Everyone Deserves Green Spaces
Protect Her Independence
Give Kids a Fair Chance
Preserve Our History
Expand Access to the Arts
Demand Racial Equity
Everyone can take action to make our world a more equitable and vital place. Since 1972, Rochester Area Community Foundation has connected donors to the critical needs of our eight-county region, leveraging financial expertise and community knowledge to maximize impact. At the Foundation, donors are partners and every gift is an investment in a better future.
Community Foundation board member, Sujatha Ramanujan, has been named CEO of the NSF STELLAR Engine for Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, one of 12 new innovation hubs located across the country.
A coalition of 90 organizations, including industry, higher education, startups, government, venture capital, and not-for-profits will work together to drive innovations in technology.
The initiative could receive up to $160 million total in federal funding over the next decade.
Sujatha’s leadership continues to advance key technological and economic initiatives in Greater Rochester, and we are proud to have her strategic perspective on our board.The NSF STELLAR Engine, a $31 million initiative to make Rochester a national hub for laser technology, named its CEO. bit.ly/4j7IPMa ...
"I truly believe that the more we give and the more we do to assist our community, the more great things we can accomplish together." — Anthony "Tony" Gugino
For Tony, being a Community Bridge-Builder stems from a core belief: it takes a village to make change.
As executive vice president at Tompkins Financial Advisors and a long-standing partner to Rochester Area Community Foundation, Tony has consistently helped clients think beyond financial management to consider how philanthropy can reflect their values, strengthen their communities, and create lasting impact.
Watch Tony’s full story, and join us in honoring him with the 2026 Community Bridge-Builder Award at Celebration of Giving on Wednesday, November 4! ✨ ...
💫 In less than one month, we will recognize this year's Philanthropy Award honorees: Anthony "Tony" L. Gugino and The Purcell Family.
These are the kind of people who have their eyes open to the ripple effect of small actions.
They choose to share their gifts, live generously in their day-to-day lives, and engage others along the way — making sure there are always more of us working to transform Greater Rochester for the better.
Hear their stories on November 4th at Celebration of Giving.
RSVP today: racf.org/celebration ...
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Making homes healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient is at the heart of RENEW, a Community Foundation initiative that helps our neighbors make residential improvements such as insulation, furnaces, hot water heaters, and emergency health and safety repairs.
⬇️ Learn more in the comments about RENEW this National Energy Efficiency Day and all the ways it supports our Rochester region. ...
1 day. 1,400+ students. 900+ on the spot acceptances.
These numbers capture just a fraction of the impact from this year’s HBCU College Expo. Our team was honored to share our region-wide scholarship opportunities as a proud sponsor of the Baldwin Richardson Foods Frederick Douglass HBCU College Expo.
With scholarship season right around the corner, students across our eight-county region can get connected to one of the 125+ scholarships offered through Rochester Area Community Foundation.
Help us spread the word! Tag a local educator, parent, or high school senior, and subscribe to our scholarship alerts to stay updated on upcoming deadlines.
racf.org/find-scholarships ...
Last week, Rochester held the 2026 New York State Funders Conference — an opportunity to gather and learn from experts on new and emerging trends.
Three of our team members, Cameron Caputi, Sarah Johnston, and Berta Rivera, led insightful sessions on everything from how funders can report on the broader economic impact of our work to the rise in collaborative co-investment. Outside the session rooms, our CEO, Simeon Banister, guided the Rochester philanthropy bus tour, and our VP of Community Impact, Erin Budd Barry, served on the event’s planning committee.
By bringing tested methods and innovative solutions to peers from across the state, our team continues to position our region as a leader in strategic, community-led philanthropy. ...
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