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Stephanie Crispinelli Fund Established
The family of Stephanie Crispinelli has established the Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Fund in her memory. Stephanie was one of a group of students and faculty from Lynn University of Boca Raton, Florida, who had just arrived in Haiti when the earthquake struck on January 12, 2010. The group was there to participate in the "Journey of Hope" program with the nonprofit organization Food for the Poor. This Fund will continue Stephanie's legacy of caring and giving by supporting charitable, educational and scientific projects.  Donations may be made to: The Stephanie Crispinelli Humanitarian Fund, Westchester Community Foundation, 200 North Central Park Ave, Suite 310, Hartsdale, NY 10530.
 
2010 Grants Opportunities
The Competitive Grants Process for 2010 has been announced.  Click here for more details.
 
Grants in 2009

The Westchester Community Foundation made $1,854,403 in competitive grant awards to local nonprofits during 2009.  These grants were made possible through the generosity of past donors who established permanent, charitable funds with us during their lifetimes or through their wills. This brings the total of all grants made in 2009 to $4,121,251. Click here to see the competitve grant awards.
 
Business & Private Foundation PDF Print E-mail

What Is the Westchester Community Foundation?

The Westchester Community Foundation (WCF), a division of The New York Community Trust, is one of 650 community foundations around the nation:

  • The WCF manages and administers charitable funds for individuals, families, and businesses, allowing donors to focus on their philanthropy, not on the paperwork.
  • The WCF awards grants to support nonprofit organizations located through Westchester and the United States.

The WCF has been making a difference in Westchester since 1975.

Corporate Giving Through the WCF

  • Less expensive than a private foundation or salaried staff
  • Corporate recognition for all charitable donations
  • Fund choices that allow a broad range of participation
  • All paperwork, accounting, and administration done by WCF and The New York Community Trust
  • Investment management by The New York Community Trust
  • Due diligence performed by WCF and Trust staff

Why Consider Opening a Business Fund In The WCF?

The Westchester Community Foundation offers an economical and flexible way for businesses to support nonprofit organizations where their customers and employees live and work. As a division of The New York Community Trust, which manages nearly $2 billion in assets, the WCF benefits from the Trust's investment management services, familiarity with national and regional nonprofit organizations, and its reputation. With these resources behind the WCF, staff can focus on understanding Westchester and providing personalized services to our corporate and individual donors. Although it's the "Westchester" Community Foundation, donors may also direct their philanthropy nationally.

A fund at the WCF can significantly reduce the costs of charitable giving while maintaining high corporate visibility. WCF offers a variety of giving options, detailed knowledge about the nonprofit sector in Westchester, investment management of the corporate charitable fund, and specific information about individual Westchester charities.

Grantmaking can be tailored to meet an individual company's philosophy of giving. Businesses have the option to appoint their own committee to make grant recommendations, or may prefer that WCF staff bring projects to the company for funding consideration. Another option is to leave grant decisions to the WCF staff and Board in response to the County's critical needs. In all instances, grants may be given in the company's fund name to maximize corporate visibility and good will.

WCF and The Trust perform all administrative tasks:

  • Investment management of the charitable fund
  • Due diligence on proposed charities
  • Preparation of grant award letters
  • Issuance of checks
  • Quarterly statements reporting investment and grants activity

How Can The WCF Work With A Private Foundation?

The WCF works with private foundations in four ways:

  • WCF and private foundations work collaboratively to conceive and fund local and regional initiatives
  • WCF program staff can identify local nonprofit organizations to support in order to fulfill a foundation's articulated philanthropic goals
  • The annual mandatory payout can be transferred into a WCF fund
  • The assets of a private foundation can be transferred into a WCF fund

Working together to benefit Westchester

In addition to collaborating on regional initiatives, private foundations have opened donor-advised or field-of-interest funds allocating a portion of their annual philanthropy to support Westchester's nonprofit organizations. The WCF staff's understanding of the County has served these foundations well. One private foundation was interested in supporting programs that brought youth and senior citizens together. Through joint funding with WCF, several Westchester communities now enjoy nationally recognized intergenerational programs. Another foundation is allocating a portion of its annual giving to the WCF general grantmaking fund to support local efforts to build community.

Terminating a private foundation

If the vision of its founders fades, continued administration of a private foundation might become a burden to successors. A private foundation can be terminated and its assets transferred into a fund in WCF without incurring penalties. WCF takes over the management of investments and all administrative aspects of giving. Directors may remain involved as donor advisers to the fund so that they retain the fun part of giving.