Leadsafecny: a look at our investment & impact

Since 2018, the Central New York Community Foundation has so far invested more than $2.9 million to help put an end to childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. We recently released a map that shows the investments made so far.

Since LeadSafeCNY was launched in 2018, elevated lead levels in Syracuse children have decreased from 11% to 9.1%. The most dramatic improvements are notable in the two census tracts that were a primary focus of our investments since the beginning: Census Tract 23 has decreased from 21% in 2017 to 8.8% in 2025. In Census Tract 54, rates have decreased from 24% to 17.2%.

View Map and Impact Statistics
View the 2026 map and impact summary

About LeadSafeCNY
LeadSafeCNY is an initiative of the Central New York Community Foundation, which has made a multi-year commitment to help decrease the region’s alarming childhood lead poisoning rates. Understanding that lead poisoning undercuts all community efforts to help children reach their fullest potential, LeadSafeCNY tackles this issue through multiple approaches including funding, impact investing and collaboration to support lead-free housing construction, existing home renovations, community outreach and training, workforce development, public policy and more.