• Help donors in their charitable giving
• Assist financial advisors and attorneys to explore giving options to benefit their clients
• Establish endowment funds for nonprofits and other charitable causes
• Provide grants and resources to community organizations, and
• Work with government, private foundations, and local leaders to address current and emerging needs.      

A History of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County  

In 1965, a small group of Poughkeepsie business and professional leaders met to share a vision of a foundation, organized and supported by community people to reflect the distinctive needs of our community.  In 1969 their planning led to the creation of the Poughkeepsie Area Fund, the forerunner of today’s Community Foundation of Dutchess County.  Established with a "seed money" grant of $100,000 - the first grant by the McCann Foundation - the vision of those leaders set the framework for a community foundation that has had a significant impact on the quality of life in our area.  

The Community Foundation of Dutchess County (the Area Fund) made many important contributions to the community:

• spearheaded the initial capital campaign to construct the Mid-Hudson Civic Center
• acquired and restored two historic landmark buildings: The Vassar Brothers Institute and the former Vassar Home for Aged Men; buildings now managed by the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center
• provided low-cost rental space to a number of nonprofit agencies serving the community
• constructed the Stanford Medical Center in Stanfordville in partnership with the Stanford Lions Club.  

Just last year more than $1.2 million in grants and scholarships were awarded in Dutchess, Ulster and surrounding counties – dollars that are working in our communities in response to the needs of our fellow residents.  

Gifts and income from endowments established at the Community Foundation of Dutchess County have provided many grants to not-for-profits to assist them in carrying out worthwhile programs and projects that further enrich the lives of many citizens in our community.  The Foundation has helped not-for-profits achieve a greater level of programmatic efficiency and effectiveness through scholarships for seminars and grants for equipment and software.   The Foundation is committed to working with other local foundations to enhance these endeavors.  

Since 1986, the Partnership in Education Grants Program has provided grants to teachers in public, private, and parochial schools to be used for professional development and/or programs to be carried out with their classes.  

Today, the Community Foundation of Dutchess County is one of more than 700 community foundations in the United States, collectively holding more than $35 billion in charitable assets.   It is a link between generous citizens and their commitment to the advancement of the arts, human services, the environment, health care, and the education of young people throughout Dutchess County.

Connecting people who care, with causes that matter.