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 Dicks, President/CEO

(3 Total)

More to Explore...

All News All Stories

Hero Fund America Fund Announces Awards in Support of First Responders

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties Hero Fund America Fund has awarded $10,000 to increase awareness, advocacy and support for fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies in New York and other states.

Community Foundation Awards Over $2.5 Million to Nonprofits, Opens 15 New Funds

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties announced more than $2.5 million in community investments during the first half of 2021 to organizations and initiatives primarily in the areas of equity, economic development, education, and pandemic relief. This total includes more than $376,00 in awards through the organization’s competitive grants process as well as activity of its 120+ donor-advised funds. Also included in that total is support from the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund to 30 local nonprofit organizations.

Evelyn’s House: A Safe Harbor for Motherhood

Evelyn’s House provides a more homelike, less institutional setting for our community’s young mothers and moms-to-be facing extraordinary challenges.

Donor Contribution to Advance the Work of Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program at Utica College

A local youth program, Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program (YSLPP), has received $1 million in funding to enhance and grow its programming for area students.