Best Chemung County Grants for Nonprofits in New York

The Citizens Charitable Foundation offers grants focused on Workforce Development and Financial Empowerment. Organizations applying must be IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in specific states. The foundation seeks to partner with high-impact nonprofits to create measurable community impact through innovative programs. Funding is directed towards job training, career education, and coaching initiatives, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and volunteerism.

The West Elmira Volunteer Fire Department, affiliated with the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, offers scholarships for high school seniors and adult learners residing in Upstate New York or Northern Pennsylvania. This initiative aims to provide financial support for education and job skill acquisition, ensuring that cost does not hinder access to post-secondary opportunities. The foundation is dedicated to fostering community growth through educational funding.

The William M. Cooper Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, supports high school seniors and adult learners from Chemung County. It values participation in extracurricular activities and considers GPA and SAT scores without requiring the highest grades. Financial need is preferred but not mandatory. This scholarship aims to ensure that educational opportunities are accessible to deserving students in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

The Central Christian Church Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, supports Protestant human service organizations in Chemung County. It prioritizes funding for child care, elder care, hospice, and substance abuse programs. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with projects located within Chemung County, ensuring they meet the community's essential service needs.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports innovative green infrastructure projects enhancing community livability. With funding opportunities ranging from conceptual plans to full project implementation, this program aims to reduce stormwater runoff, improve urban green spaces, and boost local water health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eligible locations include parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as New York.

New York State Office of Mental Health

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) oversees a large multi-faceted mental health system serving nearly 800,000 individuals each year. This includes operating 23 psychiatric centers and overseeing the Nathan S. Kline Institute and New York Psychiatric Institute. OMH regulates and certifies more than 6,500 programs operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies.

Mission

Our mission is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.

Housing First Scattered Site Supportive Housing for Homeless Adults Western New York and Long Island Region

The Office of Mental health is announcing funds to develop 45 units of Housing First Supportive Housing for homeless individuals in the following counties:

• 20 units in Steuben and Chemung counties
• 25 units in Nassau and Suffolk counties

Notification of intent to apply should be made to the Local Governmental Unit (county director of community services) for each county to be served under the program application, as defined in Section 41 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law. Proof of this notification is required to be uploaded in SFS and should not be sent directly to the procurement unit.

Target Population

Individuals eligible for this program will be homeless and be enrolled in a Safe Options Support (SOS) team, Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team (INSET), or Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. SPOA/SPA referrals are not a requirement of this RFP.

Please note that within this target population group, individuals with an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) order must receive priority access. 

The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Program, led by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), invites proposals for Planning and Technical Assistance Grants up to $75,000. This initiative focuses on enhancing conservation and stewardship efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, supporting local partners in effective project implementation. With an estimated $8.5 million available, applicants are encouraged to engage with NFWF staff for proposal guidance and feedback to strengthen their submissions.

Teams to Promote Aging in Place in OMH Supportive Housing (TPAP) 

Request for Proposals

The purpose of “Teams to Promote Aging in Place in OMH Supportive Housing or TPAP” Geriatric Demonstration Project is to facilitate supportive housing residents aging in place based on their priorities and preferences who are age 55 years and older, as well as residents younger than 55 years living with complex medical conditions that necessitate homecare. Older adults living in OMH supportive housing are at risk of losing community tenure due to emerging unmet care coordination, cross service system navigation, and homecare needs compounded by lack of connection to social determinants of health (SDOH) resources, and community and natural supports. Grant funding will support an enhanced home care rate, provision of at least one paid peer professional, and enhanced care coordination with the local office for aging and community partners that addresses social determinants of health and social engagement needs. OMH supportive housing residents identified as at risk for losing community tenure will be supported by an interdisciplinary care team of (1) an OMH supportive housing case manager, (2) a local office for aging case manager, (3) a homecare professional, and (4) at least one mental health or substance use/gambling peer professional who will collaborate with the residents to identify outstanding service and social needs. This will build a person-centered, holistic plan that is based on the older adult’s priorities and preferences for aging in place. A peer professional in this RFP is defined as a person certified, or provisionally certified, as a mental health Peer Specialist through the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board or a person certified, or provisionally certified, as a substance use/gambling Recovery Peer Advocate through the New York Certification Board. Grantees will also be required to collaborate with community-based organizations across service systems, including mental health, aging, substance use, and gambling harms, that also address social determinants of health and social engagement needs, such as, but not limited to, Social Care Networks, Rural Health Networks, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Older Adult Rural Support Program, Regional Economic Development Councils, or Downtown Revitalization Initiatives. This may include projects focused on community inclusion, the Dwyer Veterans Peer-to-Peer Support Program, club houses, OASAS and OMH recovery centers, older adult centers, faith-based, civic, arts, cultural organizations, etc. To foster sharing of best practices in meeting the holistic needs of OMH supportive housing residents, grantees and their partners will participate in virtual and in-person learning collaboratives that include crossdisciplinary training curriculum consisting of trainings chosen in consultation with the chosen grantees and the Geriatric Interagency Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Planning Council and the Master Plan for Aging advisory groups.

Wrap around funding will be available to provide services and goods not covered through existing reimbursement channels that support aging in place in OMH supportive housing. Examples include, but are not limited to, non-medical transportation, memberships to community groups and/or gyms, continuing education, supplies to support personal interests and hobbies, large print calendars, pill containers, and mobility aids. Wrap-around funding can also be used to provide technological support based on the residents’ needs and preferences. Examples include equipment (laptops, computers, personal devices, and/or internet access), online communities and devices to support engagement (Virtual Senior Centers, GetSetUp, Discover Live interactive virtual tours, animatronic pets, and online support through self-help and peer support groups), and technology literacy classes (for email, video chats with friends, children, grandchildren, etc., banking, patient portals, and education on fraud protection) are additional supports to help people use technology to age in place.

This RFP can be used to expand or enhance existing aging programs in OMH supportive housing or can be used to develop a new program that meets all the program requirements. OMH CR-SROs awarded the “Aging in Place Pilot” grant MH253015 may also apply for this grant for their supportive housing programs.

All types of proposals will be evaluated using the same criteria and applicants must identify the geographic designation they will serve, rural or non-rural. Rural counties in NYS are listed in the table below.

Friends of NRA

Friends of NRA is the National Rifle Association’s premier fundraising program, supporting the future of shooting sports. Since day one, Friends of NRA has been a 100% grassroots effort fueled by a united front to secure the Second Amendment and raise money for the shooting sports.

Committee volunteers are appointed to State Fund Committees to make recommendations for local grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. Recognizing the impact American youth has on the future of the shooting sports, State Fund Committees frequently recommend grants for youth programs, allocating the most significant portion of monies to this vital area.

Grant awards fund activities and support programs in the United States to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those in the shooting sports, and to educate the public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context.

Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program - New York

The Friends of NRA State Fund Grant Program provides supplies, equipment, and financial support to a variety of qualified groups and programs at the local level; geared towards youth, women, law enforcement, veterans, the disabled, and the general public, including:

• General shooting programs
• Competitive shooting
• Education, training and safety
• Hunting and conservation
• Community outreach
• Historical education

Grant funding must be used to further a charitable purpose as defined by the Internal Revenue Code under section 501(c)(3) and accompanying rules, regulations, and other IRS law and materials.

Rochester Area Community Foundation

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission: We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Rochester Tooling and Machining (James M. Nieboer) Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

For students enrolled in the advanced manufacturing industry related curricula at an accredited community college, junior college, or technical post-secondary institution within the Finger Lakes region.

Allowed Use of Award

Expenses associated with higher education.

Renewability

This award is not automatically renewable; students may reapply each Fall and Spring semester.

Donor Information

This scholarship was established in 1993 by the Rochester Tooling and Machining Institute, Inc. to encourage students to engage in the metalworking industry.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust Grants focus on enhancing the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. This private foundation supports innovative projects that go beyond basic care, ensuring the well-being of homeless and abused animals. Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status and be located in specific states, including Ohio and parts of Indiana and Michigan. The Trust emphasizes humane treatment and sustainable funding for animal welfare initiatives.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust offers grants aimed at enhancing the lives of animals in the Ohio/Great Lakes region. It prioritizes projects that foster animal adoption, behavior training, and humane education. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified and demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare. The Trust seeks innovative, collaborative initiatives that significantly improve the well-being of animals, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring a high quality of life for both individual animals and larger populations.

The New Car Dealers of WNY Charitable Foundation Grant aims to enhance the well-being of children and families in Western New York. By providing financial support to not-for-profit organizations, the foundation seeks to increase their visibility and impact. Registered not-for-profit organizations can apply for restricted grants, with the board of trustees meeting twice a year to review applications. This initiative reflects the foundation's commitment to community enrichment and support.

The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. offers Mini-Grants ranging from $100 to $1,500 to support small-scale projects addressing urgent community needs. Applications must be submitted 30-90 days in advance and are prioritized based on emergent issues. Eligible applicants are 501(c)3 organizations serving Chemung and Southeastern Steuben counties. Funding is competitive and may be partial or denied based on available resources and community priorities.

The Twin Tiers Christian Service Fund offers the Christian Holistic Living Grant, providing up to $2,500 to support holistic and spiritual living initiatives in Chemung and adjacent counties. This grant aims to enhance community engagement through events and training in spiritual practices. Priority is given to programs promoting equity, community impact, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Organizations must be registered 501(c)3 or have a fiscal sponsor to be eligible.

Rose’s Youth Philanthropists (RYP) empowers youth in Chemung and Southeastern Steuben counties through responsive grantmaking. Funded by the S. Roberts Rose Fund, RYP encourages proposals for projects that involve youth in community needs across arts, education, mentoring, and mental health. The initiative supports diversity, personal responsibility, and civic pride while addressing issues like literacy and home safety. RYP aims to engage youth in meaningful activities that foster creativity and community involvement.

The Fund for Women of the Southern Tier provides annual grants aimed at helping girls and women achieve economic self-sufficiency through education, health, and life skills programs. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations serving specific counties in New York. The fund prioritizes programs that are open to all and accessible to underserved communities, fostering empowerment and growth while ensuring a fair competitive application process.

The Brinker International Charitable Giving Program focuses on giving back to communities through support for kids, hunger, and education. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501c(3) non-profits and submit requests at least six weeks prior to events. The program does not support individuals, political or religious organizations, or explicit discrimination policies. Funding is provided through monetary donations or in-kind contributions like dining certificates.

The MRT Health Homes Supportive Housing Program, funded by the New York State Department of Health, allocates $86,876,000 over five years to support permanent rental subsidies and housing services for vulnerable homeless Medicaid members. This initiative aims to improve access to health services and stable housing through various permissible uses of funds, including rental subsidies, housing navigation services, and support for life skills development.

The Twin Tiers Youth for Christ Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., supports high school seniors and adult learners in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Applicants must secure a recommendation from a pastor of a Christian Church and complete the necessary application materials. This initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers to education, ensuring that deserving candidates can pursue their academic and vocational aspirations.

The Kelly for Kids Community Grants aim to support disadvantaged and disabled youth in Western New York. Founded by former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, the foundation has distributed nearly $5 million to local children's charities. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on health and social services for children in need. The foundation prioritizes innovative programs and equipment improvements, ensuring funds are used effectively to make a significant impact in the community.

The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants, offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the EPA, aim to enhance water quality and restore vital habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding is available through two programs: SWG Implementation grants for direct on-the-ground actions, and SWG Planning and Technical Assistance grants to support community-based efforts. Projects must align with specific program priorities to qualify for funding.

The Fund for Women of the Southern Tier grants support programs aimed at empowering girls and women through education and health initiatives. Managed by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, this fund offers competitive grants to eligible non-profits and individuals in Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties. Award amounts can reach up to $2,500, aimed at removing barriers to educational pursuits and enhancing overall community wellness.

What We Do

Since our creation by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest private conservation foundation. We work with both the public and private sectors to protect and restore our nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations.

NFWF supports conservation efforts across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Since our founding, we've funded over 23,300 rigorously evaluated projects, awarded to both large environmental organizations and small local initiatives. We do not fund advocacy or litigation, and do not conduct membership campaigns. Instead, we focus on achieving results and building a better future for our world.

Chesapeake Bay Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership, is soliciting pre-proposals through the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction (INSR) Grants program to improve water quality and reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams. Major funding for the INSR Grants program is provided by EPA, with other important contributions from Altria Group, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the U.S. Forest Service. 

The Julie Ellison Delgrosso Scholarship, offered by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., aims to support women business owners in Chemung County who have been in business for over three years. This scholarship addresses barriers to growth and facilitates necessary changes in existing businesses, promoting creative solutions to meet the holistic needs of the community, including education and wellness.

The Allan S. and Maureen A. Costello Memorial Scholarship aims to address contemporary needs through diverse funding avenues and community awareness. This unique foundation focuses on the holistic well-being of the community, encompassing education, arts, infrastructure, animals, the environment, and wellness. By fostering creative solutions, the scholarship not only supports individual aspirations but also nurtures the collective growth of the community, ensuring a brighter future for all.