The Schenectady Foundation was created by community leaders as a charitable trust to benefit the health and well-being of people who live and work in Schenectady County, NY.

In 1963, The Foundation made its first grant: $250 to the YMCA. While a modest gift at that time (about $1,900 in today’s dollars), it was the first of many to come. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed $36 million in grants and scholarships for charitable programs in Schenectady County. 

Today, the Foundation grants more than $2 million each year into the community.

The mission of The Schenectady Foundation is to advance the sustainable well-being of the people of Schenectady County. 

By developing a major endowment for our community, the Foundation is able to make significant grants that truly have an impact on our health and well-being.  Over time the Foundation has supported more than 180 community organizations, and has provided a strong base of support for charitable projects both large and small.


The Foundation identifies key issues on which to focus its grants and initiatives. Equitable Access to Healthy Food, Neighborhood Revitalization and Emergent Needs are its current impact areas. 

The Foundation initiated a movement called O.N.E. Schenectady to support and mobilize community-driven systems change. Root causes are addressed by placing those most impacted in the center of problem-solving, and listening to how systems are -- or are not -- working for them.

The Schenectady Foundation

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