The Hero Fund America Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties recently awarded over $20,500 to 15 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.

The Connor Arthur Lynskey Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties announced this year’s recipients of awards to graduating seniors from high schools within the two counties. 

Hero Fund America (HFA) Fund, a field-of-interest fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, is seeking applications for its First Responders Grant Round for programs, projects, and other needs that will support education, training, lifesaving equipment, and mental health of fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies.

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.

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.

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.