The Schenectady Foundation, established in 1963, is dedicated to benefitting the health and well-being of those who live and work in Schenectady County, NY. It aims to be a catalyst for community change through supporting projects with the potential to cause significant impact in focus areas including food security, neighborhood revitalization, addressing emergent needs, and innovative initiatives.
The Schenectady Foundation Grants program plans to invest $2 million in projects that promise significant community impacts, supporting initiatives such as the Equitable Access to Healthy Food (EAT Healthy Food) Initiative, Neighborhood Revitalization, emergent needs, Schenectady’s Thriving Neighborhoods Challenge, and more. Investments are broken down into: $900,000 for healthy food access, $615,000 for neighborhood projects, $330,000 for emergent needs and open grants, $180,000 for micro grants and special initiatives, and $40,000 for scholarships. The Foundation seeks projects that are transformative and can demonstrate measurable outcomes. Its impact statements guide applicants in project proposals that align with the Foundation's mission to improve food security, neighborhood conditions, support for key organizations, and innovation through micro grants. The Micro Grant program provides up to $10,000, usually between $3,000 to $6,000, for planning, research, or pilot projects with a simplified application process. Matching conditions may apply for some grants.
The Foundation is more inclined to support grant applications that complement their funding with additional financial sources, rather than depending entirely on the Foundation's grant to cover the entire cost of a project.