Philanthropy
One of our company’s core values is “Community Impact.” Each of our markets have embraced this value to create thriving employee volunteer programs and community donation programs.
Each of our four markets make independent decisions on local volunteer efforts and donations that will have the largest impact in their individual communities. Establishing and maintaining strong partnerships with local non-profit and philanthropic organizations is a key component to supporting the communities that support us.
Community Based Programs
Volunteerism and Community Support
By working closely with local organizations, we’ve made an impact by addressing multiple areas of need in the communities we serve. This includes annual donations of approximately $950,000 across our four markets and 9,500 hours of community service hours by Tompkins employees.
In Central New York, Tompkins contributes to over 200 organizations annually, with employees consistently dedicating their time to service opportunities in the community as well. The bank supports a large number of arts and theater projects such as community theaters, concert bands, and high school plays. The bank also supports projects for children – including science, education, sports, and research – as well as supporting quality and affordable childcare. Tompkins supported organizations providing care to the members of the community such as Racker who supports people with disabilities and their families to lead fulfilling lives by providing opportunities to learn and be connected with others or Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services who are dedicated to expanding low income housing options in the Central New York area.
Western New York has grown their partnership with Rochester Prep Charter School, Uncommon Schools over recent years. Our latest commitment has been to benefit their distinct College Access & Success programming.
This program is designed to ensure students at Rochester Prep Charter School have the supports to not only get into elite institutions but have added support through their time at these colleges and universities. In addition to supporting this program, Tompkins has hosted financial literacy and budgeting sessions with alumni and welcomed Rochester Prep students to headquarters to meet and connect with our business leaders.
Tompkins continued its support of local arts and education opportunities in the community, creating family friendly community events as well as supporting the institutions that create educational pathways for members of the community. This includes annual support of the Genesee Country Village & Museum, the largest living history museum in New York State, with the mission of preserving and sharing history, nature and art for generations to come. In Western New York, Tompkins also continued its long-term support for impactful organizations such as United Way and the YMCA in multiple of their local community chapters within the market.
In the Hudson Valley market of New York, Tompkins supports more than 200 organizations on an annual basis. Teams of our employees volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Cornell Extension, United for the Troops, animal rescues, and so much more. Tompkins created a local program called the “Acorn Alliance,” in which employees may participate volunteer opportunities during business hours throughout the year, allowing employees the opportunity to volunteer and assist their local communities. In the Hudson Valley, Tompkins ran a food drive called ‘Fill the Vault’ to benefit local food banks across its three counties, collecting, sorting and delivering more than $1,500 worth of goods.
Tompkins in our Pennsylvania market is a longtime supporter of organizations that help children. For the past 20 years, Tompkins has participated in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), which supports numerous youth educational programs across southeastern Pennsylvania. Participating in EITC is a way we can direct tax dollars to positively impact children where we live and work. In recent years, Tompkins donated more than $681,000 to approximately 60 local programs through the EITC program, bringing the total amount of donations though our participation over the years to more than $5 million. In addition, Tompkins committed to supporting students from Reading Area Community College (RACC) through the creation of ‘Tompkins Treats’ a communal area providing free snacks to students. RACC is granting learning opportunities to students in the local communities and Tompkins is proud to play a role in assisting students on their journey.
Financial Literacy & Education
There is a critical need for financial education in the communities we serve. We’re proud to offer many opportunities to help people thrive and grow on their financial journey. Each of our markets offer various educational opportunities, including complimentary home-buyer seminars, fraud prevention classes, investment education, and more.
Through our website, the general public can view articles dedicated to topics such as saving, credit, home buying, and other timely topics. Additionally, we have expanded our social media content and presence to help which delivers digestible financial education content to people looking to learn online.