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
Mind Matters PostSecret Event
As part of an ongoing conversation around mental health in Olmsted County, the library and Friends of the Library are sponsoring an event with PostSecret founder Frank Warren. PostSecret Live features postcards from Warren’s PostSecret project, which range from...
Friends of Quarry Hill Nature Center receives June Community Choice Grant
Congratulations to Friends of Quarry Hill Nature Center for being the lead vote-getter in our June Community Choice Grants! We were happy to present a grant of $1,500 to support their mission of opening eyes and minds through natural science discovery. Other...
Thank you, Evelyn, for opening your DAF!
Rochester Area Foundation's newest fundholder is Evelyn Schlichting! Evelyn recently retired and is looking forward to using her Donor Advised Fund to give back to the local area. Thank you, Evelyn, for investing in Better Communities for All!
New Grant Portal Open for Fall Cycle of Better Communities Grants
In an effort to increase accessibility and streamline our Better Communities Grants process, Rochester Area Foundation is implementing a new Online Grants Management system. Among many benefits we think you will appreciate is your ability to control organizational...
RAF Awards $57,000 in scholarships to 48 area students
Rochester Area Foundation awarded 48 scholarships totaling $57,000 to area students in the 2018-2019 school year. Scholarships are awarded from funds donors have created to support post-secondary educational opportunities for students. This was the first year that a...
Vote for a FUN Nonprofit in June
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 May’s theme is HEALTHY. The following nonprofits have been...
Rochester Area Foundation is generously supported by
