OVERVIEW: The Rochester Area Community Foundation supports a wide variety of local nonprofits in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties in upstate New York.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, aging, arts and culture, children and youth, environment, people with disabilities, health, women and girls, LGBT, neighborhoods, poverty, violence prevention, early childhood, youth sports, African Americans
IP TAKE: This is a huge grantmaker that has given over a million dollars in quarterly distributions, so take some time to get to know all the relevant opportunities that exist at RACF.
PROFILE: Established in 1972, the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) is a community foundation based in Rochester, New York. Originally known as the Greater Rochester Community Foundation of the Genesee Valley, RACF currently works in an eight-county region to create an equitable community and strengthen the region’s vitality. It administers over 1,300 funds and aims to “empower donors and community partners to strengthen our region through philanthropy.” RACF funds local efforts related to education, aging, arts and culture, children and youth, environment, people with disabilities, health, women and girls, LGBT, neighborhoods, poverty, violence prevention, early childhood, and more.
The Rochester Area Community Foundation awards competitive grants in three categories: equity and vitality grants, giving circle grants, and advisory committee grants. Equity grants target closing the academic achievement gap, racial and ethnic equity, and fighting poverty. Vitality grants support arts and culture, historical preservation, and age-friendly communities. There are giving circles here focused on African American giving, developmental disabilities giving, LGBT giving, women’s giving, and young professional giving.
Grants range between about $500 and $50,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving on the giving circles, initiatives, and partnerships page of its website. Grantmaking focuses on Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties in upstate New York. Past local grantees include Greater Rochester After-School Alliance, Genesee Country Village & Museum, and Public Policy & Education Fund.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Grantseekers can search for relevant opportunities on the funder’s website to apply to the most appropriate funds. RACF utilizes an online application process to receive and review grants. Direct general questions to the staff at racf@racf.org or 585-271-4100.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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