Local selfies

Every place has its priorities. There are towns where residents go to the opera and there are towns where hunters donate venison for the hungry.

In rural hamlets, the fire department and the rod and gun club often are the largest nonprofits. In Speculator, it’s the Gospel Volunteers. In Mumford, the Genesee Country Museum.

In villages, the organizations with the most assets might be a library, a Legion or an Elks club. And, of course, the cities of Upstate boast a wide array of foundations, human services agencies, hospitals, arts organizations, colleges and other nonprofits.

Regardless of location, charitable giving provides a snapshot not only of what’s important to people but of their civic involvement. Measuring philanthropy and charitable activities is a way of taking the pulse of a city or town.

Sad to say, but in many places across Upstate, the most wealthy nonprofit is a cemetery association. There are too many communities, both rural and urban, that fail to connect with the supporters helping to fuel activities in more vibrant areas.

Upstate Giving is designed to help them.