The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) improves the quality of life in the region by supporting nonprofit organizations and growing regional philanthropy. The organization has grown substantially in recent years, managing nearly $50 million in charitable assets compared to $29 million just five years ago. These assets represent a diverse mix of 420 active funds. CFOS has disbursed almost $30 million since it was founded in 1999.
Like many community foundations, CFOS provides guidance, education, and administrative support to a variety of constituents. CFOS helps individuals and families formalize their charitable giving and provides education to professional advisors. For nonprofits, it offers boards and staff guidance and professional development opportunities on a wide range of topics, and it awards grants. In its most recent fiscal year, it distributed almost $3.4 million in grants in the region. The greatest percentage supported education-focused activities (27%), followed by human services (17%), capital projects (17%), and youth development (13%), with the remainder supporting health, arts and culture, libraries, parks, and other fields. In addition, CFOS distributed $543,000 in scholarships to students from every school district in Orange and Sullivan counties as well as other areas of the region. These are primarily college scholarships for youth, but also include support for adult continuing education, vocational education, and certificate programs.
CFOS supports the sector in the region in several other ways. It is a member of the Hudson Valley Funders Network and a funding partner of the Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles with the Dyson Foundation, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. It also supports charitable giving in the broader Mid-Hudson Valley through Hudson Valley Gives, the annual regional day of giving that provides a platform and online fundraising training for hundreds of area organizations to raise money, increase awareness, find new audiences, and promote local philanthropy. CFOS started this annual day of giving in 2015 and has acted as coordinator and promoter of the event since. In 2023, the day raised over $700,000 for almost 200 organizations, and since its inception the event has raised $3.5 million for area nonprofits.
In 2023, the Dyson Foundation renewed multi-year general operating support to CFOS and designated support for Hudson Valley Gives.