Jefferson County > Watertown
Watertown’s economy benefits from the presence of Jefferson Community College and nearby Fort Drum Army base. Its largest nonprofit is Samaritan Medical Center. A new YMCA, funded with grants from the U.S. Defense Department and Empire State Development, opened in 2024.
School districts: Watertown City School District
Libraries: Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library
Hospitals: Samaritan Medical Center
Emergency services: Town of Watertown Ambulance Service, Watertown Fire Department
Fraternal organizations: American Legion, Elks, Lions, Shriners, VFW
State parks: Black River Trail
Not-for-profit cemeteries: Brookside Cemetery, Kendrew Cemetery, North Watertown Cemetery, Parish Cemetery, Sulphur Springs Cemetery
Change agents:
Grants to local organizations have funded a new YMCA community center, animal shelter improvements, wheelchair vans, Thompson Park upgrades, and other initiatives.
Recent grants:
GRANT KEY:
Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $300,000 (2024)
American Red Cross
Cloudsplitter Foundation - Saranac Lake, NY - $5,000 (2024)
American Red Cross
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $5,000 (2024)
ARC Jefferson - St. Lawrence
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation - Rochester, NY - $25,000 (2024)
ARC Jefferson - St. Lawrence
Delaney Bay Fund - Watertown, NY - $2,000 (2024)
ARC Jefferson - St. Lawrence
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $50,000 (2024)
ARC Jefferson - St. Lawrence
Kinney Drugs Foundation - Gouverneur, NY - $1,000 (2024)
ARC Jefferson-St. Lawrence
Critical Time Intervention Program - Albany, NY - $100,000 (2025)
ARC Jefferson-St. Lawrence
NYS Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Investment Program - Albany, NY - $500,000 (2024)
Armed Forces Success Center
Dicks Sporting Goods Foundation - Coraopolis, PA - $15,000 (2024)
Association of Former New York State Troopers
David & Sondra Mack Family Foundation - Fort Lee, NJ - $2,000 (2024)
Bottsford Family Historical Association
Bottsford Leslie L Fd B Resid Ta - Brooklyn, OH - $16,181 (2024)
Brookside Cemetery Association
Fitch Gilbert Memorial Trust - Chicago, IL - $3,000 (2024)
Center for Youth Services
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation - Rochester, NY - $150,000 (2024)
City of Watertown
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $406,028 (2024)
City of Watertown
U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Washington, DC - $181,364 (2024)
City of Watertown
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Washington, DC - $882,718 (2024)
City of Watertown
U.S. Department of Transportation - Washington, DC - $785,264 (2024)
City of Watertown
U.S. Department of Transportation - Washington, DC - $1,500,000 (2024)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $2,160 (2024)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,669,138 (2025)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,669,139 (2025)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $75,929 (2024)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,631,173 (2024)
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,631,175 (2024)
Cooperative Extension
Empire State Development - Albany, NY - $94,958 (2025)
Cooperative Extension
Harlow G Farmer Memorial Fund - Norwich, NY - $1,356 (2024)
Cooperative Extension
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets - Albany, NY - $50,000 (2025)
Cooperative Extension
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $94,958 (2024)
Cooperative Extension
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $19,675 (2025)
Cooperative Extension
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $100,000 (2024)
Credo Community Center
Delaney Bay Fund - Watertown, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Disabled Persons Action Organization
Kinney Drugs Foundation - Gouverneur, NY - $11,000 (2024)
First Presbyterian Church
James C and Margaret W Pontious Foundation - Lakewood Ranch, FL - $5,000 (2024)
First Presbyterian Church
Scott Guy 1St. Presbyterian Ch Ta - Brooklyn, OH - $2,735 (2024)
First Presbyterian Church
Wendy Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund Tr - Brooklyn, OH - $1,244 (2024)
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $175,000 (2024)
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $300,000 (2025)
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $125,000 (2024)
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $250,000 (2024)
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $300,000 (2024)
Harmonny Performing Arts Community
NYS Council on the Arts - New York, NY - $10,000 (2026)
Hospice Foundation of Jefferson County
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $50,000 (2024)
Hospice Foundation of Jefferson County
Kinney Drugs Foundation - Gouverneur, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Jefferson Community College
Adult Learner Leadership Initiative - Albany, NY - $37,200 (2025)
Jefferson Community College
Delaney Bay Fund - Watertown, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Jefferson Community College
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $291,222 (2025)
Jefferson County
Community Development Block Grant - Albany, NY - $750,000 (2024)
Jefferson County
NYS Homes and Community Renewal - Albany, NY - $750,000 (2024)
Jefferson County Historical Society
Robert B & Addie P Thomson Trust - Delhi, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $70,000 (2024)
Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $400,000 (2025)
Jefferson County SPCA
New York State Animal Capital Fund - Albany, NY - $466,292 (2024)
Jefferson County SPCA
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $10,000 (2024)
Jefferson County SPCA
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $10,000 (2024)
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Empire State Development - Albany, NY - $540,161 (2026)
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $316,000 (2025)
LRBT USA
Good Planet Foundation - San Jose, CA - $10,000 (2024)
LRBT USA
Mf Vejlani Family Charity - Houston, TX - $2,000 (2024)
Neighbors of Watertown
NYS Homes and Community Renewal - Albany, NY - $200,000 (2025)
Neighbors of Watertown
NYS Homes and Community Renewal - Albany, NY - $800,000 (2025)
North Country Affordable Housing
NYS Homes and Community Renewal - Albany, NY - $1,700,000 (2025)
North Country Familiy Health Center
NYS Department of Health - Albany, NY - $650,000 (2025)
North Country Family Health Center
Edward John Noble Foundation - Greenwich, CT - $3,000 (2024)
North Country Family Health Center
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $7,000 (2024)
North Country Family Health Center
Northern Border Regional Commission - Concord, NH - $549,500 (2024)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $498,824 (2025)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $953,296 (2025)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,153,295 (2025)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $37,441 (2024)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $200,000 (2024)
North Country Family Health Center
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $1,906,591 (2024)
North Country Prenatal-Perinatal Council
Dyson Foundation - Millbrook, NY - $110,000 (2024)
North Country Prenatal-Perinatal Council
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $1,440 (2024)
North Country Prenatal-Perinatal Council
Kinney Drugs Foundation - Gouverneur, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Northern New York Community Foundation
Delaney Bay Fund - Watertown, NY - $9,050 (2024)
Northern New York Community Foundation
Dyson Foundation - Millbrook, NY - $15,000 (2024)
Northern New York Community Foundation
Edmond N & Virginia H Moriarty Charitable Foundation - Parsippany, NJ - $1,500 (2024)
Northern New York Community Foundation
Harlow G Farmer Tr Uw Fbo North Ny Comm Foundation - Norwich, NY - $3,476 (2024)
Northern New York Community Foundation
Roger W White Sr Foundation - Watertown, NY - $1,092,068 (2024)
Northern Regional Center for Independent Living
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, DC - $215,983 (2024)
Planned Parenthood
Kelsey Trust - Lincoln, MA - $10,000 (2024)
Planned Parenthood
NYS Office of Victim Services - Albany, NY - $213,678 (2025)
Priority Wellness Campaign
J M McDonald Foundation - Wilmington, DE - $5,000 (2024)
Sacred Heart
Mg O'Neil Foundation - Akron, OH - $10,000 (2024)
Sacred Heart Foundation
Stephens Foundation - Birmingham, AL - $2,500 (2024)
Salvation Army
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $2,000 (2024)
Salvation Army
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $2,000 (2024)
Samaritan Medical Center
Kinney Drugs Foundation - Gouverneur, NY - $98,500 (2024)
Samaritan Medical Center
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $100,000 (2024)
Sci-Tech Center of Northern NY
Technology Club of Syracuse - Syracuse, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Take the Lead
Holt Foundation Im - Bedminster, NJ - $1,000 (2024)
Take the Lead
Holt Foundation Im - Bedminster, NJ - $1,000 (2024)
Take the Lead
Salem and Annabel Jacoff Family Foundation - Woodbury, NY - $3,000 (2024)
Take the Lead
Title Family Foundation - Los Angeles, CA - $15,000 (2024)
Town of Hounsfield
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $2,295,000 (2024)
Town of Watertown
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $1,000,000 (2024)
Town of Watertown
Regional Economic Development Councils - Albany, NY - $1,000,000 (2024)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
Butler Parklands - Great Neck, NY - $5,000 (2024)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $50,000 (2025)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $41,440 (2024)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $139,250 (2024)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation - Albany, NY - $222,550 (2024)
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
Richard S. Shineman Foundation - Oswego, NY - $25,000 (2024)
United Way of Northern New York
Irr Tua Dorothy V Griffithcharities - Norwich, NY - $4,927 (2024)
United Way of Northern New York
J M McDonald Foundation - Wilmington, DE - $7,000 (2024)
Victims Assistance Center
NYS Office of Victim Services - Albany, NY - $1,850,431 (2025)
Village of Port Leyden
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Washington, DC - $905,000 (2024)
Volunteer Transportation Center
Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation - Johnsburg, NY - $2,500 (2024)
Volunteer Transportation Center
Rose & Kiernan Charitable - Albany, NY - $1,000 (2024)
Watertown Chapel
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $109,500 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Defense - Washington, DC - $750,000 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $1,072 (2025)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $89,515 (2025)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $101,095 (2025)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $110,821 (2025)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $2,055 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $3,577 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $6,365 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $10,021 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $14,029 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $55,553 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $99,765 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $133,916 (2024)
Watertown City School District
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $140,280 (2024)
Watertown Giants Pop Warner Association
Dicks Sporting Goods Foundation - Coraopolis, PA - $2,500 (2024)
Watertown International Airport
AIR NY Aviation Capital Grant Program - Albany, NY - $642,042 (2025)
Watertown Police Department
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services - Albany, NY - $147,149 (2025)
Watertown Senior Center
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $40,000 (2024)
Watertown Urban Mission
Delaney Bay Fund - Watertown, NY - $7,000 (2024)
Watertown Urban Mission
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $2,160 (2024)
Watertown Urban Mission
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation - New York, NY - $235,000 (2024)
WPBS
Cloudsplitter Foundation - Saranac Lake, NY - $2,500 (2024)
WPBS
J M McDonald Foundation - Wilmington, DE - $5,000 (2024)
YMCA
Jane E. Deline Foundation - Watertown, NY - $65,000 (2024)
YMCA
NYS Dormitory Authority - Albany, NY - $237,209 (2024)
Zoo New York at Thompson Park
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $2,500 (2024)
Zoo New York at Thompson Park
Risser Family Foundation - Clearwater, FL - $2,500 (2024)
Largest nonprofits in Watertown (by assets) include:
Northern Credit Union
Samaritan Medical Center
Northern New York Community Foundation
Nysarc Inc Arc Jefferson-St. Lawrence
Samaritan Senior Village
Young Mens Christian Association of Watertown NY
Childrens Home of Jefferson
Neighbors of Watertown
Faculty Student Association of Jefferson Community College
Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York In
North Country Transitional Living Services
North Country Family Health Center
Ives Hill Retirement Community
Samaritan Keep Nursing Home
Credo Community Center for Treatment of Addictions
Watertown Local Development Corporation
IBEW-910 Welfare Fund
Brookside Cemetery Association
Jefferson Community College Foundation
Hospice Foundation of Jefferson County
Hospice of Jefferson County
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization
Take the Lead
Jane E Deline Foundation
Disabled Persons Action Organizati on
Jefferson County Local Development Corporation