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
Fall Grant Showcase Recognizes 18 Nonprofit Finalists
Rochester Area Foundation recently hosted our Fall Better Communities Grants Showcase. The Grants Showcase celebrates philanthropy in action by giving donors and community members a chance to connect with the nonprofits selected as grant finalists by the RAF Grants...
October Community Choice Grants – Voting is Open!
To celebrate 75 years of Rochester Area Foundation’s impact on our communities, we are giving special grants all year long! We’re highlighting a different aspect of “better communities” each month – and October’s theme is CREATIVE. The following nonprofits have been...
In the News: A Win for Affordable Housing
(ABC 6 News) -- Affordable housing is an ongoing issue in our community and communities across the country. “It’s very difficult to buy a house in this county if you make less than $75,000 a year because there just isn’t a lot of inventory,” said Steve Borchardt,...
It’s Time to Vote for our September Community Choice Grants
To celebrate 75 years of Rochester Area Foundation’s impact on our communities, we are giving special grants all year long! We’re highlighting a different aspect of “better communities” each month – and September’s theme is LEARNING. The following nonprofits have been...
weGive365 Members Award 2019 Grants
weGive365 is a dollar-a-day collaborative giving program that lets members pool their money and make a positive impact on our community through grants to nonprofits. In July, members of Rochester Area Foundation’s weGive365 program voted to support the following grant...
Voting is open for the August Community Choice Grants!
To celebrate 75 years of Rochester Area Foundation’s impact on our communities, we are giving special grants all year long! We’re highlighting a different aspect of “better communities” each month – and August’s theme is COLLABORATIVE. The following nonprofits have...
Rochester Area Foundation is generously supported by
