Special and Urgent Needs Fund

The Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) Fund is a responsive grantmaking program operated by the Adirondack Community Foundation, formerly known as the Adirondack Foundation. Based in Lake Placid, New York, the foundation serves the broader Adirondack region and focuses on enhancing community well-being through targeted philanthropy and grantmaking. The SUN Fund was established to assist nonprofit organizations and public agencies in addressing emergent needs that arise unexpectedly and may jeopardize service delivery or community stability. This fund is designed to provide small-scale, rapid-response financial support in critical situations that demand immediate intervention. The purpose of the SUN Fund is to help eligible organizations manage sudden challenges or crises through grants typically ranging from $250 to $2,500, with the possibility of larger grants in exceptional cases. The fund prioritizes needs such as emergency repairs to buildings or equipment when insurance does not cover the damage, critical training or resources required in response to crises (e.g., trauma-informed care after a disaster), or replacement of essential materials lost due to extreme events. Funds are not intended for ongoing operational needs or routine maintenance, but rather for immediate response to pressing, unforeseen situations. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations classified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as public agencies and municipalities. The applicant organization must either be based in or serve populations within the Adirondack region. For this fund, the Adirondack region is defined to include Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton counties, as well as the parts of Herkimer, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington counties that fall within the Adirondack Park boundary, and the Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation. All applicants must deliver services without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline. This continuous review cycle allows organizations to submit proposals at any time. Once an application is submitted, the review and decision-making process typically takes between two to three weeks. However, the foundation works diligently to disburse awarded funds within two weeks of making a decision, recognizing the urgent nature of the supported needs. The SUN Fund does not support applications from individuals or for-profit businesses unless the request aligns with specific criteria, such as aiding financially distressed business owners or combating community deterioration. It also excludes requests related to endowments, capital campaigns, debt retirement, ongoing capital expenses, budget deficits, or strategic planning. Equipment failures resulting from deferred maintenance and repeat funding for the same organization within a 12-month period are also ineligible. Interested organizations may apply through the Adirondack Community Foundation’s Online Grants Manager. For questions regarding the application process, Leslee Mounger, the Funds and Program Officer, can be contacted at leslee@adkcommunityfoundation.org or by phone at 518-523-9904. For information about donating to the fund, inquiries can be directed to Matt Donahue. The foundation’s mailing address is PO Box 288, Lake Placid, NY 12946, and its general contact number is 518-523-9904.