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
First Homes Dedicated to Preserving Affordable Housing by Working to Purchase Center Street Village Apartments
First Homes, a subsidiary of Rochester Area Foundation, is conducting due diligence after signing an agreement to purchase the Center Street Village apartments (626 E Center St, Rochester, MN) to preserve the apartments as naturally occurring affordable housing....
Stories of Giving: Jose Rivas
Rochester has been my home for over 25 years. I wasn’t born here. I didn’t grow up here, but I love this place, and it is my home and that of my children. I was born in Venezuela and spent the majority of my childhood there. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that...
Thank you for helping us celebrate 75 years!
On December 10th we hosted an open house at Rochester Art Center to wrap-up a year of celebrations for our 75th Anniversary. Thank you to everyone that could make it, and everyone that continues to support our vision of Better Communities of All.
Denise Kelly: Advice on Leaving a Charitable Legacy Through Your Estate Plan
Denise Kelly, a Rochester Area Foundation Trustee and Trust Officer at U.S. Bank, recently sat down with us to offer her advice on leaving a charitable legacy through an estate plan, and strategies for giving to your community and your family.
Vote for the December Community Choice Grant!
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 December’s theme is GENEROUS. The following nonprofits have been...
Stories of Giving: Lora Anderson
Lora Anderson was born in 1884, and graduated from Rochester High School in 1903. After attending college, she returned to teach at Rochester High School. Lora continued teaching in Rochester until 1950. During her decades of teaching, Lora bestowed a legacy of care...
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