Community Foundation Launches Next Step Education Program to Help Tri-County Residents
Apr 21, 2025 09:37AM ● By Nicole Petrus
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of its Next Step Education Program to support students and working professionals pursuing career advancement and educational growth.
Thanks to the generous support of many Community Foundation donors, the Next Step Education Program aims to help individuals as they pursue postsecondary education and training.
“This builds upon the Community Foundation’s history and heritage of supporting local students in whatever paths they choose and is an opportunity to be more responsive to diversification of career paths we are seeing,” Community Foundation Executive Director Rande S. Richardson said. “At the same time, this allows us to provide greater options for donors who have an interest in inspiring those who are looking to better themselves and our communities in a variety of ways.”
The expanded educational program is designed to assist students of all ages, including recent high school graduates, adult learners, working professionals, and nontraditional students, as they work to earn degrees, certifications, or technical credentials that will advance their professional goals. The Next Step Education Program provides financial support to individuals who reside in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties and are seeking to advance their education in various ways. Ideal applicants include people who have put their education on hold or need to boost their skills to secure a new or better job. Whether enrolling in an accredited college, university, technical, or trade school or gaining industry recognized certifications, the Next Step Education Program aims to help individuals achieve lasting success. This opportunity is made possible by the generosity of donors who believe in the power of lifelong education. Their support ensures that more people in our community have access to the training and education they need to reach their goals.The Next Step Education Program supports a wide range of educational and professional development pathways, including:
■ Micro-credentials and professional certifications to strengthen skills or secure employment
■ Courses or programs that lead to a degree
■ Technical and trade school training for hands-on, high-demand careers
■ Enhanced skills programs for career advancement or to help obtain new employment, such as Microsoft Office programs and more
■ Programs at local BOCES campuses
■ Professional licensing programs, including CDL and other industry-specific certifications
■ Award amounts are up to $2,000, and may be used for tuition, books, and course-related expenses Applications to the Next Step Education Program are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year and are reviewed every 30 days for funding decisions. Individuals are encouraged to apply through the Community Foundation’s online application portal at bit.ly/Next-Step-Program.
Email Mary Perrine, scholarship and program manager, [email protected], or Tara Hess, scholarship and program associate, [email protected], or call 315-782-7110 with questions about the Next Step Education Program or to learn more.
The Community Foundation has a decades-long history of partnering with donors to provide educational aid to tri-county students through an extensive scholarship program that supports high school seniors and nontraditional students, and working professionals.
Since 1980, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in scholarships to students who live in the tri-county region. In addition to its own scholarship awards, the Community Foundation annually administers nearly 500 scholarships established by individual donors, business, and organizations as well as scholarship funds on behalf of 32 school districts across the three counties.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.
