Sustainable Finger Lakes

10/07/2026

You know your community best. Have an idea for a project that would serve you and your neighbors? We want to help you bring it to life!

Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for our Neighborhood Mini-Grant program in Seneca, Schuyler, and Yates counties!

The Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program was designed to stimulate resident-based, grassroots initiatives that improve quality of life and long-term health in local communities, promote environmental stewardship and local resilience, generate collaboration between differing groups, and create opportunities for leadership and civic engagement.

Since launching the program in 2008, Sustainable Finger Lakes has awarded more than $100,000 in over 250 grants to innovative grassroots projects throughout Tompkins County and more than $5,000 in 11 grants to projects in Seneca, Schuyler, and Yates Counties.

Grants range from $150 to $750 and support initiatives promoting sustainable food systems, alternative transportation, waste reduction/reuse, energy conservation/fossil fuel use reduction, environmental education, community development, and/or addressing social and economic inequality.

Proposals are reviewed twice a year by a team of community representatives from each county. The Seneca and Keuka Watersheds Chapter is sponsored by AES Renewables and Power, the Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund, the Park Foundation, and local donors.

Individuals, organizations, and neighborhood groups are welcome to apply, as are local microbusinesses seeking to green their operations or extend their products or services to low-income clientele. Priority is given to small and/or new entities with relatively few sources of financial support.

Applications must be received on or before November 1, 2026.

Prospective applicants may call (607) 272-1720 or email [email protected] to request an application form or ask questions.

For more information, visit our website: https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/neighborhood-mini-grant-program/neighborhood-mini-grant

09/21/2026

Sustainable Finger Lakes helped make our upcoming Foam collection drive possible!
Apply for your sustainably-minded project by October 1st!!

09/14/2026

Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for our Neighborhood Mini-Grant program in Tompkins, Cortland, and Cayuga Counties! You know your community best. Have an idea for a project that would serve you and your neighbors? We want to help you bring it to life.

The Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program was designed to stimulate resident-based, grassroots initiatives that improve quality of life and long-term health in local communities, promote environmental stewardship and local resilience, generate collaboration between differing groups, and create opportunities for leadership and civic engagement.

Since launching the program in 2008, Sustainable Finger Lakes has awarded more than $100,000 in over 250 grants to innovative grassroots projects throughout Tompkins County. Grants range from $150 to $750 and support initiatives promoting sustainable food systems, alternative transportation, waste reduction/reuse, energy conservation/fossil fuel use reduction, environmental education, community development, and/or addressing social and economic inequality.

Proposals are reviewed twice a year by a team of community representatives from each county. The Cayuga and Owasco Watersheds chapter is sponsored by AES Renewables and Power, Park Foundation, Craig Riecke, and local donors.

Individuals, organizations, and neighborhood groups are welcome to apply, as are local microbusinesses seeking to green their operations or extend their products or services to low-income clientele. Priority is given to small and/or new entities with relatively few sources of financial support.

Applications must be received on or before October 1, 2026.
Prospective applicants may call (607) 272-1720 or email [email protected] to request an application form or ask questions.

For more information, visit our website: https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/2026/09/07/neighborhood-mini-grants-now-available-in-cayuga-cortland-and-tompkins-counties-applications-due-october-1/

08/15/2026

On the Rights of Nature movement, from an American law professor's 1972 article to the fight against fracking in Pennsylvania to the laws passed in countries across the world.

Image: Elizabeth Keokosky. Photo provided by Tompkins Weekly (2022).

(Tompkins Weekly, 8-12-26, by Elizabeth Keokosky) As early as 1972 American law professor, Christopher Stone wrote a detailed, 52-page, seminal article, “Should trees have standing – toward legal rights for natural objects.” Stone writes, “Throughout legal history, each successive extension ...

08/15/2026

After the 2025 halt in federal food benefits, and continuing in a long-term state of increased need, the Fall Creek Elementary School community has been working together to keep the school's students fed.
https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/2026/07/07/fall-creek-for-food-futures/

Image: Tompkins Food Futures logo

(Tompkins Weekly, 7-7-26, by Charles McKenzie) When federal food benefits were cut over the past year, the impact didn’t fall evenly — it landed hardest on children in households already stretched thin by low wages and the rising cost of living. Families who were already walking a tightrope soon...

08/04/2026

Neighborhood Mini-Grants for initiatives in Steuben, Chemung, and Tioga Counties are available for the first time! Applications are due SEPTEMBER 1.

Sustainable Finger Lakes is accepting applications for our first-ever round of Neighborhood Mini-Grants in Steuben, Chemung, and Tioga Counties. Local residents often know best what projects would improve quality of life for their neighborhoods, but need a little help covering the costs, and we hope...

07/07/2026

In May, the Keuka and Seneca Watersheds Chapter of our Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program awarded $2,821 in five grants to locally-run initiatives connecting community voices, sharing resources, building waters security, and reducing waste in rural villages in Yates and Seneca Counties.

In May 2026, the Keuka and Seneca Watersheds Chapter of the Sustainable Finger Lakes Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program awarded $2,821 in five grants to locally-run initiatives connecting community voices, sharing resources, and reducing waste in rural villages in Yates and Seneca Counties. Dundee Cent...

07/01/2026

Sustainable Finger Lakes names new deputy director ⬇️

06/24/2026

06/24/2026

Today's the day! Stuff Swap 2026 is here, starting at 5 pm.

Bring any clean, useful, usable items you'd like to keep out of the waste stream over to the library a little before 5 pm and we'll get it on display. Or, just come browse if you're in the market for anything.

Remember that we'll also have representatives on hand from Sustainable Finger Lakes, Zero Waste Ithaca, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County to share information and knowledge from their organizations. Come say hey to them!

We're expecting another great year of reducing waste and clutter, and building community connections!