African American Giving Initiative

The Power of Collective Giving

Collective Giving makes it possible for passionate individuals to pool their resources to empower communities who have not received sufficient investment — historically and repeatedly. These efforts are helping us reimagine the fabric of philanthropy and shifting outdated notions about who gives to charity.

The Community Foundation’s Collective Giving Officer, Dawn Perry, says, “Collective giving doesn’t just redistribute wealth — it redistributes power, allowing communities to take hold of their narratives and shape their futures. When we give together, we grow together.”

Giving For and By the Latino Community

The Latino Giving Circle Fund was created in 2022 by community members who give collectively and then use those dollars to benefit Latinos in the greater Rochester area. The circle’s logo is a colorful rising bird, symbolizing the diverse backgrounds of Latinos, their perseverance and cultural pride, and an optimism about the future of nuestra comunidad (“our community”).

“I was part of the committee that reviewed applications and chose the most amazing projects to support in our first year,” says Annette Ramos, Giving Circle co-chair. “Our dollar matters, and the way that we give in our community can make a difference for generations to come.”

“Our dollar matters, and the way that we give in our community can make a difference for generations to come.” – Annette Ramos

Support for Inclusive Workplaces Evolves

As one giving circle gained momentum, members of another decided to hand the reins over to the Community Foundation. After nine years of thoughtful, member-directed grantmaking, the Developmental Disabilities Giving Circle Legacy Fund became a permanently endowed fund. It will continue to provide support for the group’s signature Customized Employment program, which identifies skills of young adults and matches them with employers committed to an inclusive workplace.

Collective Giving as a Driver for Equity

The African American Giving Initiative Fund is combining with other Foundation resources to evolve and strengthen the available pathways for investing in the Black community. The NextGen Rochester Legacy Fund, which originated as a giving circle of passionate young professionals in 2008, will contribute to those efforts, upholding the circle’s longstanding focus on prosperity for all.

Anyone who is passionate about a more equitable future for our eight-county region can contribute to these funds, and others, like the Rochester Women’s Giving Circle Fund and LGBT+ Fund for Greater Rochester.

With gifts big and small, philanthropists in our region are cultivating community. Learn more and get involved.