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

Community Foundation Marks Year Five of Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Initiative

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and the Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Coalition partners are marking the fifth year of a community-wide commitment to reduce high rates of childhood lead poisoning in Oneida and Herkimer counties.

Centering Our Impact

Impact centers could benefit multiple communities across Herkimer and Oneida counties. In Utica, Community Foundation Trustees and staff have made multiple visits to inner-city neighborhoods, walking the streets, talking with residents, elected officials, agency heads and advocates.

Organization Feature: Arc Park

What began with a vision, conceived by Arc Herkimer’s leadership on an afternoon stroll through a nearby empty field, is now a one-of-a-kind, fully accessible recreation facility where individuals of all ages and abilities are welcome.

M&T Bank Fund Awards More than $160,000 to Community Organizations

M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund (MTPT) awarded $160,400 in grants to seven local nonprofits in the first quarter of 2021.