Grant Opportunities
The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties views its funding awards to nonprofit partners as “community investments” that will create long-lasting positive impact. To learn more about our available community grants or to apply for community project funding, we encourage you to contact us today!
Introducing the Mohawk Valley Giving Guide!
The Mohawk Valley Giving Guide is a community-wide resource designed to bridge people looking to give with local nonprofit needs across our region. Through an easy-to-use online tool, the Giving Guide highlights nonprofit organizations and the specific projects, programs, or needs they are seeking support for. Each listing includes a brief summary of the organization’s funding request, helping donors better understand where their generosity can make an impact.
Nonprofits may submit requests for projects and programs with an immediate need for funding over the next 3-6 months of $2,500 or less, not including general support. Organizations can submit more than one request at a time. Login to the Grant Portal to submit an opportunity to the Giving Guide today!
Helpful Harvest Grant Round
The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties will host its Helpful Harvest Grant Round to help Herkimer and Oneida County nonprofits address food insecurity this holiday season. The Community Foundation is seeking applications from human service organizations whose primary operation is a food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter that provides pantry items or meals to residents.
Important Deadlines
- Submissions will be accepted starting Tuesday, September 1, 2026, through Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST)
- Award notifications will take place in October to enable recipients to plan for holiday, year-end, and weather-related use of the funds and distribution of funded items
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, groups fiscally sponsored by 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational organizations, public housing authorities, and faith-based organizations seeking support for projects/programs that address non-religious needs or issues, serving diverse constituencies without regard to religious affiliation
- Funding requests can be made for items such as:
- Food Products
- Care Packages
- Holiday-Related Meals
- Equipment/Supplies (ex: storage bins, carts, refrigeration equipment, etc.)
- Funding must meaningfully serve Herkimer and/or Oneida County residents
- Priority will be given to organizations whose primary operation is a food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter that provides pantry items or meals to residents
- Only one request will be accepted per organization
Ineligible Funding Requests
- Financial assistance, scholarships, or loans to individuals
- Funding for religious or faith-based specific programming
- General operating support, payroll
- Expenses already incurred (projects in process/already completed)
- Capital campaigns
Helpful Harvest Giving Guide
All eligible applicants to the Helpful Harvest Grant Round will also be featured in the Helpful Harvest Giving Guide, which will be shared with Community Foundation fundholders, donors, and the broader community. The Giving Guide, an online catalog that allows donors to explore and support the needs of local organizations, provides an additional opportunity for nonprofits to receive support during a critical time of year. Any funding received through the Helpful Harvest Giving Guide would be in addition to funding that may be awarded through the grant round.
Information provided on the Helpful Harvest Grant application will be used to populate the Helpful Harvest Giving Guide. The Helpful Harvest Giving Guide is expected to open after the conclusion of the grant round in mid-October and will remain open through December 31, 2026. Unlike the Community Foundation’s year-round Giving Guide, the Helpful Harvest version will not be limited to a specific request amount but instead will function as a means to highlight key partners working to address food insecurity.
Funding through the Helpful Harvest Giving Guide will be distinct from the Helpful Harvest Grant Round funding and will be distributed accordingly:
- Grants recommended by donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation will be paid as they are awarded
- Public credit card donations will be distributed in a single payment during the first week of January 2027
Please understand that an application or feature on the Giving Guide does not guarantee funding.
Herkimer County Grant Round
More details on the Herkimer County Grant Round will be available soon.