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
Affiliate News: Chosen Valley Community Foundation announces slate of 2019 grant recipients
Chosen Valley Community Foundation - an affiliate of Rochester Area Foundation - recently had a great write-up in the Bluff Country News about their 2019 Grants: Things not to be taken for granted, but made possible when granted: Home, connectivity, a good read...
Celebrating Community Collaboration at Zumbro Ridge Estates
Rochester Area Foundation was joined by representatives from Zumbro Ridge Estates, The Coalition for Rochester Area Housing, and numerous company representatives who collaborated to improve Zumbro Ridge Estates for a ribbon-cutting celebration. In 2017, residents of...
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...
Rochester Area Foundation is generously supported by
