The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) serves as a vehicle for giving within its region, assisting those with a charitable interest to establish and distribute funding to community needs. Since its inception in 1999, CFOS has distributed over $13 million in grants and educational scholarships.
As a partner in philanthropy, CFOS was the recipient of two Dyson Foundation grants during 2019 – a multi-year general operating support grant and a program support grant – which serve as examples of the Foundation’s giving theme, Strengthening Nonprofits.
In addition to covering the cost of day-to-day operations, general operating support allows an organization to grow and expand its reach within its community. During 2019, CFOS completed a three-year strategic plan, primarily focused on growing the assets of the Foundation. General operating funds allowed the organization the flexibility to support this plan in a variety of ways, including providing for staff professional development, technology enhancements, marketing and communications improvements, and a coordinated focus on fund development efforts.
The Dyson Foundation also provided program funding to CFOS to support Hudson Valley Gives. This region-wide, online day of giving provides Hudson Valley nonprofits the opportunity to raise funds through a collaborative marketing program. CFOS has organized and managed this annual day of giving since its inception in 2016. In 2019, this effort resulted in over 2,900 donors contributing a total of $405,611.