A Vibrant Region with Opportunity for All

Driven by our vision, the Community Foundation’s mission is to Engage, Invest, and Lead to strengthen Herkimer and Oneida counties.

See how we make a difference

Our Foundation

Build, Enhance & Sustain the Community

Our experienced staff and dedicated trustees are committed to matching donor support with community need through innovative, solution-based community investments aimed at positive impact.

For 70 years, we have grown and stewarded community resources to ensure greater capacity for future needs and unexpected challenges.

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Our Mission

Engage

We partner with donors and community organizations to determine funding solutions to residents' needs, advancing and enhancing community development.

Invest

We maximize donor impact through long-term stewardship, and commit funds and resources to nonprofit partner organizations for the greatest possible community impact.

Lead

We provide leadership to bring community partners together for collaborative impact, acting as a trusted advocate that can bridge differences and build meaningful coalitions.

Annual Figures as of December 31, 2021

$198M+

Total Assets

$14M

Donations

725

Donors

475

Active Funds

$11M

Community Investments

$198M+

Total Assets
$14M

Donations
725

Donors
475

Active Funds
$11M

Community Investments

Our Story is Your Story

Strengthening Our Community Together

Funding Opportunities

Ways to Give

Create a Fund

Who We Are

We Are Here to Better Our Community

Through nonprofit partnerships we work to strengthen our community, enhancing neighborhood vibrancy, creating jobs, educating, and addressing racial equity and social justice challenges.

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In Their Own Words

“My wife and I had talked about establishing a foundation, and as we discussed it more, we began to see all the potential challenges involved. How do you manage it? How do you decide what agencies to give grants to without the ability to supervise it all? The more challenges that we considered, the more it seemed that the Community Foundation was the place that could handle all of these matters and handle them very well.”
Donald Van Waes, Fundholder

“It has been an unbelievable relationship. We’ve been able to figure out a way to utilize the Community Foundation’s resources for some great projects that have turned into stories that we’ve been able to tell in various ways about how amazing the organization has been in helping us reach our goal of building community.”
Kevin Crosley, President/CEO, Arc Herkimer

“Every day, I’m proud to be part of a community so rich in promise and possibility—as we turn challenges into progress. Together we can realize our collective potential so that everyone’s opportunity to succeed contributes to a bright future for all.”
Alicia Fernandez Dicks, President/CEO

(3 Total)

More to Explore...

All News All Stories

M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Fund Marks 15 Years with 2022 Grant Announcements

M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund (MTPT) at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded nearly $585,000 to area nonprofits in 2022—a special year for the fund as it celebrated its 15-year anniversary supporting the Mohawk Valley.

Community Foundation to Host January 17 Nonprofit Town Hall

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties will hold a free virtual town hall for nonprofits serving the two counties on Tuesday, January 17, at 10 A.M. via Zoom.

Operation Sunshine Fund Awards $9,000 to Area Nonprofits

The Operation Sunshine Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties has awarded $9,000 to nonprofits in support of summer camperships. Following the transition from a nonprofit affiliate of the Observer-Dispatch newspaper to a Community Foundation fund, Operation Sunshine Fund continues to uphold its original mission of providing underprivileged kids with a summer camp experience.

Adirondack League Club Awards Over $100,000 to Area Nonprofits

The Adirondack League Club Community Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded more than $118,000 to support over 20 area nonprofits in the third quarter of 2022.