Read the 2024 Annual Report
Better Communities for All Since 1944
Our Rochester Area Foundation
Rochester Area Foundation is a place where generous people from diverse backgrounds come together to make our communities better places.
As the Rochester area’s philanthropic leader, we award grants each year that are made possible by financial gifts from donors—people who care about the greater Rochester community and want to see it thrive. Our endowment relies on donor gifts and market growth for its success.
We lead by bringing people together to solve complicated community problems, realizing that for some issues there are no immediate solutions or simple answers.
Recent News
May Coffee & Conversation
Our community panel on mental health will bring together local experts and organizations to discuss ways to improve access to mental health resources. The panel will highlight initiatives such as counseling services, crisis support programs, and community-based...
2024 Annual Report
The 2024 Annual Report is ready for you to read! Click on the image below to view the full report.
April Coffee & Conversation
Our community panel on food access will bring together local experts and organizations to discuss collaborative efforts aimed at increasing access to food resources. The panel will highlight initiatives such as food banks, meal programs, and resources that...
March Coffee & Conversation
In 1987, President Reagan recognized March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to increase “public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with developmental disabilities” and to provide the “encouragement and opportunities they need to lead...
January Coffee & Conversation
Join Rochester Area Foundation for the first Coffee & Conversation of the new year! In Olmsted County, hundreds of adults are experiencing homelessness. Each person's story and needs are unique. Currently, multiple organizations and agencies are working together...
Congratulations to our 2024 Fall Better Communities Grantees!
This fall, Rochester Area Foundation awarded $110,000 in the impact areas of Basic Needs and Economic Mobility and Historically Marginalized Communities.
Rochester Area Foundation is generously supported by
