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.
The Community Foundation's annual board retreat is a space for reflection, learning, and connection. Last month, our board of directors discussed an update to the Community Foundation's Mission, Vision and Values (coming soon!) to preserve the best of our past and evolve with our region's changing needs. We had a deep discussion on what the values mean for our organization, how they show up in our work, and how we might live them more meaningfully into the future. We reviewed a new 5-year strategic plan, and how it will guide our work moving forward.
We are incredibly grateful for the wisdom, insight, and accountability our board provides, led by board chair Mollene B. Benison.
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Black History Month is a time to celebrate Black leaders and culture and the integral role both play in the fabric of our country. This month, here are just a few examples of who and what we have been celebrating:
- The founding members of the African American Giving Initiative, whose foresight paved the way for $228,706 in grants to 18 nonprofits last year through the Black Giving Collective.
- Opportunities to learn how the past continues to shape the present. Our staff recently watched a documentary about the experiences of one rural Black community, entitled Hale County This Morning, This Evening.
- Local educators, like Maiah Johnson Dunn with New York Kitchen and the facilitators of Our Local History with Coordinated Care Services, Inc. - CCSI, who are reshaping narratives so that our stories include and recognize Black contributors.
- Another incredible celebration with the Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission last month, honoring King's legacy and pursuing the Beloved Community he envisioned.
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Nikia Washington, Equity Program Officer, was a panelist for the second time at the annual Meet the Funders event, organized by the Women's Foundation of Genesee Valley. The event focuses on dialogue between staff of local nonprofits and the area's largest funders.
"The conversations I had with nonprofit staff really stick with me," says Nikia. "Hearing directly about the work they're doing, the challenges they're navigating, and the people they're serving reminded me exactly why I chose this career path. It's one thing to review grant applications; it's another to sit face-to-face with someone and feel their passion for the work."
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Simeon Banister was named to RBJ's Power 100 for the fourth year running. Now in his third year as President & CEO of Rochester Area Community Foundation, Banister speaks to the value of clear organizational core values amid external volatility. He predicts that the organizations best positioned for the coming years will be those that can align partners, deploy capital flexibly, and earn durable trust across communities in an increasingly fragmented environment.
Read more at rbj.net/2026/02/13/simeon-banister-6/
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Looking for a volunteer opportunity and want to have impact? 🎓✨
You can change a student’s future right from your desk (and yes, even in your pajamas). We are recruiting for our Scholarship Committee, and we need dozens of volunteers to review a high volume of applications fairly and equitably!
Review personal statements and recommendations to help us award scholarships. All you need is a computer, internet access, and a desire to give back. The review process will take place from March-April.
How to Get Involved:
Sign Up: Complete the Interest Form by March 2: forms.office.com/r/M3RvG2FWwU
Reshare: We need more reviewers this year than ever before. Please help us spread the word.
#Volunteer #GiveBack #MakeADifference #Scholarships ... See MoreSee Less
Applications for the Neighbors in Action grant program are closing soon. Neighborhood associations, block clubs, and community organizations passionate about engaging neighbors to making Rochester a more vibrant city are welcome to apply. Applications are due by February 20. More information at racf.org/grant/nia/. ... See MoreSee Less
Empowering students through education creates a ripple effect of opportunity and impact.
We’re proud to partner with Rochester Area Community Foundation to help open doors for local students preparing to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities this fall. The Baldwin Richardson Foods Frederick Douglass HBCU Football Classic Scholarship is our way of investing in the leaders of tomorrow.
This scholarship opportunity is available to all Rochester, NY students who meet the application criteria and are ready to take the next step in their educational journey.
The scholarships are awarded through the Rochester Community Foundation Consolidated Scholarship Application using established guidelines.
Applications are open through February 28, 2026
Learn more and apply here: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=racfs
#HBCUScholarship #FDHBCUClassic ... See MoreSee Less
Last year, the East Market Neighborhood Association completed a public art project that invited passersby to notice the vibrant community next to the Rochester Public Market. Four local artists from The Yards Collective worked the neighborhood association and local teens to clean up a two-story commercial building and install a 22-foot-tall mural.
Photos by Mark Widman.
This project was supported by Neighbors in Action (NIA), a joint funding effort by the City of Rochester, Rochester Area Community Foundation, and ESL Federal Credit Union. NIA offers small grants that empower residents to come together and strengthen their neighborhoods. Applications for the 2026 NIA grants are open now at racf.org/NIA.
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