The John Ben Snow Foundation Annual Report 2008 The John Ben Snow Foundation

ohn Ben Snow was born and raised in Pulaski, New York, a small village north of Syracuse. He Jgraduated from New York University in 1904 and soon thereafter entered F. W. Woolworth & Company. A man of vision, he was attracted to mass market sales and introduced innovative retailing techniques. He rose rapidly through the ranks from stock boy to corporate director, ini- tially in New York, and finally in Great Britain, where he accumulated a small fortune through hard work, savings and wise investments. After retiring from Woolworth in 1939, Mr. Snow devoted the remainder of his life to building the Speidel chain of newspapers and publishing the Western Horseman. He was fond of animals, especially horses, enjoyed John Ben Snow racing, fox hunting, polo and range riding. Throughout his THE DONOR life, John Ben Snow shared his wealth with relatives, friends, business associates and fellow Pulaskians. He gave generously and freely to those persons and causes he cherished. He pre- ferred to “invest” in people, especially the young, by making available financial assistance, primarly for education. He also believed in improving the quality of life in Pulaski and its environs.

To further these and other philanthropic causes, he established The John Ben Snow Foundation in 1948. The Foundation continues to operate under the terms of its original charter. The charter, granted by the State of New York, authorizes the Foundation to grant funds for education- al and humanitarian purposes to qualified organizations. The present membership of its Board, seven in number, includes persons of diverse occupational backgrounds and geographical areas. The Board meets once a year, usually in June, to approve new grants and review previously funded projects.

THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com 2 THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION

FUNDING POLICIES An initial letter of inquiry must be submitted on organiza- tion letterhead and received by January 1st of the year in The John Ben Snow Foundation is a private foundation which a grant is requested. The initial letter of inquiry governed by federal tax law and accordingly disburses funds should include the background of the organization, a to tax-exempt organizations approved by the Internal description of the proposed project detailing the time frame Revenue Service (IRS). The geographic focus of the and anticipated outcomes, and a high-level project budget. Foundation has primarily been Central and Northern New If the proposal meets the stated guidelines and priorities of York State, a policy that reflects the personal wishes of the the Foundation, a grant application form will be forwarded. founder. All grant applications must be submitted using the The mission of the Foundation is to make grants within Foundation grant application form and must be received by specific focus areas to enhance the quality of life in Central April 1st of the year in which a grant is requested. The fol- and Northern New York State. Historically, the lowing information must also be included with the formal Foundation has made grants in the following program grant application: areas: ✔Executive summary (not to exceed one page) ✔ Arts and Culture ✔Detailed project budget including itemized expenses ✔ Community Initiatives and sources of income ✔Education ✔Listing of the Board of Directors including names ✔Environment and board positions held ✔Historic Preservation ✔ ✔Journalism A copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS The Foundation responds to the ever-changing needs of ✔ various segments of the population of Central and Most recent audited financial statement Northern New York State, especially to the needs of young ✔Organization budget people and people who are disadvantaged either physically Failure to provide all of the required information will result or economically. in the rejection of the grant application. It is the Foundation’s general policy to give preference to The Foundation may require additional information and proposals seeking funds for new or enhanced programs, possibly an interview or site visit. Any discussions or indi- one-time, short-term grants to sustain a program until cations of interest should not be construed as a commit- funding is stabilized, matching grants used to encourage the ment by the Foundation. All complete grant applications participation of other donors, and “last dollars” towards a are carefully considered and evaluated by the Foundation. capital campaign. Applicants are notified in writing of the Foundation's deci- sion by July 1st. All approved grant applicants are required The Foundation will not accept proposals from individuals to sign and return a Grant Acceptance Agreement prior to or for-profit organizations. Additionally, the Foundation any funds being released by the Foundation. does not encourage proposals from religious organizations or proposals for endowments, contingency funding, or debt The Foundation will periodically consider off-cycle grant reduction. There are no minimums or maximum grant proposals for projects whose timing does not fall within the amounts; however, most grants range from $5,000 to standard grant application cycle. These proposals must be $15,000. submitted using the Foundation grant application form and must include all supporting documentation as noted above. GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES The funding for these proposals fluctuates yearly based on investment performance as well as prior grant commit- The Foundation is pro-active in seeking grant proposals ments. The grant seeker must contact the Foundation and from qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. Additionally, the obtain approval prior to submitting an off-cycle grant pro- Foundation accepts unsolicited proposals from qualifying posal. organizations.

THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com 3 THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES BOARD MEMBERS Because the Foundation assumes that the grantee has a David H. Snow, President moral and legal obligation to account for all funds received, Jonathan L. Snow, Vice President and Treasurer each grantee is required to submit a formal report account- Emelie M. Williams, Secretary ing for the expenditures of the grant funds by March 1st of Angus M. Burton Valerie A. MacFie the year after the approval of the grant. This report should Allen R. Malcolm Marilyn R. Melton include: Marion Hancock Fish, Grants Committee Member ✔ Executive summary (not to exceed one page) Ann M. Scanlon, Program Officer ✔Detailed narrative ✔Financial accounting ✔Relevant attachments All grant reports are reviewed by the Foundation. Any change in plans must be approved by the Foundation. If a grantee fails to submit a formal report, the Foundation reserves the right to request that the grant funds be returned. Additionally, further grants will not be consid- ered until a final report is received.

THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com 4 THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION

INANCIAL IGHLIGHTS F H Year Ending: 31 December 2007 Total Assets: ...... $ 9,161,464 Excise Taxes: ...... $ 15,959 Total Investment Revenue: ...... $ 1,741,403 Grants Paid: ...... $ 323,750

GRANTS APPROVED AT THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 2008 ANNUAL MEETING Cazenovia Area Community *Denotes matching grant Development Assoc., Inc – Cazenovia, NY .$ 6,000 Capacity building

ARTS & CULTURE Cortland Area Communities Center for the Arts of Homer, Inc. – That Care Coalition – Cortland, NY . . . . .$ 10,000 Homer, NY ...... $ 10,000 Family Reading Partnership of Cortland County Upgrade stage lighting (Phase I) Jim Marshall Farms Foundation, Inc. – Jazz Arts Chittenango, NY ...... $ 10,000 Foundation, Inc. – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 3,600 Multi-purpose building interior work Oswego County Scholarships Oswego County Humane Society – Geneva Concerts, Inc. – Geneva, NY . . . . .$ 11,000 Oswego, NY ...... $ 3,000 Taylor Dance Company 2-2008 Residency Capacity building

Handweaving Museum & Art Center – Rural and Migrant Ministry of Clayton, NY ...... $ 10,000 Oswego County Inc. – Richland, NY . . . . .$ 5,000 Renovation and expansion of Pottery Studio Capacity building and new medical equipment

Light Work – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 7,000 Unity Acres – Orwell, NY ...... $ 4,000 Photographic equipment - Cameras/Laptop/Printer Install energy efficient windows

Onondaga Community College WCNY Public Broadcasting – Foundation, Inc. – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 10,000 Syracuse, NY ...... $ 25,000 Jazz Fest youth programs Support for Digital Radio Broadcasting System

Society for New Music – Syracuse, NY . . . .$ 5,000 $63,000 Sound Designs - Composer residency in High Schools DISABILITIES AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund – Clayton, NY ...... $ 5,000 Edith B. Ford Memorial Library – Opera Intensive Program at Clayton Opera House Ovid, NY ...... $ 10,000 Accessibility and Fire Safety Project $61,600 Tully Free Library – Tully, NY ...... $ 4,000 Handicapped accessible automatic doors $14,000

THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com 5 THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION

EDUCATION Fort Brewerton Historical Society – Brewerton, NY ...... $ 5,000 Cayuga Community College Foundation – Replace pillars & fencing (Bollard Project) Auburn, NY ...... $ 15,000 Upgrade science laboratory at Fulton campus $20,000

Finger Lakes Land Trust – Ithaca, NY . . . .$ 8,000 JOURNALISM Brochure on Land Trust sites – School Press Institute – Museum of Science & Technology Syracuse, NY ...... $ 12,000 (MOST) – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 25,000 Scholarships Development of new science education exhibits $12,000 On Point for College – Syracuse, NY . . . . .$ 25,000 Program for at-risk students to attend college SPECIAL GRANTS Pulaski Academy & Central School – The Foundation Center – New York, NY . .$ 3,250 Pulaski, NY ...... $ ,800 Expand programs and services Academic Incentive Awards $3,250 Syracuse University - Maxwell School – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 10,000 YOUTH PROGRAMS John Ben & Vernon Snow Fellowships Friends of Oswego County Hospice, Inc. – Oswego, NY ...... $ 5,000 Syracuse University - Maxwell School Support for children at Camp Rainbow of Hope (IJPM) – Syracuse, NY ...... $ 5,000 Support for IJPM program Learning Disabilities Association of CNY – $88,800 E. Syracuse, NY ...... $ 5,000 Life and Job Skills Program

ENVIRONMENT Lime Hollow – Cortland, NY ...... $ 10,000 Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project – Pavilion Construction for Summer Programs Aurora, NY ...... $ 10,000 Syracuse Shakespeare Festival – Inquiry-based environmental education program Syracuse, NY ...... $ 2,500 Seaway Trail Foundation, Inc. – Kids Doing Shakespeare Sackets Harbor, NY ...... $ 7,500 Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Inc. – Birding the Seaway Trail Educational Guide Syracuse, NY ...... $ 15,000 SUNY ESF – Roosevelt Wildlife Station – Support for Youth Programming Syracuse, NY ...... $ 11,000 YMCA of Greater Syracuse – Syracuse, NY $ 10,000 Naturally New York Project Starfish (2008) $28,500 $47,500

HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRAND TOTAL $338,65 Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum – Chittenango, NY ...... $ 15,000 Development of new exhibits

THE JOHN BEN SNOW FOUNDATION • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com 6