Mission & Vision
Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.
Our Mission: We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.
Our Vision: We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.
Our Values: Our values clarify how we show up, not just what we believe. They reflect our distinct role, drive courageous action, and hold us accountable to our community.
- Integrity: We do what’s right, even when it’s hard or unseen. We act with transparency, consistency, and fiscal discipline, earning trust over time.
- Equity: We work to remove barriers and expand access, so every person and place can thrive.
- Curiosity: We stay open and always ask why. Learning fuels our decisions, deepens our relationships, and guides our evolution.
- Partnership: We co-create change. Trust, humility, fiduciary responsibility, and shared purpose drive everything we do with donors, advisors, and communities.
- Courage: We speak up and lead forward. We act boldly, even when the path is uncertain or the message is uncomfortable.
- Accountability: We own our outcomes. We hold ourselves and our partners to high standards, measuring progress and learning, as we go.
Known as the steward of charitable funds and endowments, the Community Foundation connects donors with the region’s current and evolving needs. As a leading grantmaker, the Foundation is focused on two broad goals:
- Creating an Equitable Community: Working to close the academic achievement and opportunity gaps, fostering racial and ethnic understanding and equity, and creating opportunities for upward mobility.
- Strengthening Our Region’s Vitality: Supporting vibrant and diverse arts and cultural offerings, preserving our region’s rich historical assets, advancing environmental justice and sustainability, and promoting successful aging.
Learn more about these goals and the accompanying action areas.
We maintain rigorous standards for effective grantmaking, and are confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
- Founded – 1972
- Number of Funds – 1,550
- Charitable Assets – $705 million*
- Permanently Endowed Assets – $508 million
- 35-Year Annualized Endowment Return – 8.9% net of fees*
- Grants Awarded Since 1972 – $780 million
- President and CEO – Simeon Banister
- Board Chair – Mollene B. Benison, CPA
To confirm that we are in good standing as a charity, check our profile and financial details on GuideStar, which gathers and disseminates information about every IRS-registered nonprofit organization.
*Updated through quarter ending 12/31/25