Deban and Tom Flexner, longtime residents of Northeast Dutchess County, NY, describe the region as “an incredible part of the world.” Their desire to strengthen their community and improve the quality of life for all residents has inspired them as philanthropists to give generously to the Northeast Dutchess Fund, (NED), an area Fund of BTCF. NED provides grants to local nonprofits that provide services and enrichment programs to the county.

The responsive nature of the grantmaking process via NED appeals to Deban. She has served on its advisory committee since 2012. Funding decisions are connected to the unique needs of the community, big or small. By working closely with local partners, the committee stays tuned in to local dynamics and can direct financial resources to where they are needed most and will have the greatest impact.

NED's wide-ranging support includes grants for community development, youth enrichment, housing, transportation, sustainable farms, food security, early childhood education, and general operating support for nonprofits. Northeast Dutchess faces specific challenges as a rural community. NED funding helps ameliorate practical barriers residents face, such as access to the internet, by providing computers in public spaces that connect more residents to economic and educational opportunities, as well as healthcare resources. NED has also provided seed money to organizations that have transformed the educational and cultural landscape of the county such as the Millbrook Early Childhood Education Center and The Wassaic Project. In addition, NED is connecting the growing immigrant community to much-needed resources like legal services.

Deban has also served on the Northeast Dutchess Scholarship committee since 2015; work that she finds especially gratifying. NED scholarships support educational ambitions at every level; a two-year vocational program or a four-year college degree. She sees that when students apply for and receive a scholarship, they learn that they can “champion themselves.”

The Flexner’s philanthropy extends to multiple projects in Martha’s Vinyard and New York City and they are deeply committed to protecting the environment. The couple has donated to the Dutchess Land Conservancy and Tom has served for 24 years on their board. He speaks with pride about leading the successful 2008 effort to conserve 1,650 acres of the Mashomack Preserve in Pine Plains to be permanently protected by conservation easement by the DLC.  This is the largest and most substantial conservation easement ever given to the conservancy, creating a contiguous protected area of more than 4,300 acres, connecting to land preserved by National Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, the State of New York and other land protected by the DLC.

Deban and Tom believe an essential aspect of their philanthropy is to continually create awareness in the community about evolving local needs. Their generosity and service to the NED Fund and the NED Scholarship Committee enable them to fulfill their mission.