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 in Which We Live

Welcome to the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, a leading community foundation in Upstate New York! Our experienced and dedicated staff and trustees are committed to matching donor support with community and nonprofit organization needs through innovative, solution-based community investments aimed at positive regional impact. Our community project funding, local grant programs, and initiatives have allowed us to move the Herkimer and Oneida County region forward.

For 70 years, we have grown and stewarded community resources to ensure greater capacity for future needs and unexpected challenges. On top of creating endowed funds and setting up planned charitable giving options, we've also created many scholarship and community grant opportunities.

If you'd like to learn more about our community funding opportunities, how to set up a planned giving partnership, or ways to support Herkimer and Oneida County nonprofits, we welcome you to contact us today!

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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, 2025

$250M

Total Assets

$24.8M

Donations

3,221

Donors

613

Active Funds

$17.9M

Community Investments

$250M

Total Assets
$24.8M

Donations
3,221

Donors
613

Active Funds
$17.9M

Community Investments

Our Story is Your Story

Strengthening Our Community Together

Grant 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 Dicks, President/CEO

(3 Total)

More to Explore...

All News All Stories

How does the Mohawk Valley Giving Guide support local nonprofits?

The Mohawk Valley Giving Guide is a community-wide resource, powered by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, designed to bridge people looking to give with local nonprofit needs across our region.

Oneida County Launches Youth Investment Initiative

In partnership with Oneida County, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is seeking applications from local nonprofit organizations for programs that address the unique needs and challenges of at-risk youth in Oneida County and provide meaningful services which help to reduce acts of violence among youth.

Protecting Charitable Freedom and Donor Intent

Recent reports about national donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsors Fidelity Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, and Schwab Charitable/DAFgiving360 have sparked important conversations across the philanthropic community regarding donor intent and the freedom to give to the causes you care about most.

Community Foundation and UpMobility Foundation to Host Fifth-Annual Giving Day to Support Nonprofits

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation are pleased to announce that the fifth-annual online day of giving, “Mohawk Valley Gives,” will take place on Friday, September 18, benefiting nonprofits serving Herkimer, Oneida, and Otsego counties. Nonprofit organizations interested in participating must complete a brief registration form at givemv.org between Monday, April 27, and Sunday, May 31.