South Side Community Growth Foundation

What South Side Community Growth Foundation does

The South Side Community Growth Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Chedy Hampson, a native of Syracuse's South Side who sold his online marketplace company TCGplayer to eBay in 2022. Operating exclusively from Syracuse, New York, the Foundation partners with neighbors, businesses, community-based organizations, and government to drive community development, quality housing, and family-supporting programming in a historically under-resourced neighborhood. Its central initiative is the South Side Growth Campus, a redevelopment of the former Bishop Foery Center on Edmund Avenue, acquired from Catholic Charities of Onondaga County in April 2026 and intended to function as a neighbor-centered community hub.

The Foundation does not charge for any programs or services; all activities are funded through philanthropic contributions and personal funds from Hampson. Its operating model is community-driven: program design is shaped by resident input gathered through open houses, surveys, kitchen-table talks, and direct engagement at McKinley Park. Service delivery occurs through direct community programs at the Foundation's facilities and through partnerships with Syracuse Parks & Recreation, United Way of Central New York, Home HeadQuarters, Wegmans, Community Bank N.A., and Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, among others.

The leadership team combines local credibility with operational experience: Deka Eysaman was appointed as the Foundation's inaugural executive director in September 2025, bringing prior organizing experience from the NYCLU and the Urban Jobs Task Force. The board includes NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, and former Board Secretary Sharon Owens—who was elected the 55th Mayor of Syracuse (the city's first Black mayor) on January 1, 2026. As of mid-2026, the Foundation is in active buildout mode, with the Bishop Foery Center redevelopment in design phase following public open houses held in May 2026.

Name

South Side Community Growth Foundation

Legal name

South Side Community Growth Foundation

Website

https://southsidegrowth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South Side Community Growth Foundation is a Syracuse, NY-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2024 by TCGplayer founder Chedy Hampson to invest in community development, housing, and youth programming for South Side Syracuse residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAEAL

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIANAE

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Housing, Urban Planning & Community Development

Keywords

• Community development services
• Nonprofit foundation programs
• Affordable housing support
• Youth community programming
• Neighborhood revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The South Side Community Growth Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with neighbors, businesses, community-based organizations, and government to drive transformative investments on the South Side of Syracuse. It provides free community programs and services — including community gathering spaces, youth programming and summer activities, affordable housing support, and economic mobility resources — and is redeveloping the former Bishop Foery Center into the South Side Growth Campus, a neighbor-designed community hub. All programs and services are offered free of charge and funded through philanthropic contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• South Side Growth Campus A community center redevelopment project transforming the former Bishop Foery Center and surrounding campus on Edmund Avenue into a vibrant, neighbor-centered property designed with significant community input for community connection, programming, and resident services. It serves South Side Syracuse residents, particularly in the McKinley Park neighborhood.
• Community Programs and Events Free community programs and events offered to South Side Syracuse residents, including youth summer programming (such as the South Side Growth Summer Kick Off), community cookouts, open houses, and public engagement sessions that shape Foundation initiatives.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Syracuse Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Event partner for the South Side Growth Summer Kick Off event at McKinley Park. The partnership provides community recreation programming and park access for the event.
• United Way of Central New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Event partner for the South Side Growth Summer Kick Off, contributing resources and support for community engagement initiatives.
• Community Bank, N.A.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Event partner for the Summer Kick Off celebration, providing sponsorship support for the community event.
• Sapphire Recruitment, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Event partner for the Summer Kick Off, contributing to the community engagement event.
• SNUG OutreachminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Community partner participating in the Summer Kick Off event with local organizations.
• WegmansminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Event partner for the Summer Kick Off, providing support for the community celebration.
• Layla's Got YouminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Community partner for the Summer Kick Off event supporting local families.
• Catholic Charities of Onondaga CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Former owner of the Bishop Foery Center property. The Foundation acquired the property from Catholic Charities, which had served the Syracuse community for over 100 years. CCOC expressed confidence in the Foundation's ability to honor the Center's legacy.
• Home HeadQuarterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation partnered with Home HeadQuarters as a Community Builder Sponsor at their annual Block Blitz event. Home HeadQuarters is a local nonprofit housing and community development organization. Chedy Hampson previously made investments in Home HeadQuarters before founding the Foundation.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing and community development. Comparable mission and program areas (housing, community revitalization) but operates at a much larger scale than the South Side Foundation.
• The Kresge Foundation: National private foundation that funds community development, housing, and place-based initiatives. Comparable as a private foundation with a community development focus, though operating at substantially greater scale.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI that invests in place-based community development, including housing and economic mobility. Comparable as a larger, established community development organization with deeper capital resources but similar mission focus.

Regional players

• Say Yes to Education Syracuse: Syracuse-based nonprofit supporting youth and family programs including college access and wraparound services. Comparable as a regional community-focused nonprofit serving Syracuse youth and families with programming similar to the South Side Foundation's planned offerings.
• United Way of Central New York: Regional United Way affiliate serving Central New York including Syracuse. Comparable as a community-focused nonprofit that aggregates funding and partners with local service organizations, and the South Side Foundation is an event partner.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse: Local youth development nonprofit serving Syracuse, where ED Deka Eysaman previously worked. Comparable as a community-based nonprofit serving Syracuse youth and families with programs like those the South Side Foundation plans to launch.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Syracuse: Local Habitat affiliate focused on affordable housing in the Syracuse area. Comparable as a place-based nonprofit addressing housing and community development in the same regional market.

Direct peers

• Central New York Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving Central New York, including Syracuse. Directly comparable as a place-based grantmaking and community development organization with overlapping geographic focus and similar mission of funding community initiatives.
• Home HeadQuarters: Syracuse-based nonprofit housing and community development organization. The Foundation has already partnered with Home HeadQuarters as a Community Builder Sponsor, and both organizations focus on housing and neighborhood revitalization in the Syracuse market.
• Catholic Charities of Onondaga County: Social services nonprofit serving Onondaga County and former owner of the Bishop Foery Center. Highly comparable as a community-focused service provider that previously operated the very campus the South Side Foundation is now redeveloping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthSideGrowth
• Instagraminstagram.com/southsidegrowth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southsidegrowth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Side Community Growth Foundation