image of oyster bay gardens

About The Community Foundation of Oyster Bay

Image courtesy of the Town of Oyster Bay

Our Organization

The Community Foundation of Oyster Bay (CFOB) is a not-for-profit corporation, formed in 1965 by a group of concerned local residents. Since that time the CFOB has been supporting a variety of programs in Oyster Bay that include social services, education, food security and mental and social welfare.

These programs benefit tens of thousands of local residents in need every year. Led by its volunteer Board of Trustees, the CFOB continues to channel its fundraising and energy into supporting its neighbors. 

Our Story

Pioneered by George and Abby O’Neill, the CFOB was initially created to facilitate the first Head Start Program in Oyster Bay. Since that time the CFOB has expanded to fund programs for children and families, food pantries and health services, programs for the Hispanic community, social services for seniors as well as efforts to revitalize the hamlet of Oyster Bay. 

Many essential organizations in the Oyster Bay community began through the donations and efforts of the CFOB including the Youth & Family Counseling Center (YFCA) and the Oyster Bay Main Street Association. 

The Board continually evaluates the needs of our community in an effort to channel funds to programs and services that improve the lives of our neighbors in need.

How it Works

Each year the CFOB provides annual grants to local organizations whose mission is to promote the welfare of residents in need in Oyster Bay and surrounding communities. Our primary fundraiser, the Annual Drive, raises money to support these grants. 100 percent of funds raised in donations is passed directly onto the organizations that we support.  

Grants provided by the CFOB make up a significant portion of the overall budgets for recipient organizations. The CFOB exists solely to help these organizations fill their gaps in funding both on an annual basis and in times of crisis. 

With your donations, the CFOB can provide grants where they are needed, and local charity organizations can continue their vital work within the Oyster Bay community. 

All of our donations come from private donors in the community who share our mission to support local efforts to promote the welfare of Oyster Bay area residents in need. We receive no government funding.

In addition, the CFOB has an Endowment Fund, which was generously created by George and Abby O’Neill, to ensure perpetual support for the community that meant so much to them. The Endowment Fund is used for emergency funding when needed, grant matching and for ongoing support of local organizations. 

Because the Endowment Fund also covers the CFOB’s administrative expenses, the CFOB is able to pass on 100% of your donations to local organizations that provide important services to support Oyster Bay area residents in need.  

CFOB Board of Trustees

  • Julia Deming Vaughn

    PRESIDENT

  • Fern Senior

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • Megan Urdea

    VICE PRESIDENT

  • John Bonifacio

    TREASURER

  • Cathy Hogg

    SECRETARY

TRUSTEES

Rebecca Bahr
William Copp
Remsen Dooley
Aileen Gumprecht
Fletcher Hall
Fifi Leachman
Michèle Bahnik Mercier

Willets Meyer
Ed Mohlenhoff
Jeffrey Prey
Jennie Squire
Asia Stokes
Kingsley Toye
Emily Turilli

Founding TRUSTEES

Abby O’Neill
George O’Neill

Honorary TRUSTEES

Helen Dolan
Owen Smith
David Townsend

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A community fund is a grantmaking public charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area. Community foundations are funded by donations from individuals, families, businesses and sometimes government grants.

  • Started by Abby and George O’Neill in 1965, The Community Foundation of Oyster Bay (CFOB) is a not-for-profit corporation run by local volunteers through which tax-free gifts are channeled into programs that serve residents in need in our community.

    We identify the non-profit organizations offering programs that best promote the welfare of residents in need living in Oyster Bay and surrounding neighborhoods, and provide grant funding and administrative support to these agencies and programs. The CFOB is not funded by government grants.

  • Designations are made by the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay Board of Trustees. The CFOB trustees have in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities, and resource needs that shape our community. We work with individuals, families and businesses to identify and define charitable giving goals with maximum impact on the community.

    Donating directly to CFOB makes giving easier, more effective and more immediate. In addition, 100% of the money you donate goes directly to designated recipients.

  • Due to our long-standing presence in the community, the CFOB is uniquely placed to support our local community both through annual grant funding, but also with emergency or crisis funding. Your donations go where they are needed, when they are needed.

    In addition, the CFOB has:

    • Done thorough due diligence on the organizations in the community

    • The agility to give emergency grants to organizations at the time they need it most

    • The ability to support numerous charities

    • Cash (donate here)

    • Checks made payable to The Community Foundation of Oyster Bay

    • If you are interested in additional avenues for support or donation please contact us at info@oysterbaycf.org.

  • If you are interested in having the CFOB support your organization, and you believe your mission is consistent with our mission to provide important social services to residents in need, please email us at info@oysterbaycf.org and include the following:

    1. The name of your organization

    2. What you do

    3. Who you serve, and where

    4. Your mission statement

    5. What you are requesting from the Community Foundation

    6. A contact name, phone number and email address

    We look forward to hearing from you and we will contact you to discuss your request.

  • Organizations whose mission aligns with that of the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay: Promoting the welfare of residents in need in Oyster Bay and surrounding communities.

  • The Endowment Fund was generously created by George and Abby O’Neill to ensure continued support for the community that meant so much to them. The Endowment Fund is used for emergency funding when needed, grant matching and for ongoing support of local organizations.

    The Endowment Fund also covers the CFOB’s administrative expenses enabling the CFOB to pass on 100% of your donations to local organizations that provide important services to support Oyster Bay area residents in need.

Didn’t find your answer? Please email us, and we will get back to you with more information.