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
2023 Annual Report
Celebrating 80 Years of Impact
Thank you for joining Rochester Area Foundation to celebrate our Spring Grant Awardees and 80 years of impact!
Coffee & Conversation: Regional Summer Activities for All
Join us to hear from representatives from Rochester Art Center, Greater Lake City Community Foundation, Stewartville Community Foundation, and Chosen Valley Community Foundation. Each will be sharing the ways in which they impact our communities and how you can enjoy...
RAF Awards $110,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations
Rochester Area Foundation wishes to congratulate the eleven community nonprofit organizations that received Better Communities Grants this spring. Better Communities Grants are Rochester Area Foundation’s competitive grant awards, providing unrestricted funding for...
March 2024 News Leaf
Stay up to date with our March 2024 newsletter! Click the image below to read.
Coffee & Conversation: Celebrating 80 Years of Impact
In May 1944, community members including Harry Harwick determined that Rochester would benefit from the creation of a community foundation. That year, Mayo Properties Association (now the Mayo Foundation) transferred an unconditional gift of $3,500 to the newly formed...