The Central New York Community Foundation wants to know: “What matters to you in Central New York?” Submit a creative entry that answers that question and you could be selected to direct a $500 grant to the local nonprofit organization of your choice.
Entrants to the What Matters to You? Contest are encouraged to take a compelling photo, write an inspiring story or produce an emotional video that explains why they care about their chosen cause.
Entrants should also consider how the community would benefit if we could ensure that key local resources like our local non-profit organizations are able to continue to thrive and support future generations of Central New Yorkers. Entries in the form of photos, videos or written stories will be accepted until Friday, November 11 on the contest’s website at http://www.cnycf.org/whatmatters.
A panel of third-party judges will determine the top five entries based on demonstration of creativity, storytelling effectiveness and its likeliness to inspire others. The five winners will each have the opportunity to direct one $500 grant to the nonprofit of their choice. The Community Foundation will feature a short profile about their entries on its 5forCNY website, found at 5forCNY.org. The charities designated by the winners must be qualified tax-exempt, not-for-profit organizations and must also serve residents and communities within Onondaga, Oswego, Cortland, Madison or Cayuga counties.
The Community Foundation plans to announce the winners on Giving Tuesday, November 29, a global day of giving designed to celebrate and provide incentives to give. Some or all of the submitted entries will also be on display in an online gallery for people to view and share.
“We hope that giving people the opportunity to share stories about the issues and causes that matter to them will spark interest in others,” said Jennifer Owens, Community Foundation vice president for development and marketing. “Encouraging conversation and raising awareness about what matters will help our community to organize resources around the protection of those good things.
Thinking long-term about how to save what is precious to us is important if our community is going to thrive.”
The What Matters to You? Contest is an extension of the Community Foundation’s 5forCNY public awareness campaign. Stemming from a transfer of wealth study, the organization is asking community members to consider ensuring the causes that matter to them are secured for generations by including support for local charity in their estate plans. More information can be found at http://www.5forCNY.org.
Established in 1927, the Central New York Community Foundation encourages local philanthropy by supporting the growth of permanent charitable endowments for the betterment of the region. The Community Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in the region with assets of nearly $193 million. It awarded $11 million in grants last year to nonprofit organizations. Since its inception, it has invested nearly $150 million in the community. The Community Foundation serves as the steward of charitable legacies for individuals, families and businesses through the administration of more than 700 funds. The organization also serves as a civic leader, convener and sponsor of special initiatives designed to strengthen local nonprofits and address the region’s most pressing challenges.