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, 2020

$175M+

Total Assets

$9.2M

Donations

1,230

Donors

450

Active Funds

$11.2M+

Community Investments

$175M+

Total Assets
$9.2M

Donations
1,230

Donors
450

Active Funds
$11.2M+

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

Community Foundation Announces First 24-hour Giving Day to Support Nonprofits

To enhance support for the many nonprofit organizations meeting community needs, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties announced today that it will organize a first-ever 24-hour day of giving on September 20, 2022. “Mohawk Valley Gives” will provide nonprofits serving the two counties a free platform designed to build donor enthusiasm for their organizations.

Hero Fund America Fund Announces Open Grant Round for First Responders

Hero Fund America (HFA) Fund, a field-of-interest fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, has announced that its annual grant round that supports the education, training, lifesaving equipment and mental health needs of first responders will be held from May 1 – June 30. Grant recipients will be notified by the end of July.

Operation Sunshine Transitions to the Community Foundation

After more than 50 years of enriching the lives of the community’s young people, Operation Sunshine has partnered with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, ensuring that its mission will continue to be fulfilled through grants to nonprofit organizations for many years to come.

Broadway Utica Announces Strategy to Meet Future Needs

Broadway Utica has established a permanent partnership with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties to give the performing arts organization a way to support, expand and continue its impact for years to come.