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.
Rochester Area Community Foundation envisions a Greater Rochester region where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive. We pursue that vision through three strategic grantmaking areas that can drive effective and lasting community change: 1) Upward Mobility, 2) Arts, Culture & Narrative, and 3) Environmental Justice & Sustainability.
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