Rochester Area Community Foundation

In today’s information landscape, it can be hard to tune into the signal and tune out the noise.

We've compiled 7 trends shaping philanthropy, with concrete examples of how they are playing out on a local level. Leave a comment below with your thoughts and explore the trends:

Key Trends Set to Shape 2026 - Rochester Area Community Foundation 7 trends set to shape the future of the philanthropic sector, from federal funding shifts to embedded AI, with local examples.

Be part of something meaningful this Juneteenth.

The 2026 Rochester Juneteenth Festival is looking for volunteers to help create a welcoming and memorable experience for thousands of community members.
Volunteer opportunities are available June 18-20 for individuals and groups, including:
• Registration support
• Grounds support
• Food area maintenance
• First Aid Station
• Runners/Floaters
• Stage support
• Event setup and breakdown

This year's theme, Beloved Community, celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a society rooted in justice, opportunity, and love for one another.

Join us in honoring Juneteenth and helping bring this important community celebration to life.

Sign up today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg42YCAUrKWrhwI83shumr9grRu5g_Flr-VdOKQFgNoQPVGw/viewform

🎷There's one week left to buy tickets for Evening Out with Jazz! Join us for:
• An evening with community members passionate about regional arts & culture
• Prime parking and walkability to post-event performances
• An intimate chat with Kings of Latin Jazz, Tito Puente, Jr. and Nestor Torres

Get your tickets: https://www.racf.org/evening-out/

What does Indian classical and European baroque music have in common? The answer may surprise you. Two hundred listeners went on a genre-bending journey of musical discovery last fall to find out.

The program, by Pegasus Early Music, NYS Baroque, and Vidita Kanniks, was designed to contrast two distinct musical styles, while highlighting how much they have in common. Support for this project was provided by the Community Foundation's Arts & Culture grant cycle in 2025.

Earlier this year, the Community Foundation awarded $688,000 in grants to 64 nonprofits arts organizations, investing in creative potential across eight counties.

Read more:

Indian-Baroque Fusion Captivates New Listeners - Rochester Area Community Foundation A grant to Pegasus Early Music helped reach new listeners with a blend of classical Indian music and Western Baroque.

Caring for our community means showing up for the spaces that bring us together. 🌱

For this year’s United Way Day of Caring, our team helped clean up the Genesee Riverway Trail and plant new greenery at Conkey Corner Park. Thank you to United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes for organizing this impact-driven event!

As Superintendent of Rush Henrietta Central School District, board member Dr. Barbara Mullen is constantly finding innovative ways to inspire students. Her most recent engagement idea? Inviting NFL quarterback and activist, Colin Kaepernick, to visit Rush-Henrietta High School and share how Lumi Story is transforming the classroom through additive AI learning.

"My job is to make sure students don't leave here without joy, happiness, and a foundation to make sure that they can change the world when they leave," Dr. Mullen explained in an interview with PrimeTime585. Thank you, Dr. Mullen, for all that you do for our community!

Colin Kaepernick visits Rush-Henrietta, promotes AI platform ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Today, the former NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick visited Rush-Henrietta High School for an assembly featuring student presentations. Kaepernick was at the sc…

Congratulations RENEW Climate Fund on reaching an incredible milestone: 1,000 projects completed right here in our community!

Want to help keep that momentum going? Through our carbon calculator, a simple $22 donation offsets 1,000 miles of driving. It’s a quick, powerful way to honor RENEW's impact and do your part for a greener, more sustainable region: https://www.renew-roc.org/calculator

We just funded our 1,000th project! Join us in celebrating a decade of working with awesome community partners as an initiative of the Rochester Area Community Foundation! We’ve braided $16.6M to help make the homes of 1,000+ income-qualified Monroe County homeowners more energy-efficient, healthier, & safer. This work will keep 12,466+ tons of greenhouse gas emissions out of our atmosphere and homeowners report better physical & mental health outcomes.
Celebrate with us by making a donation to support this work, follow us on FB & IG, and check out our terrific website (link below) to learn more.
Thank you to all of our generous funders, donors, colleagues, and community partners. 🌏💚

The LGBT+ Giving Circle's 15th Anniversary and Grants Reception is just two weeks away! 🏳️‍🌈

Whether you're new to the group or a long-time member, all are welcome. Register by June 1st to receive an additional drink ticket for the day of the event, and learn what the LGBT+ Giving Circle is all about: https://www.racf.org/about/events/lgbt-giving-circle-anniversary/

We asked. You answered. Immerse yourself in our Evening Out with Jazz playlist -- curated especially for you, by you. 🎼

Visit our website to listen now: https://www.racf.org/evening-out/

We're hiring!

The Community Foundation is looking for a multimedia designer to join our team. Are you curious, bold, accountable, and interested in using your well-honed design skills to have a positive impact on the greater Rochester region?

Apply today: https://www.indeed.com/job/multimedia-designer-2e86bde191008340