Schenectady Foundation Inc

TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION.

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS MADE:THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION, INC. PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING SUPPORT TO THE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS OF THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS AND PROCESSES, PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GRANT APPLICATIONS AND GRANTEES, REVIEWING AND EVALUATING APPLICATIONS, ENSURING DUE DILIGENCE AND FOLLOW-UP THROUGH GRANT REPORTING, TRACKING AND MANAGING GRANT CONDITIONS AND PAYMENTS.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ARE CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE WORK OF THE SCHENECTADY FOUNDATION, INC. NEW PRIORITIES ARE ADOPTED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE FOUNDATION. IN 2021 THE FOUNDATION'S INITIATIVES INCLUDED: 1) FOOD SECURITY: WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM ENSURES THAT MORE THAN 800 FOOD INSECURE CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT SCHENECTADY COUNTY RECEIVE A WEEKEND SUPPLY OF FOOD EACH FRIDAY. WEEKEND BACKPACK PARTNERS INCLUDE CITY MISSION OF SCHENECTADY, REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK, MVP HEALTH CARE, SEFCU AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT SCHENECTADY COUNTY. DURING 2021, THERE WERE 868 STUDENTS SERVED).NEIGHBORHOODS: A SECOND ROUND OF THE THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS CHALLENGE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP-LED NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS WAS INITIATED IN 2019 FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2020. IMPLEMENTATION, HAVING BEEN STALLED IN 2020 BY THE PANDEMIC, WAS ENERGIZED IN 2021. VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS PARTICIPATED, INVOLVING ABOUT 100 PEOPLE AND SERVING APPROXIMATELY 65,000 IN THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY. PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2021 UTILIZED $246,000 IN FUNDING.PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND RECOVERY: THE INITIATIVE CALLED "ONE SCHENECTADY" (FORMED IN 2020) CONTINUED TO ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS COVID WAVES LASTED THROUGH 2021. ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED IN HELPING PEOPLE FIND EMPLOYMENT, HELPING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WITH SAFETY ISSUES, CONTINUING TO HELP PAY FOR CHILDCARE, RENT AND UTILITIES FOR NEED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CONTINUING FOOD DELIVERY TO HOUSEHOLDS MOST AT RISK. THE SUPPORT USED $75,000 IN FUNDING. THE PROCESS INVOLVED OVER 150 VOLUNTEERS AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 65,000 RESIDENTS.SYSTEMS CHANGE: THE FOUNDATION INITIATED A NEW PROJECT - THE ONE SCHENECTADY SYSTEMS CHANGE. A CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY SCIENCE WAS SIGNED IN 2021 TO PURSUE THE COMPLEX UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS CHANGE AND HOW TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO IMPROVE OUR ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES BY CHANGING THE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE MAINTAINED CURRENT INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY. THIS WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF 150,000 RESIDENTS.BRIDGE THE GAP: TWO BRIDGE THE GAP SITES WERE CREATED IN 2020 FOR STUDENT LEARNING SPACES TO FILL THE GAPS THAT THE PANDEMIC CONSTRAINTS HAD PLACED ON IN-PERSON CLASSES. ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES AT THOSE SITES INCLUDED MEDIATION MATTERS (PEER MEDIATION AND CIRCLES) AND CREATE COMMUNITY STUDIOS (ART THERAPY). THESE INITIATIVES WERE SUPPORTED BY FOUNDATION GRANTS AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS.FOOD SECURITY: THE FOOD SECURITY EMPHASIS WAS EXPANDED IN 2021 BY THE CREATION OF A SCHENECTADY FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL. PARTNERS ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THIS GROUP INCLUDE THE SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SCHENECTADY COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, UNITED WAY, THE FOOD PANTRIES FOR THE CAPITAL DISTRICT, SCHENECTADY GREENMARKET, ELECTRIC CITY CO-OP, MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH, SCHENECTADY STREET SOLDIERS, AND SCHENECTADY URBAN FARMS. INITIAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS WERE HELD IN 2021 - NO FUNDING EXPENSES IN 2021.