Recent reports about national donor-advised fund sponsors have raised important questions about donor intent and the freedom to support the causes you care about most. At the Community Foundation, we believe grant recommendations should be evaluated according to established law and IRS guidance, not by the subjective viewpoints or reputational concerns of a sponsoring financial institution.

Charitable Checking Accounts simplify the giving process by keeping donations and grant recommendations organized in one secure place. Through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, donors can easily support the nonprofits they care about while reducing administrative hassle.

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties concluded another impactful year of community investment in 2025, awarding more than $17.9 million in grants, scholarships, and emergency relief funds—the highest total distributed in a single year in the Foundation’s nearly 75-year history. Donations received in 2025 totaled over $24 million, marking the strongest year on record in terms of dollars raised.

The For The Love of The Game Fund made its first award to a local student. The fund was created in memory of Robert “Bob” Warwick, a dedicated coach and mentor whose kindness, resilience, and selflessness left a lasting mark on all who knew him. 

For many, the end of the year represents a time of reflection and gratitude, and an opportunity to give back. But it’s also the most strategic time for donors to make charitable contributions that not only do good in the community but also make financial sense.

Through the Helpful Harvest Grant Round, supported by the Helpful Harvest Fund, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded over $106,000 to 44 human service organizations including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and others to help alleviate food insecurity and support increased need around the holiday season and colder months.

Every fall, as the season of giving approaches, the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties connects a network of donors, fundholders and nonprofit partners to tackle one of the community’s most pressing issues: food insecurity. 

In the second and third quarters of 2025, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties awarded more than $7.7 million, which is comprised of grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, and support for those impacted by the June 2025 severe weather that impacted Clark Mills, the Town of Kirkland, and surrounding areas. Grants were awarded primarily in the areas of human services, arts and culture, education, and animals.

The Hero Fund America Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties recently awarded over $25,000 to 17 first-responder organizations across the United States. The fund annually seeks to help meet the education, training, lifesaving equipment and mental health needs of fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies.