News from the Noteworthy from the Community Foundation of Otsego County
Spring Awards Focus Is on Our History
As we celebrate America 250, preserving our history and heightening our civic engagement have never been more important. In an age of growing disinformation, where AI slop and Internet memes are vastly influential, saving our real history, good or bad, is paramount.
With that in mind, the Community Foundation of Otsego County 2026 spring awards cycle is dedicated to civics education, historic preservation, and community service projects related to Otsego County history, with special consideration given to projects focused on celebrating America 250. In partnership with the Mildred Parish Foundation Fund at CFOC, we are allocating $100,000.00 for the spring cycle.
On March 5, representatives from Otsego County history-related groups (historical societies, museums) gathered to help CFOC develop criteria for its spring awards cycle. While most grantors decide internally how best to serve their nonprofits, we bring our partners in to tell us what works best.
It was a fun and enlightening gathering, with ideas shared, relationships built, and communities connected. These experts in the field provided insight and knowledge into creating robust and effective criteria for our awards cycle.
As a result, the 2026 spring awards cycle focuses on the following types of applications that include, but are not limited to:
- Workshops and education programs (for example, civic education, grave restoration, school programs, indigenous history, research, etc.);
- Archival and genealogical services support (including digitization of important documents);
- Historic markers and monument care;
- Exhibit and event support (excluding fireworks);
- Historic encampments and reenactments;
- Capital projects for historic buildings.
While special consideration will be given to America 250 projects, projects that focus on pre- and post-America 250 are welcome. Collaborative efforts (for example, purchase of digitization services or archival supplies) are strongly encouraged. The maximum award is $10,000.00.
As always, CFOC’s awards cycles are open to 501c3 nonprofits in, or serving, Otsego County. Further details and a link to the application can be found at https://cfotsego.org/spring-2026-awards-cycle/.
The deadline to submit applications is Friday, May 15.
Jeff Katz is the executive director of the Community Foundation of Otsego County.
