About Us
Philanthropy, by and for the public
With more than $35 million in assets, Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. is home to more than 130 individual charitable funds - each with a purpose that mirrors our donor's particular philanthropic goals. Our strong infrastructure, holistic view of our community, and ability to build partnerships ensure that we practice the art of effective grant-making to promoting solutions that address our community's greatest needs and serve the common good.
For over 30 years, the generosity of donors from all walks of life has made the work of the Community Foundation possible. Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization classified as a publicly supported 501(c) (3) charity under the Internal Revenue Code. We are governed by a community-based, volunteer board of directors and administered by professional staff.
What is a Community Foundation?
A community foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit, autonomous, publicly supported, philanthropic institution composed of permanent funds established by separate donors for a defined geographic area. Community foundations provide an array of services to donors who wish to establish endowed and non-endowed funds without incurring the administrative and legal costs of starting independent foundations.
View our most recent 990 (pdf) and Audit report (pdf).
Community Foundation’s Grantmaking Strategy
Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. provides a vehicle for individuals, families, companies and organizations to invest in the future of the Chemung Valley community and its people. Community Foundation is a public charity that awards grants to non-profit organizations whose programs:
- Offer creative responses to the community’s most pressing needs and concerns;
- Are preventative and farsighted rather than remedial;
- Maximize the impact of relatively modest grants;
- Increase access and opportunities for people from low-income or underserved segments of the community;
- Involve cooperation or collaboration among program providers.
The Region We Serve
We serve the counties of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates in the Southern Tier of New York State.
