Impacting Community

Overview

At Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, we’re dedicated to making real impact in our community to enhance the overall quality of life for all who call northern Chautauqua home. Through our initiatives, partnerships, and strategic grantmaking, our work fosters positive change throughout the community. Dive deeper into our efforts by exploring our blog section on Grants, where you can learn about the projects we’ve funded, and Stories of Impact, where you’ll find real-life accounts of how our work is making a difference. Discover the power of collective philanthropy and join us in building a brighter tomorrow, together.

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Impacting Community - Strategic Initiatives

We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in northern Chautauqua not only through strategic grantmaking but also through proactive initiatives and collaborative efforts. Committed to fostering transformational change, we engage in timely strategic initiatives and often forge partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals at local, regional, and national levels.

Mission: Building a better future for the women and girls of Chautauqua County.

Vision: A community that provides opportunities for our women and girls to thrive.

The NCCF is a cornerstone member of the Coalition of Chautauqua County Women and Girls, igniting change since 2013 under the visionary guidance of Jane Becker from the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation.

Samples of recent initiatives:

  • Women’s Giving Circle: Empowering collective generosity to fuel impactful change.
  • “Women and Girls in Chautauqua County 2013”: A study shedding light on challenges and opportunities.
  • Women2Women Coaching Program: Mentoring the next generation of leaders.
  • “This One’s for the Girls” Women’s Health Event: Promoting holistic well-being.
  • “Women and Girls in Sports” Event: Featuring icons like Nancy Lopez & Tara Vanderveer.
  • Discussion with Susan Straight: Exploring the rich narratives of womanhood in “In the Country of Women.”

Interested in becoming involved or learning more? Explore the website here.

Mission: To make Chautauqua County a place where everyone belongs and has opportunities to thrive, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

https://www.ywcajamestown.com/idea

We are one of the 50+ members of the IDEA Coalition. As a funder and essential stakeholder, we play a pivotal role in advancing the Coalition’s mission. NCCF Board and staff members directly support the work and provide a strong advocacy voice for the communities of northern Chautauqua. As the Coalition progresses, our dedication to advocating for the inclusive betterment of our entire community is unwavering.

About the Coalition: The IDEA Coalition of Chautauqua County is a dynamic force dedicated to amplifying the voices and addressing the needs of individuals who have long been marginalized, combating systemic racism, and rectifying social injustices within our community. Acting as a vital link between marginalized populations and the plethora of service organizations in Chautauqua County, our coalition is deeply rooted in anti-racist principles and the pursuit of broad social justice.

Goals:

  • Engage historically marginalized populations and identify barriers and concerns about belonging and thriving.
  • Prioritize issues/themes that emerge from those direct conversations.
  • Create space for collaboration and collective work across organizations and those directly impacted to help address identified barriers and concerns.

The LED Committee serves as a catalyst, convener, and coalition-builder among stakeholder organizations and individuals dedicated to advancing economic well-being in the northern Chautauqua region. Acknowledging the pressing need for strategic interventions to bolster the local economy, the LED Committee has influenced various initiatives aimed at laying the groundwork for economic success.

Over the past five years, the NCCF and the LED Committee have invested over $800,000 to fuel regional development and foster economic prosperity. Notable projects include:

Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG), ongoing since 2020
Great Lakes Experience Festival, 2017 to 2019
GO Bike Building Connectivity, 2023
North County Industrial Park Siting Analysis, 2023
NRG Feasibility Study, 2021
Small Business Revolution, 2020

A standout success story attributable to the LED Committee’s efforts is the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth (CCPEG). The NCCF played an essential role in establishing this influential organization, which has attracted millions of dollars to our community in a short period of time.

The Local Economic Development Committee is a standing committee of the NCCF.

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George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award

The George B. Weaver Jr. Footprints Award celebrates those who create footprints for others to follow, exemplifying the NCCF’s mission of enhancing northern Chautauqua County. Awardees demonstrate a history of community service, philanthropic endeavors, and activities that have made an impact as well as improved the social and cultural climate of the northern Chautauqua community.

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