their grantmaking.

The application process is open for two main grant rounds annually, with deadlines in both spring and fall. The spring round opens on December 20, 2024, and closes on February 28, 2025, with decisions made between May 21 and June 18, 2025. The fall round opens on June 27, 2025, and closes on August 29, 2025, with decisions made between November 20 and December 18, 2025. Before submitting an application, applicants are encouraged to discuss their request with staff, and they must register in the new online portal prior to submission.