Take Charge of Change for Education

Every child deserves an education that fosters growth and success, but not all children have equal access to high-quality educational opportunities.

From preschool to college and beyond, education has been a pillar of Community Foundation investment since our founding in 1972. One of our proudest achievements is helping to bring universal Pre-K to the City of Rochester. Our grantmaking remains grounded in research, with a focus on social and emotional learning.

Pre-K Students at Rochester Childfirst Network, a Foundation grantee. Photo by Erich Camping

Over the years we’ve helped generous donors improve student outcomes from cradle to career, ensure consistent quality of programs across schools, and provide technology and digital access to urban and rural students alike.

If you are equally committed to helping every child succeed in school and life, we’re excited to partner with you. Here are some meaningful ways to take charge of change as an education advocate.

The Community Foundation’s Education Fund allows us to use our expertise to support the organizations and projects that will have the greatest impact closing academic achievement and opportunity gaps, with emphasis on children living in the City of Rochester. Because the fund is endowed, contributors can be assured their donations will have impact today and in the future.

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If you want to learn more about setting up your own fund to support education, click here.

Here are some organizations we have recently funded that would also benefit from your direct support:

  • Children’s Institute: With a Foundation grant, the Rochester Area Parent Program helps parents of infants to 5-year-olds strengthen their parenting skills based on the proven Chicago Parent Program.
  • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester: This financial education program teaches money management skills to Monroe County youth between the ages of 11 and 18.
  • PathStone Foundation: After a fourth-grade teacher at Sherman Elementary School in Henrietta successfully piloted a curriculum to teach a local history of racist policies, the district rolled the curriculum out to other classes. A Foundation grant will further expand these efforts – providing professional development for Monroe County teachers and making the content publicly available online.

Rochester Education Foundation: The Foundation provides ongoing support for the College Access program, which helps students navigate the complicated decisions and paperwork involved in applying to college. In-person FAFSA Fests help students complete forms that determine financial aid eligibility, and families can make appointments with the College Help Desk anytime during the process. As a result, more students are applying for college each year.

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We’d love to start a conversation about turning your vision into real-world change. Email us at giving@racf.org.