Kerr Mesner, Ph.D (he/him) is a consultant, facilitator, spiritual director, and the owner of Heart Story Consulting. Dr. Mesner is also a queer/transgender scholar, performing artist, and activist. He completed his Ph.D. in Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and taught for several years in Education and Women’s/Trans/Queer Studies. Through his company Heart Story Consulting, he supports nonprofits, schools, and higher ed institutions in creating spaces that honor diversity, with a particular focus on the work of celebrating gender diversity. Kerr believes deeply in the power of local community to connect, inspire, and create change. www.heartstoryconsulting.com.
Malia’Kekia Nicolini (‘oia/she/they) is kanaka maoli, they received their inoa (name) traditionally from an inoa po (mothers dream) that held both an inoa ho’ailona (symbol) and their inoa ulaleo (ancestors voice). Malia’Kekia is an artistic director, speaker, arts curriculum designer, consultant, and gratitude enthusiast. ‘Oia is the Co-Founder of Play Pathways Initiative specializing in teaching play-based strategies for the realms of education and business. Malia’Kekia is also the BOLD Co-Chair (Building Opportunity for Leadership and Development) for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 1. Training includes: artEquity’s BIPOC Leadership Circle, Arts & Cultural Organization Management (Harvard), BFA (Music Theater). Malia’Kekia weaves all of their experience together to empower dreams and create sustainability towards a play-integrated world. www.playpathways.com
We envision a thriving and enriching community for all. The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes works to address the current needs of the community through a multiple avenue approach to correct the problems that exist and find creative solutions to avoid the problems in the future. We award grants to non-profit organizations whose programs make a positive impact on the needs and issues that face our community.
To do this, we look for community members to volunteer as grant reviewers for the foundation’s largest grant cycle, the Community Grant Program. A group of 18-20 diverse mix of community volunteers, civic and nonprofit professionals, business leaders, and educators with unique knowledge and experiences are needed to help guide the Community Foundation’s grantmaking. Experience evaluating grant applications is helpful but is not required.
View and download the grant reviewer position description here.
To be considered for the volunteer role of grant reviewer, please fill out an application.
Questions? Please reach out to Sara Shaut, Vice President of Programs by emailing ses@communityfund.org
This sabbatical funding program provides the opportunity for executive directors to step fully away from day-to-day work responsibilities. During the leader’s absence, other staff will maintain operations and work with board members, committees, volunteers, and each other to assure the returning executive is not overwhelmed with tasks upon their return.
Executive Directors (or equivalent position such as President or CEO) with at least ten years of paid service to their current organization. The sabbatical period must be two to three months to be considered for funding.
Organization represented must meet the following criteria:
Include Chemung County NY in their service area but can reach a larger regional audience.
Have a current strategic plan in action.
Have a DEIB plan that includes board composition and operational goals.
Recipient of a Community Foundation grant within the prior five years.
Have staff in place that can assume duties associated with the executive’s absence that will benefit from an opportunity to assume some of the executive duties to bolster their own leadership development.
Continue to pay the executive their full salary, including all benefits, during the sabbatical period.
Selection and Participant Follow-Up
Applications are due November 1 and notification will be made by December 1. Members of the Community Foundation staff and board will serve on the selection committee.
If an applicant that meets all the stated criteria is not selected, they are encouraged to re-apply. Successful applicants cannot re-apply within ten years.
Follow-up
At the end of the sabbatical period, the executive will provide the Community Foundation with a brief written overview of the experience that includes:
Three personal and three professional takeaways for the future.
One “big picture” moment of clarity regarding the mission and/or operation of their organization.
One piece of advice for other executive directors in these three categories: new (1-2 years), experienced (3-8 years), and seasoned (9 years or more.)
Up to $10,000 will be awarded. These funds can be used for the following expenses:
Costs associated with airfare and lodging during travel, but not meals or other personal expenses.
Costs associated with personal development opportunities, such as retreats or workshops, that would not otherwise qualify as traditional staff development expenses.
Stipends for staff assuming additional responsibilities.
Fees associated with temporary contracted services directly related to fulfilling executive role.
Applications will be due November 1 and notification will be made by December 1.
Applicants will provide a written plan to detail how they will spend their time away from the organization and what they hope to accomplish. Travel is highly encouraged.
Other application materials will include:
The Twin Tiers Christian Service Fund provides two grant opportunities to support holistic and spiritual living for either residents or nonprofit organizations in Chemung and adjacent counties.
The Twin Tiers Christian Holistic Living Grant provides grants up to $2500 to education, healthcare, and/or human service organizations in Chemung and adjacent counties.
The grant may be used for events and programming that encompass a holistic living component. Funding may also support staff training in spiritual practices that will ultimately support and enhance their work in the community.
The Twin Tiers Christian Moving Up Grant provides funding support for individuals up to $500 who require financial assistance for basic needs, additional training/certifications, or other programs and services that will ultimately support and enhance their physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual growth..
The Twin Tiers Christian Service Fund accepts grant requests with a rolling deadline throughout the year. Individuals and/or organizations may submit requests for funding up to $2,500 (nonprofits) or $500 (individuals) through an online application. Notification of a grant award can be expected within 30 days after submitting.
Please make sure you’ve allowed plenty of time between submission, internal review, and notification of a grant, and the timing of your training, program and/or event.
Applications: rolling deadline, applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year.
Notification: no more than 30 days from submission
Individuals and/or nonprofit organizations may apply. Organization’s must be a registered 501(c)3 or have a fiscal sponsor. Individual/Nonprofit must be located in and serving the citizens of Chemung and/or adjacent counties of Upstate, New York. Grants are evaluated based on the availability of funds and community priorities.
Grant Applications are submitted online by using the online application form.
If you don’t already have a profile within the online grant system you will need to create one.
Once you’ve created a profile, you will be able to click Apply from the menu on the top of the page and then scroll through the available grant opportunities to select the Twin Tiers Christian Service Holistic Living or Moving Up grant.
To view a pdf of the applications, click below:
Nonprofit Organizations: Twin Tiers Christian Moving Up Grant
Individuals: Twin Tiers Christian Holistic Living Grant
To begin your application, click on the button below.
Questions? Contact the Vice President of Programs at 739-3900 or ses@communityfund.org.
Finland is widely considered to have the most effective educational system in the world. Sending a large group of local PreK through grade 12 teachers and staff to learn directly from their Finnish counterparts would be a community grant investment with the potential to impact generations of local students. It would also create new relationships among local educators in the short-term that would deepen partnerships between schools and districts.
The application process is open to educators in Chemung County that meet the following criteria:
Trip Details
June 5 – 13, 2023
| Day 1 | Travel to NYC by charter bus for a direct flight to Oulu. |
| Day 2 | Welcome to Finland! Arrive in time for dinner and to unpack and catch up on sleep. |
| Day 3 | Begin Finnish Education Study Tour – Gain an inclusive picture of Finnish education and the latest innovations in the field of education. Visit schools at all levels, observe in classrooms and speak to leaders, teachers, and students about the subjects represented on the trip. |
| Day 4 | Expert session on Early Childhood Education. Visit a daycare center, comprehensive school, and primary school. |
| Day 5 | Today the focus will be on the Finish curriculum and development of Learning Spaces, Science Education, STE(A)M and robotics and visit different schools in Oulu as well as an engaging discussion with local teachers |
| Day 6 | Visit the University of Oulu to research teacher training and competence development at the LEAF Laboratory, which focuses on the future of education |
| Day 7 | Fly to Helsinki for Helsinki city tour |
| Day 8 | Tour Suomenlinna Fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Day 9 | Travel back to NYC and ultimately home by charter bus. |
Selection and Participant Follow-Up
A panel of board members and community volunteers would review and select participants
based on the materials submitted by applicants and the desire to create a diverse cohort based
on:
• Grade level
• Years of experience
• Type of educator (i.e., grade level, special education, arts)
• Teacher demographics
• Student demographics
Participants will be required to document the experience in real-time through journaling, video,
audio, interviews, and other tactics. These experiences will be archived, summarized, and made
available to the public.
After the trip, participants will work in groups to develop a presentation of learning for various
district subcommittees. Examples of subcommittees include but are not limited to, groups
focusing on curriculum, social/emotional learning, and fostering psychologically safe and
affirming classrooms/schools. Content should connect to the New York State Culturally
Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework and the New York State Board of Regents’
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework and Policy Statement.
The goal will be to turn these presentations into recommendations by mid-August 2023 for potential implementation in the 2023-2024 school year.
In January 2024, participants will be surveyed to determine any changes they have made in
their classrooms as a result of the learning opportunity and assess the relationships
built/sustained.
The cost is $5192 per participant is covered entirely for 25 Chemung County educators and includes the following:
● Round trip airfare on Finnair
● Double hotel accommodations
● All meals
● Private transportation as per itinerary
● Five days of academic education and Finnish culture program
● Helsinki cultural experiences
● English Speaking tour manager during the tour
● Airport Transfers
The Community Foundation is covering the entire cost of 25 Chemung County educators.
School districts have agreed fund the expenses associated with substitute teachers and
participating administrators.
Applications will be accepted between November 18, 2022 and December 31, 2022.
Applicants or those wishing to nominate an educator, will need to complete the online application. Teachers can also be nominated by other district staff and administrators.
In addition to some basic questions, you’ll also need to provide:
To apply for a grant from one of the Community Foundation’s competitive grant cycles, please login to our online portal to access current applications. Grant applications are accepted annually. Guidelines and deadlines are publicized within each opportunity description.
Each proposal is reviewed by a panel of community members and formally approved by the foundation’s Board of Directors. Awards are determined based on the proposals value to the residents and communities of the Finger Lakes region as well as availability of funding, quality and vision presented in the application. For further information on the grants process, please contact the Vice President of Programs
Registered 501(c)(3) organizations.
Proposals from faith-based organizations will only be considered if:
(1) service benefits all, regardless of religion;
(2) service provided is not religious in nature; and
(3) there is no proselytizing associated with the service.
The Community Foundation generally does not make grants from unrestricted funds for the following:
Community Foundation administers eight main competitive grant cycles per year.
Grantees receiving $2,000 or more in competitive grant funds from at least one competitive program are required to submit a grant follow-up report. Grantees have at least one full year from the date of notification to complete the stated objectives in the application. The report process is designed to help our nonprofit partners share successes and opportunities for growth. If you have any questions about the reporting process or timeframe, please contact the Vice President of Programs at sep@communityfund.org.
Grant follow-up reports can be found by logging in to the online portal and accessed on your applicant dashboard. Reports are due October 1 every year.
Reports require a final budget report that can be downloaded here: Follow-Up Budget Form
This form is an Excel file.
Download and save this form to your desktop, complete it in full, save (as a PDF if you can), and upload into your application.
Program/Project Budget Template
This form is an Excel file.
Download and save this form to your desktop, complete it in full, save (as a PDF if you can), and upload into your application.
The Community Foundation has transitioned to making grant payments via Automatic Deposits (ACH) directly into the Organizations banking institution. If Community Foundation does not have an ACH form for the Organization or the Organization’s banking information has changed, follow these steps:
1. Download this Form.
2. Fill out completely and save the form to your desktop
3. If the organization has recently received a grant award and we do not have a form on file, upload the ACH form into the Grant Agreement & Acceptance Procedures process within the online grant system.
If the organization needs to update the ACH form that is on file, please email the new form to Sara at ses@communityfund.org.