2025 Funding Opportunities

Closed 2025 UMF Grant Rounds:

April 1-30: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) (all applications to be submitted through the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties). This grant round is now CLOSED.

June 1-30: Stronger Together Grant Round highlighting the following themes: Building Strong Families, Community Building, and Healthcare and Special Needs. This grant round is now CLOSED.

September 15-19: Mohawk Valley Gives (held in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties). Thank you for supporting Mohawk Valley Gives 2025!

October 1-31: Advancing Education. This grant round is now CLOSED.

Additionally, grant opportunities related to Entrepreneurship, Strengthening Democracy, and Humanitarian Aid & International Development will be by invitation only.

UMF's 2026 Grant Strategy and Schedule will be available in early January. Please check back for updates as they are available.

Step 1 Login to Grant Process Portal

Step 2 Register Your Organization

Step 3 Select a Current Application (for more information on current applications, see 2025 Funding Opportunities tab)

Step 4 UpMobility Application Staff Review

Step 5 UpMobility Contacts Organizations With Final Decision

UpMobility Foundation Grant Application Procedures

UpMobility Foundation is dedicated to supporting initiatives that align with our mission. This page outlines the policies and procedures for applying for a grant from the UpMobility Foundation.

UpMobility Foundation reserves the right to amend these policies and procedures at any time. Applicants will be notified of any changes in a timely manner.

Eligibility Criteria

Application Process

The Application Process

Application Process: Eligible organizations will be required to complete an application. All applicants must be submitted via the Foundation's grants portal. Please navigate to the portal by using the "UMF Login" button in the header of this page. Applications will only be available if a grant round is being held or if an applicant has been invited to apply and has a password for the invitation-only application.
The required information will include:
- Project Description: A detailed overview of the project, including objectives, planned activities, and timeline.
- Project Innovation/Importance: Applicants will be asked to provide an explanation as to why the proposed project is important and/or innovative.
- Budget: A comprehensive breakdown of funding request, including detailed expenses and other potential funding sources.
- Implementation Plan: A structured plan outlining key milestones, responsibilities, and execution strategies.
- Evaluation Plan: A clear methodology for assessing the project's success and impact.
- List of Collaborating Organizations: UpMobility seeks to amplify the impact of the work supported by the Foundation. UpMobility believes that, through partnerships, organizations can maximize impact and efficiency, leverage resources, innovate, and ultimately lead to greater positive change. As such, applicants are encouraged to include collaborative partnerships for all UpMobility-supported projects.
- Sustainability: UpMobility is interested in supporting projects that will not be solely dependent on Foundation funding. Applicants will be required to discuss how program activities will continue after the conclusion of the grant.
- Supporting Documents: Required documents may include proof of nonprofit status or financial statements.

Review Process

Comprehensive Review: The Foundation’s team will conduct a thorough evaluation of all submitted applications using a rubric. The review will include a Guidestar Charity Check to validate the organization's 501(c)3 status.
Site Visits/Interviews: As part of the review process, a site visit or interview may be conducted by Foundation staff.
Final Decision: Funding decisions will be based on the Foundation’s themes and funding priorities for the year. The UpMobility Foundation Board makes all final funding decisions.
Notification: Applicants will be informed of the funding decision via email in a timely manner, usually within 4-8 weeks after the deadline.

Grant Award & Reporting

Advancing Education

Building Strong Families

Community Building

DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging)

Entrepreneurship

Freedom & Government/Democracy Reform

Healthcare & Helping Those with Special Needs

Humanitarian Aid & International Development

Community Building

Small but Mighty: Holy Family Parish Triumphs in Mohawk Valley Gives Campaign

This Fall, the Mohawk Valley Gives campaign, co-run by the UpMobility Foundation and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, raised over $6.5 million for over 300 nonprofits.

Announcing UpMobility Foundation's Partnership With the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties

UpMobility Foundation is excited to announce our new partnership with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. Starting this month, we’ll be operating under the Community Foundation’s umbrella as a way to strengthen our organizational capacity and expand our impact. By tapping into the Community Foundation’s extensive network and learning from their innovative approach to grantmaking, we’re positioning ourselves to make an even greater difference for our grantees.

Our commitment to supporting grant partners beyond our local area remains strong, and we’re eager to explore new ways to connect resources and ideas from Upstate New York to our nonprofit partners nationwide.

On Point For College
Advancing Education

UpMobility Foundation's Partner On Point for College Featured in the New York Times

LupWay Doh has a passion for helping others.

Young Scholars
Advancing Education

UpMobility Foundation Helps Pick Next Cohort of Young Scholars

On April 26, UpMobility Foundation’s Andrea Babinec participated in the annual selection committee at Utica University to find the next cohort of Young Scholars.

Community Building

UpMobility Foundation Stands Behind Our Veterans

Mohawk Valley Gives

UpMobility Foundation Joins Forces with the County Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties for MV Gives University

Community Building

UpMobility Foundation Connects Two Upstate Nonprofits to Give Utica Youth Exposure to the Arts

Civics Unplugged
Advancing Education

Civics Unplugged In Person Fellowship Is a Success!

Leatherstocking Council, BSA
Community Building

UpMobility Invests In Future Leaders

Bluegrass, Brews & BBQ Festival
Community Building

UpMobility Foundation Boosts Bluegrass, Brews & BBQ Festival

Water Mission
Humanitarian Aid

UpMobility Foundation Looks Long-Term in Providing Aid to Ukraine

Young Scholars
Advancing Education

UpMobility Foundation Helps Young Scholars Create an Online Platform for Their Alumni

Pop Warner Football
Community Building

UpMobility Foundation Teams Up With Little Falls Pop Warner Football to Provide New Uniforms

Bridging Divides

UpMobility Foundation Strives to Bridge the Divisions That Threaten America

Unite America
Democracy Reform

UpMobility Foundation Joins with Unite America to Support Democracy Reform

On Point For College
Advancing Education

On Point for College and Young Scholars Partner to Get Students Over the Finish Line and Into College

Right to Start
Entrepreneurship

UpMobility Foundation Partners with Right to Start to Promote Entrepreneurship

UpMobility News

Dave Read Named Latest Member of UpMobility Board

Entrepreneurship
More Good Jobs

More Good Jobs Community Works to Build Entrepreneurial Networks

ARC Herkimer
Healthcare & Helping Those with Special Needs

ARC Herkimer Leader in Employing Developmentally Disabled in the Mohawk Valley

Entrepreneurship
Million Dollar Women
DEIB

Million Dollar Women Helps Empower Women of Color Entrepreneurs

Advancing Education
Little Falls City School District

How UpMobility Foundation Made Remote Learning Happen in the Little Falls City School District

UpMobility providing assistance in Haiti

Humanitarian Aid
Food for the Poor

UpMobility Steps Up to Help Haiti in the Aftermath of Catastrophic Earthquake

On Point For College
Advancing Education

UpMobility Partners with On Point for College to Provide Laptops to Students in Need During Pandemic

Humanitarian Aid
Food for the Poor

UpMobility's Investment in the Bahamas Hurricane Relief Water Purification System Stands Up Against Another Threat

Community Building
Little Falls City School District

UpMobility Foundation Works to Build Community Through its Support of Little Falls High School Alumni Website

Community Building
Little Falls Public Library

UpMobility Foundation Strengthens its Support of Little Falls Public Library in the COVID-19 Era

Root Farm
Healthcare & Helping Those with Special Needs

UpMobility Foundation Partners with Central New York’s The Root Farm to Help the Mohawk Valley Through the Pandemic

On Point For College
Advancing Education

UpMobility and Founder Martin Babinec Receive the 2020 Foundation of Hope Award

Humanitarian Aid
Food for the Poor

UpMobility Foundation Partners With Food for the Poor to Give 175,000 Meals to Jamaicans

Root Farm
Healthcare & Helping Those with Special Needs

UpMobility Foundation Grantee The Root Farm Closes Out 2020 on a High Note

Entrepreneurship
Defy Ventures

UpMobility Foundation Announces Support of Defy Ventures

Humanitarian Aid
Food for the Poor

UpMobility Helps Fund Bahamas Hurricane Relief Water Purification System

Community Building

UpMobility Puts on Concert in Little Falls Featuring Grammy-Nominated Danielle Nicole

Young Scholars
Advancing Education

UpMobility Funds the 2020 Young Scholars Graduate Leadership Development Program

Entrepreneurship

UpMobility Partners with Nonprofit Organizations to Fund Rutgers University's Global Entrepreneurial Experience Scholarships

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