CFGC provides support to nonprofits throughout Greene County
The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC) is a nonprofit organization responsible for managing and distributing funds to various charities in the community.
“Our funds go out in four different ways,” said David Calvario, executive director of CFGC. “We have scholarships for students going on to post-secondary education, we have community grants in which nonprofits in our footprint can apply to meet a need, and we have donor-designated funds, which is setting up a specified fund with us to go to a particular organization each year.”
In addition, the CFGC maintains donor-advised funds which are funds endowed for a particular category.
For example, if a family wants to donate to youth organizations, when such an organization expresses a need, the CFGC can reach out to that family for assistance.
The CFGC’s mission is not only to manage and distribute funds but also to be a true partner with organizations in the community.
“We want to be a leader and a bright spot in our community. For example, we know there’s a national shortage of trade workers out there so we’re working with the Greene County Career and Technology Center,” Calvario said.
That includes helping to determine how the community can increase enrollment, what new programs can be launched to assist young education seekers, and what kind of training is necessary for up-and-coming job opportunities.
“We want to create better paying jobs for our youth, allow them to have a voice, and chase their dreams,” Calvario said. “At the same time, we, as a community, need to help stop some of the bleeding we’re experiencing; the ‘brain drain’ we’re seeing in the younger generation.”
The ‘brain drain’ he’s referring to is when a highly trained young person leaves their hometown to find a better paying job elsewhere.
To stop that, Greene County officials hope to create training, education and high-wage jobs to entice them to work locally.
Another program the CFGC assists is the local 4-H program.
“Our 4-H programming is a big deal here, and we’re invested in that. We want our youth to learn about leadership, caring for animals and others, and we hope to raise funds for this particular program as well as finding leadership and mentors to lead the program,” Calvario said.
While families or organizations can create an endowment for a charity in honor of a loved one, donors can also get behind a smaller, yet just as powerful contribution.
“The Weekend Backpack program is in all five school districts. This is a program that funds food sent home with children who qualify for free or reduced lunch,” Calvario said. “We have a lot of food insecurity here and we want to make sure that our youth have something to eat whether they are in school or not.”
It’s been nearly 25 years since the CFGC was formed.
In 2024, they plan to hold a 25th anniversary philanthropy dinner among other celebrations.
For a full list of nonprofits the community can support or to learn more, visit http://www.cfgcpa.org/.