Thomas Griffith

Tom Griffith is Vice President of Development and has worked for the Community Foundation since 2013. Tom is responsible for the creation and implementation of a comprehensive development program to accomplish the goals set forth in the Community Foundation’s strategic plan.

In September 2017, Tom received the designation of Accredited Estate Planner (AEP^®) from the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Awarded to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character, the AEP^® designation demonstrates belief in, and dedication to, the team concept of estate planning. In November 2013, Tom achieved the professional designation of Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP^®) from The American College. The CAP^® certification provides the knowledge and skills needed to help clients and donors achieve their charitable giving goals. Those who achieve this designation have demonstrated expertise in integrating gift planning with financial and estate planning and in helping clients to identify a giving plan.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation, Tom spent seven years as a financial advisor at First Command Financial Planning.  During that time, he practiced comprehensive values based planning and earned the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant^®.  Prior to becoming an advisor, Tom was an officer in the United States Navy and a Department of Navy civilian working as a nuclear engineer and program manager at the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program headquarters.  Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, with highest honors, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tom currently serves as a board member on the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, board officer of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York and is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the Upstate New York Planned Giving Council.  Tom also serves as trustee for Holy Cross Parish in Dewitt, NY, a district activist leader for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and on the YMCA of CNY advancement advisory committee.  Tom lives in East Syracuse with his wife Kelly Griffith, attorney at Harris Beach PLLC, and children David (20) and Jessica (18).

The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of $366 million and has invested more than $220 million in community improvement projects since its inception.