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.
We're hiring! The Community Foundation is looking for a multimedia designer to join our team. Are you curious, bold, accountable, and interested in using your well-honed design skills to have a positive impact on the greater Rochester region?
Apply today: buff.ly/MYbm0P3
#Design #Hiring #NonprofitJobs ... See MoreSee Less
We’re excited to share that Iris Bieri, our Chief of Staff, has been selected as the 2026 cohort advisor of CFLeads’ Executive Leadership Institute for VPs.
Through this national program, Iris will lead cohort members across the country in reflecting on leadership strategies, exploring new approaches to systemic challenges, and strengthening community and civic engagement.
Congratulations to Iris on this opportunity to guide others in their leadership journey.
cfleads.org/what-we-do/peer-learning/executive-leadership-institute/
#CFLeads #CommunityLeadership #Philanthropy ... See MoreSee Less
Is your organization advancing health equity across our region? Then this funding opportunity is for you. Call for Ideas is open now through April 8. Learn more at thegrhf.org/grants/responsive-grants/.
Greater Rochester Health Foundation💡GRANT OPPORTUNITY💡
We're now accepting proposals for our Responsive Grants 2026 Call for Ideas funding opportunity, supporting organizations working toward solutions to improve health, driven by community voice.
As funding and nonprofit landscapes continue to shift, we’re focused on supporting established non-profits and government entities of all sizes, deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Proposals should clearly align with at least one of the following priority areas: sustaining community services, harm mitigation, and collective strength and security -- particularly for populations facing heightened risk.
We’re pleased to partner with Rochester Area Community Foundation again this year to expand the total investment in organizations and services advancing health equity across our region.
Learn more at thegrhf.org/grants/responsive-grants ... See MoreSee Less
Members of our team participated in a training with The SafeZone Initiative LLC to deepen our understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, build practical allyship skills, and learn how to foster safer and more affirming spaces.
Big thank you to our facilitator, Lori Cramer, and to Connected Communities: EMMA & Beechwood for offering us space for this workshop in the beautiful Beechwood Neighborhood Hub.
#LearningOrganization #SafeSpace #BraveSpace ... See MoreSee Less
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.
#Philanthropy #BoardService #GivingBack ... See MoreSee Less
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.
#BlackHistoryMonth ... See MoreSee Less
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."
#philanthropy #grantmaking #equity ... See MoreSee Less
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/
#Power100 ... See MoreSee Less