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.
Summer fades, but its impact endures. ☀️
Together this summer, we invested nearly $300,000 in local arts & culture across our eight-county region, brought Juneteenth to the heart of downtown Rochester, and supported community festivals all season long.
Take a look back at a summer of community connection and celebration, and let us know your favorite memory in the comments below.
🎨 Support arts and culture: www.racf.org/about/community-impact/arts-and-culture/ ...
Our Yates County Community Endowment grants reception is just two weeks away!
Network with fellow residents, hear about the collective impact of regional grantees, and learn how to co-create change right in Yates County.
🎟️ Reserve your free ticket: racf.org/yates-reception ...
“Meet me at the clock!” The Clock of Nations was an iconic feature of downtown Rochester for 40 years. Now, the clock is restored and attracting visitors supported in part by a $25,000 Community Foundation grant.
In our most recent grant cycle, the Foundation distributed more than $300,000 in historic preservation grants that make sure that the past we protect — from buildings to oral histories — reflects all of us.
Learn more: racf.org/news/clock-of-nations/ ...
This Black Business Month, we’re highlighting a multi-generational story of partnership right here in Greater Rochester.
When Eric Johnson, former president of Baldwin Richardson Foods, first met Tony Jackson, founder of Panther Graphics, decades ago, a natural friendship formed between the two.
Today, their daughters, Erin Tolefree and Tae'lor Jackson, are leading those same companies and continuing that legacy through a powerful new business partnership.
Commercial printer, Panther Graphics, and food manufacturer, Baldwin Richardson Foods, connected through Rochester Area Community Foundation's Rochester Procurement Expansion Program (RPEP) — an initiative designed to help both large and small businesses in Greater Rochester direct contracts to under-utilized local vendors.
By matching regional purchasers with local suppliers, RPEP is turning everyday business spending into local opportunity and community ties into strategic partnerships.
Read the full story of this multi-generational partnership: www.racf.org/news/rpep-launch/ ...
For centuries, our identity in Rochester has been shaped by our lakes. Before it appeared on modern maps, the body of water we now call Lake Ontario was first named by the Indigenous people who inhabited this region. The name "Ontario" derives from the Haudenosaunee language family to mean "beautiful lake" or "sparkling water."
Lake Ontario isn't just a geographical border. It’s part of Rochester’s DNA. It drives our local climate, shapes our region’s culture, and connects us to a shared Great Lakes ecosystem.
As Rochester’s community foundation, we take pride in honoring the historic roots and original naming of our Great Lake. We stand with our community in keeping Lake Ontario as Lake Ontario — reflecting our deep history, respect for Indigenous heritage, and local pride. ...
Earlier this week, members of our Latino Giving Circle joined DJ Johnny Mambo on PODER Radio to share more about its mission and impact in the Greater Rochester region.
By building a network of committed members, the Latino Giving Circle directly supports projects that uplift and enrich nuestra comunidad.
Meet members and hear from grant recipients at our annual grants reception on September 23rd.
Don't miss out — register before September 1 to receive an extra drink ticket! www.racf.org/lgc-reception ...
Applications are open for general operating micro grants of up to $2,500!
These micro grants are available to arts & culture organizations in Monroe County with less than one full-time employee.
Apply via our grant portal before the September 11th deadline: racf.org/grantportal ...
💡 What happens when financial advisors, fundraisers, and nonprofit advocates pull up a chair at the same table?
They talk about moments when generosity sparked a meaningful change in front of their eyes.
They swap stories about what motivates people to give back, from each of their unique vantage points.
They share what makes them feel hopeful about our community right now.
The takeaway from last week's Professional Advisor Summer Social was clear: we’re stronger when we collaborate and learn from one another's unique expertise.
Thank you to CFA Society Rochester and Association of Fundraising Professionals NY, Genesee Valley Chapter for helping us bring these groups together for an enriching time of collaboration and connection. ...