STAR LAKE — Nonprofit organizations serving residents of the Clifton-Fine region may apply for grant support through the Clifton-Fine Community Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

The Clifton-Fine Community Fund is a permanent grantmaking resource that supports projects, activities, and initiatives enhancing the quality of life in the communities of Cranberry Lake, Fine, Oswegatchie, Star Lake, Newton Falls, and Wanakena.

The most successful projects and programs that garner support demonstrate clear and meaningful impact across the region.

This year, the geographic-specific fund will award up to $6,000 in grants.

Interested organizations are required to apply online through the Northern New York Community Foundation’s grant portal at nnycf.org/grants.

To be eligible, organizations must have active and federally classified status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Applicants without this classification are encouraged to partner with an eligible nonprofit. The Community Foundation collaborates with the Clifton-Fine Economic Development Fund to facilitate potential grant partnerships.

The Clifton-Fine Community Fund application will be available online Wednesday, June 1. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 22.

Seven projects received grant support totaling $6,000 from the Clifton-Fine Community Fund in 2021.

The range of work the community fund assisted included increasing access to books for local students, improvements to community spaces, bolstering arts programs, and more.

These grants were also supported, in part, by the Lester Allen and Stephen Moyer Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

The Clifton-Fine Community Fund is an opportunity for residents to give where they live, while impacting the region forever.

To build initial support for the fund, the Community Foundation awarded a $50,000 challenge grant.

By the end of 2014, donors from across the region came together to create a $100,000 community fund.

The Clifton-Fine Community Fund has awarded more than 30 organizations nearly $57,000 to support 53 projects and initiatives. 

Proposals to the Clifton-Fine Community Fund should clearly demonstrate projected impact on the community, economy, and tourism, as well as other funding partners involved in the effort.

Creative solutions to regional challenges are encouraged. Requests will also be evaluated based on the organization’s ability to implement and steward the project.

Applications may not be considered for work commencing prior to Oct. 1, 2022. Grant recipients will have up to one year from the date of the award to complete the project.

Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, at max@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, for more details on grant guidelines, the process to apply for grant support, and ways to make a gift to help build the Clifton-Fine Community Fund.