Oswego, New York – The Richard S. Shineman Foundation has awarded grants totaling $256,256 to not-for-profit organizations in Oswego County during its Fall 2025 grant cycle. These grants will support initiatives in civic engagement, education, food insecurity, and youth development, furthering the Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life for residents in the region.
Community Enrichment and Community Impact Grants Include:
Art Association of Oswego: Awarded $1,000 for a new Emerging Artist program to support the development of an emerging artist residing in Oswego County who is just starting out in their career.
State Street United Methodist Church – Helping Hands: Received $1,200 to support the Helping Hands program, which provides food and toiletries to the community. Helping Hands prepares a monthly free-will dinner where the group also distributes bags of toiletries and household items.
Central Square Varsity Softball Team: Awarded $2,000 for a softball field sound system.
Restore CNY: Awarded $2,400 to run free weekly programming for seniors, including exercise sessions and social time.
Longhouse Council, Scouting America: Received $2,500 to provide handbooks and uniforms to scouts in Oswego County.
Oswego County Children’s Fund: Awarded $2,500 toward their 2025 Christmas Present Giveaway for families in Oswego County.
Citi BOCES: Received $5,000 to start an Inclusive Play Lending Library designed to provide equitable access to specialized educational toys and adaptive learning tools for children with multiple disabilities and developmental delays. This initiative includes a curated collection of sensory, motor, communication, and cognitive development toys that are often financially inaccessible or difficult to source.
Oswego Industries: Granted $5,000 for the Creative Connections program—an inclusive arts initiative that empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Oswego County through adaptive arts education and community engagement.
Fulton Girls Lacrosse: Awarded $5,700 to host a local Haudenosaunee speaker and lacrosse clinic to share the history and development of lacrosse as we play it today.
Neal Powless: Haudenosaunee History of Lacrosse and Clinic will be a community-wide event.
Hastings-Mallory Elementary School: Received $7,500 for the Helping Hands initiative to create a vital support system for HME students and families facing financial instability, food insecurity, and other stressors. Items such as food, hygiene and personal care products, comfort items, footwear, clothing, and laundry supplies for the in-school laundry room will be kept on hand for those in need.
Fulton Gauchos Colorguard: Granted $10,000 for competition and practice costs for the 2026 season. The main objective of Fulton Gauchos is to foster growth and interest in colorguard and the marching arts while promoting fellowship, leadership, determination, dedication, and confidence among youth in the City of Fulton and Oswego County.
CNY Lyme & Disease Alliance: Received $10,000 for tick-borne disease prevention and outreach in Oswego County. Outreach consists of 20 educational events for 2,000 residents covering prevention, symptoms, and treatment; the distribution of 2,000 tick kits and educational materials; an awareness campaign; and visits to new community organizations and schools.
Strategic Grant Awards Include:
Oswego City School District: Awarded $10,000 for Content-Based Field Experiences for K–8 Students to build students’ background knowledge, vocabulary, social-emotional competencies, and critical thinking skills while providing enrichment opportunities for students in Oswego.
Syracuse Orchestra: Granted $74,181 for a three-year initiative (2026–2028) that continues to bring live symphonic music to Oswego County.
Oswego County Opportunities: Awarded $35,000 for the Program to Assist Teenage Homeless (PATH). This support will ensure continuity of housing and services for vulnerable youth in Oswego County.
The MOST: Received $42,804 to bring a 45-minute classroom-based science demonstration and workshop to every sixth-grade student in Oswego County.
Fulton City School District: Granted $10,000 for Phase 3 of their community service project City and School Synergy. This is a student-led initiative to revitalize Fulton’s public spaces, transforming parks and common areas into safe, beautiful community hubs.
CAC Foundation, Inc.: Received $29,471 for their Case Management Expansion project, which will increase the organization’s capacity to assist children by providing trauma-informed support and crisis intervention.
“These grants represent more than funding—they represent our collective commitment to being catalysts for change in Oswego County. When we come together with shared purpose, we have the power to transform our community,” said Chena Tucker, Foundation Director of the Richard S. Shineman Foundation.
Shineman Foundation Announces New Grant Opportunities
In addition to these awards, the Shineman Foundation has announced that the Spring 2026 grant round will include Community Enrichment Grants, Community Impact Grants, and Strategic Grants. These grants provide funding opportunities for projects that align with the Foundation’s mission of enhancing and improving the quality of life for residents of Oswego County.
The Community Enrichment Grant provides up to $2,500 to support local events, programs, and activities that enhance cultural experiences and foster a sense of belonging.
The Community Impact Grant offers awards ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for initiatives addressing critical needs, including health, early childhood development, and the arts.
The Strategic Grant program is for requests exceeding $10,000 and requires a Letter of Intent (LOI) prior to submitting an application.
Access codes for LOI and grant applications will open February 23, 2026.
Access Codes are only provided after a preliminary grant consultation. Please email Kelly Green, Grant Program Coordinator, [email protected] to schedule.
About the Richard S. Shineman Foundation
The Richard S. Shineman Foundation strives to be a catalyst for change in Oswego County, committed to enhancing the quality of life through strategic philanthropy. We aim to be a beacon of positive transformation, igniting lasting change and leaving an enduring impact on the communities we serve.
For more information about the Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.shinemanfoundation.org or contact [email protected].
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