Foundations |
CenterState CEO Foundation
CenterState CEO Foundation’s mission is to attract philanthropic support for CenterState CEO programs that remove barriers to economic prosperity for people and places. These programs help residents access quality jobs, inclusive workplaces, and entrepreneurship opportunities, as well as build vibrant neighborhood business centers.
Supported activities are designed in collaboration with community partners and focus on engaging historically marginalized populations (including women, people of color, Indigenous people, veterans, New Americans, and individuals with low-to-moderate incomes).
Your gift to the CenterState CEO Foundation will help us open pathways for residents in our community to support their families and build wealth, ensuring that all people have the opportunity to prosper!
CenterState CEO Foundation Supported Initiatives
Providing hidden talent within our communities access to resources and knowledge to help them start and grow sustainable businesses. Focused on people from historically marginalized populations and neighborhoods, CenterState CEO works with aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners through various program including: Up Start - entrepreneurs with “main street” businesses; and the Syracuse Surge Accelerator - entrepreneurs focused on tech and tech-adjacent businesses.
CenterState CEO's Growth + Equity Fund is one of CenterState CEO’s newest initiatives, providing market solutions to gaps in accessing capital for tech startups, distressed real estate projects, and entrepreneurs from historically marginalized populations and neighborhoods. Funds raised through CEO Foundation support small business owners from marginalized populations already engaged with small business development programming at CenterState CEO and other partner organizations. G+E Fund participants gain access to micro-grants and loans, as well as customized support that better positions them to grow their businesses and access more traditional financing.
Helping people in our community access quality jobs with family sustaining wages, prioritizing those who are underrepresented and/or un-and underemployed. Through Work Train and other workforce initiatives, CenterState CEO works closely with companies, training partners, and community-based organizations to improve access to long-term career pathways in high-demand fields. Benefiting both individuals and businesses, CenterState CEO’s workforce innovation programming drives solutions that help businesses thrive and all people prosper.
Pictured: Participants in the Syracuse Surge Advanced Manufacturing workforce development program tour local worksites and explore career paths to the semiconductor industry, such as Morse Manufacturing, in Syracuse.
Engaging organizations and companies across our region to build inclusive and welcoming workplaces and communities. DEI education provided by CenterState CEO’s Racial Equity & Social Impact team includes various educational opportunities, including Equity Day gathering, webinars, and other events that bring people together to learn, grow, and create positive change.
Pictured: During CenterState CEO's Race for Equity event, 10 local “celebrity” drivers raised funds through the CenterState CEO Foundation to help nonprofit organizations access and engage in DEI work through RESI. This allowed for the creation of the first Equity Day for Nonprofits, bringing together a cross section of nonprofit leaders to discuss equity and inclusion strategies, and how they intersect with the services they provide to our community.
CenterState CEO Foundation Board of Directors
Officers
Rob Simpson
President & CEO, CenterState CEO
Evelyn Ingram
Director of Media and Community Relations, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
James Reed
President/CEO, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield
Susan Crossett
Chief Executive Officer, CPS Recruitment
Gail Cowley
President, Cowley Associates