Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County
Ithaca, NY · EIN 15-6018481. Reported 268 grants totalling $1,105,881 to 153 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $3,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $5,198; the smallest was $450 and the largest $19,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Inc | Ithaca, NY | $43,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sciencenter of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $43,100 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Paleontological Research Institute | Ithaca, NY | $42,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $35,325 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Foodnet Meals on Wheels | Ithaca, NY | $30,262 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $28,200 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Child Development Council | Ithaca, NY | $25,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| State Theatre of Ithaca Inc | Ithaca, NY | $23,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Finger Lakes Reuse Inc | Ithaca, NY | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Beverly J Martin School PTA | Ithaca, NY | $21,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Golden Opportunity | Ithaca, NY | $20,950 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Family & Children's Service of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $20,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Women's Opportunity Center | Ithaca, NY | $17,925 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Downtown Ithaca Children's Center | Ithaca, NY | $17,300 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Catholic Charities | Ithaca, NY | $17,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Food Bank of the Southern Tier | Elmira, NY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ithaca Community Childcare Center | Ithaca, NY | $14,750 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Brooktondale Community Center | Brooktondale, NY | $14,405 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| First Baptist Church of Enfield | Newfield, NY | $13,810 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Unity House of Cayuga County Inc | Auburn, NY | $13,700 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ithaca Community Recovery | Ithaca, NY | $12,160 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hospice & Palliative Care Service of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $12,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Kitchen Theatre Company | Ithaca, NY | $11,600 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Special Olympics New York | Albany, NY | $11,443 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Love Living at Home Inc | Ithaca, NY | $11,218 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lifelong | Ithaca, NY | $10,764 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Friends of Stewart Park | Ithaca, NY | $10,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Ithaca Voice | Ithaca, NY | $10,198 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Catholic Charities Food Bank of the Southern Tier | Elmira, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cayuga Medical Center Foundation | Ithaca, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Challenge Workforce Solutions | Ithaca, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southside Community Center | Ithaca, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Science Institute | Ithaca, NY | $9,565 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Ithaca Welcomes Refugees | Ithaca, NY | $9,543 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ithaca Children's Garden | Ithaca, NY | $9,530 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| 4-H Primitive Persuits of Cornell Cooperative | Ithaca, NY | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Longview | Ithaca, NY | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| William George Agency for Children's Services Inc | Freeville, NY | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Learning Web | Ithaca, NY | $8,870 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| NAMI Finger Lakes | Ithaca, NY | $8,780 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Free Science Workshop | Ithaca, NY | $8,658 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Second Wind Cottages | Ithaca, NY | $8,510 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Historic Ithaca Inc | Ithaca, NY | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mental Health Assoc in Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Human Services Coalition | Ithaca, NY | $8,347 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ithaca Health Alliance | Ithaca, NY | $8,150 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lansing Lunchbox | Lansing, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| New Roots Charter School | Ithaca, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $7,803 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wharton Studio Museum | Ithaca, NY | $7,741 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Area Congregations Together Inc | Shelton, CT | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Center for Transformative Action - Umbrella | Ithaca, NY | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cooperative Extension Association of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension | Ithaca, NY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming | Ithaca, NY | $7,366 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Family Reading Partnership | Ithaca, NY | $7,050 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Ithaca Community Radio Inc | Ithaca, NY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research | Ithaca, NY | $6,760 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Finger Lakes Toy Library | Ithaca, NY | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lansing Community Library | Lansing, NY | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension- Family & Community Development | Ithaca, NY | $6,375 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Ithaca Activities Center | Ithaca, NY | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland | Ithaca, NY | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Challenge Industries | Ithaca, NY | $5,750 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers Inc | Ithaca, NY | $5,660 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins & Cortland Counties | Ithaca, NY | $5,625 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hanger Theatre Center for the Arts of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $5,600 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Racker | Ithaca, NY | $5,136 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $5,125 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Open Doors English | Ithaca, NY | $5,120 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Advocacy Center of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Hands Universal | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Caroline After School Program Inc | Slaterville Springs, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Civic Ensemble Inc | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| College Initiative Upstate | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Community School of Music and Arts | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Unity Music Education Program | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Unity Music Education Program International | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franziska Racker Center | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Groton Community Health Care | Groton, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Groton Parks and Recreation | Groton, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hangar Theatre | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hospicare & Palliative Care Service of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shared Kitchen Ithaca Inc | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tompkins Learning Partners Inc | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ithaca Community Orchestra | Ithaca, NY | $4,876 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boyce Thompson Institute | Ithaca, NY | $4,800 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Amplify Equity Inc | Elmira, NY | $4,663 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Walking on Water Productions Inc | Groton, NY | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Finger Lakes Land Trust | Ithaca, NY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of Nypenn Pathways Inc | Horseheads, NY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Groton Community Cupboard Inc | Groton, NY | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Seeventh Art of Corporation of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $3,749 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friendship Donations Network | Ithaca, NY | $3,614 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Community Nursing School of Cayuga Heights | Ithaca, NY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Running to Places Theatre | Ithaca, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| SPCA of Thompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Youth Farm Project Inc | Ithaca, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Groundswell Center for Local and Food Farming | Ithaca, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Thompkins Learnings Partners Inc | Ithaca, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Groton Agricultural Advisory Board | Groton, NY | $2,280 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jm Murray Center Inc | Cortland, NY | $2,280 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wildlife Wishing Well | Ithaca, NY | $2,280 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wonderful Wheelchairs | Ithaca, NY | $2,280 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Transformative Action Inc | Ithaca, NY | $2,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Tompkins County Senior Citizens Inc | Ithaca, NY | $2,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Enfield Community Council Inc | Ithaca, NY | $2,174 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| College Mentors for Kids | Indianapolis, IN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| First Congregational Church of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mutual Aid Tompkins | Buffalo, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southworth Library Association | Dryden, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Sophie Fund | Erie, PA | $1,965 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Affiliated Choruses of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $1,850 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ulysses Philomathic Library | Trumansburg, NY | $1,800 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Stablework | Newfield, NY | $1,663 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cortland Community Matters | Cortland, NY | $1,662 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gadabout Transportation Services | Ithaca, NY | $1,662 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ithaca Public Education Initiative | Ithaca, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The History Center in Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ithaca and Tompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $1,310 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Encore Players Community Theater | Trumansburg, NY | $1,310 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Giac | Ithaca, NY | $1,310 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Thompkins County Workers Center | Ithaca, NY | $1,250 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Tompkins County SPCA | Ithaca, NY | $1,140 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Catholic Charities Tompkins | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cny Snap | Cortland, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Discovery Trail | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mental Health Association in Thompkins County | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Oar Opportunities | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Saoirse Pastures Inc | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service | Ithaca, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Trumansburg Education Foundation | Trumansburg, NY | $1,114 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Stay Wild Rescue | Trumansburg, NY | $1,113 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Mason James Owens Foundation | Trumansburg, NY | $1,113 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Vets in Nature Inc | Newfield, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way | Ithaca, NY | $850 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Family and Children's Service of Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $837 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Dryden Community Baseball | Dryden, NY | $831 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dryden Little League | Dryden, NY | $831 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lodi Food 4 All Pantry | Lodi, NY | $831 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lodi Whittier Library | Lodi, NY | $831 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beverly J Martin School | Ithaca, NY | $630 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Newfield Central School District | Newfield, NY | $630 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rc Buckley Elementary School | Lansing, NY | $630 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ladeen Case - Lansing School District | Lansing, NY | $550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lori Owens - Newfield School District | Newfield, NY | $550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Michele Cappelli - Lansing School District | Lansing, NY | $550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Varna United Methodist Church | Ithaca, NY | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Varna Community Association | Ithaca, NY | $450 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
58 of 153 (38%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 46%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Inc
AWARDS, CONTRIBUTIONS & OPERATIONS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 139 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | $237,560 | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 62 | $226,825 | $2,550 |
| 2023 | 48 | $214,103 | $4,654 |
| 2024 | 56 | $212,905 | $3,941 |
| 2025 | 61 | $214,488 | $2,600 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in New York. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $3,500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New York.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 97, Ithaca, NY, 14851. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 15-6018481 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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