Best Rochester Grants for Nonprofits in New York

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

John J. Morton, MD and John H. Morton, MD Memorial Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide loan repayment awards to graduating medical school students who have just matched in a surgical residency or interns and residents continuing in a surgical residency program who plan to focus on patient care.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $60,000; may be split between two or more recipients. Minimum award $10,000. Award paid in the Fall.

Donor Information

This scholarship was established by Mrs. Ruth Irland Morton and family members to recognize the accomplishments of her husband, Dr. John H. Morton, and his father, Dr. John J. Morton. Dr. John J. Morton was the first chairman of surgery at the new University of Rochester Medical School when it was founded in 1921. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dr. John H. Morton was known for his kind, skillful, and conscientious service to surgical patients, medical students, and the medical profession. In his role as surgeon at Strong Memorial Hospital, Dr. John H. Morton cared for a broad range of patients with an emphasis on management of trauma and burns. Years later he would become the director of the Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department. He also spent many years in developing licensing exams, and he enjoyed teaching students at all levels. Dr. John H. Morton was president of the Monroe County Medical Society when the Medical Scholarship Committee was first established.

The Stickley Scholarship Fund, established by L. & J. G. Stickley, Inc., offers the Aminy I. Audi Scholarship Award. This scholarship supports high school graduates who are children of full-time employees with over two years of service. Recipients must demonstrate financial need, engage in community service, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. This initiative underscores the foundation's commitment to fostering educational opportunities and equity in the Central New York region.

The JGS Fellowship for Photography offers a $7,000 cash grant to photography artists residing in New York State, excluding New York City. This competitive fellowship supports five artists engaged in traditional and experimental photography. Funded by The Joy of Giving Something, the fellowship aims to assist artists in creating new works and exhibitions. Eligible applicants must be at least 25 years old and have lived in a qualifying region of New York State for at least 12 months.

The M&T Charitable Foundation Grants provide essential support to a variety of organizations focused on enhancing community well-being. With a mission rooted in corporate responsibility, the foundation prioritizes partnerships with 501(c)(3) organizations in sectors such as arts, health, education, and human services. By investing in local initiatives, the foundation aims to create healthier communities and improve the quality of life for all stakeholders involved.

The Special Opportunity Grant, offered by the University of Rochester, supports students in the Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Certificate program. It funds career-related activities not covered by standard curriculum, such as workshops, professional shadowing, and online courses. This grant prioritizes applications from current Fellows, recent graduates, and those who have not previously received funding, ensuring that diverse opportunities are accessible for skill enhancement.

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide scholarships for optometry students in an accredited College of Optometry who demonstrate financial need and a sincere desire to practice optometry in Upstate New York after graduation, preferably in the counties of Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, and/or Wayne.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses for optometry school.

Preference is given to applicants who want to return to Upstate New York after graduation and work in areas served by the Rochester Optometric Society. 

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance to a current, full-time, sophomore or junior female student at St. John Fisher University continuing her education.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for educational expenses at St. John Fisher University.

The selection process is coordinated through St. John Fisher University. A committee at the college reviews applications, selects the recipient(s), and informs the Community Foundation.

The NIA — Neighbors in Action program, initiated in 2025, aims to empower community-driven projects in Rochester. With grants ranging from $250 to $10,000, it invites neighborhood associations, block clubs, and community organizations to apply. Established to revitalize local neighborhoods, NIA promotes resident engagement and action. Since its inception, it has funded numerous initiatives to enhance community connections and foster collaboration among residents, striving for a more connected and vibrant Rochester.

Purpose of Scholarship

For a graduating Rochester City School District senior who plans to study science, technology, engineering, or math at Monroe Community College.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

The F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants are part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for Fiscal Year 2026. These grants, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support state-level management plans to combat aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Eligible applicants include Great Lakes states and their designees, with funding awarded through a competitive selection process.

Purpose of Scholarship

For academically talented and community-minded high school graduates continuing their education.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance for the expenses associated with higher education for a student who possesses a spirit and aptitude for understanding and appreciating the free enterprise system that allows private philanthropy to exist.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

Purpose of Scholarship

To assist accomplished graduates of the Rochester City School District who are motivated to attend college and need financial support to obtain either an Associates or Bachelors degrees from SUNY schools with the goal of employment and economic self sufficiency.

Allowed Use of Award - Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

The Brinker International Charitable Giving Program focuses on giving back to communities through support for kids, hunger, and education. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501c(3) non-profits and submit requests at least six weeks prior to events. The program does not support individuals, political or religious organizations, or explicit discrimination policies. Funding is provided through monetary donations or in-kind contributions like dining certificates.

The John F. Wegman Fund, established in 1953, focuses on enhancing community welfare in Rochester and Monroe County. It supports innovative, small-scale programs aimed at improving the lives of older adults, youth, and labor relations through education. With a preference for one-time grants, the fund seeks to empower nonprofit organizations that address these critical community needs, ensuring impactful contributions to the region's quality of life.

The Jean Griswold Foundation

The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.

By offering educational scholarships*, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the federally accredited educational institutions of the winning Scholars’ choosing.

Empowering Caregivers Through Education

The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.  

Our Winter 2026 Scholarship Application period is now open! Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET August 31, 2026. Join our email list to get the first notice of all Scholarship happenings.  

Where would we be without Caregivers? 

Their selflessness is astounding, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated. 

The Jean Griswold Foundation is dedicated to supporting Caregivers, the backbone of the care industry. We provide educational scholarships so Care Professionals can further their training, enhance their skills, elevate their careers, and better assist the people they serve.

The Citizens Grants: Financial Empowerment program supports nonprofits focused on creating measurable impacts in financial education for low to moderate income individuals and small businesses. This grant emphasizes partnerships with established 501(c)(3) organizations and encourages collaborative efforts that demonstrate alignment with funding priorities. By investing in financial literacy, Citizens aims to enhance fiscal health in underserved communities across select geographic areas.

The Citizens Charitable Foundation offers grants focused on Workforce Development and Financial Empowerment. Organizations applying must be IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in specific states. The foundation seeks to partner with high-impact nonprofits to create measurable community impact through innovative programs. Funding is directed towards job training, career education, and coaching initiatives, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and volunteerism.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation is dedicated to fostering a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and a vibrant Southeast Michigan community. Since its inception, it has invested over $180 million in environmental, cultural, and educational initiatives. As it transitions to spend down its assets by 2034, the Foundation aims to make bold, impactful investments that address urgent community needs and promote sustainable development.

The Schmitt Foundation Grant, established by Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt, supports non-profit organizations in the greater Rochester area. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3) and are not classified as private foundations. The foundation funds projects related to health care, higher education, human services, medical research, and performing arts. Grants are not available for operating expenses, ensuring that support is directed towards impactful community projects.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Armenian Scholarship Fund in memory of Charles J. Churukian

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance to graduating seniors pursuing careers in medicine, science, or music.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $4,000; paid as $1,000 per year for up to four consecutive years of undergraduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports innovative green infrastructure projects enhancing community livability. With funding opportunities ranging from conceptual plans to full project implementation, this program aims to reduce stormwater runoff, improve urban green spaces, and boost local water health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eligible locations include parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as New York.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Everest Institute Alumni Fund Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance to a graduating senior from a community of color residing in our 8-county region who plans to attend Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship or pursue a similar post-secondary business degree or certificate program.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; paid in one lump sum.

Donor Information

This scholarship was created by contributions from Everest Institute alumni; the fund was transferred from a bank to the Community Foundation in 1991.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Elvira Caroselli Creative Spirit Award

Purpose of Scholarship

The Elvira Caroselli Creative Spirit Award will provide small awards to encourage the creative spirit and endeavors of junior and senior high school students.

Number and Size of Awards

Number of recipients and award amounts vary; paid in one lump sum in the Summer. Maximum award $1,500.

Donor Information

Mrs. Caroselli loved creating, designing, and experimenting. This remarkable woman dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support her family. Despite a lack of formal education, she sold an invention to a major manufacturer when she was 70 years old.

Mission & Vision

Rochester Area Community Foundation, in partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking.

Our Mission:

We are cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.

Our Vision:

We envision a Greater Rochester region transformed by enduring philanthropy, where every person, neighborhood, and future generation can thrive.

Elizabeth Schmidt Nursing Scholarship

Purpose of Scholarship

To provide financial assistance to graduate nursing students studying to become nurse practitioners for the expenses associated with higher education.

Number and Size of Awards

Two awards of $18,000 each; paid as $6,000 per year for up to three consecutive years of graduate study. Award paid in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Donor Information

This scholarship was created by the estate of Elizabeth Schmidt to provide scholarships for nursing students and graduate nursing students studying to become nurse practitioners from Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, and Yates Counties to attend colleges and universities in the same four county area.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion.About Sustain Our Great Lakes Program

Sustain Our Great Lakes is a public–private partnership designed to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the basin by leveraging funding, building conservation capacity, and focusing partners and resources toward key ecological issues. The program achieves this mission, in part, by awarding grants for on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement.Funding priorities for this program include:

• Habitat Restoration to Conserve Species and Improve Water Quality
• Expand and Maintain Nature-Based Solutions in Great Lakes Communities
• Invasive Species Control to Protect and Enhance Restored Habitat
• Activate Restored Habitats and Natural Areas

The Corning Nonprofit Grants program supports community-based initiatives in education, human services, and culture. Eligible nonprofits that align with our criteria may apply for funding on a rolling basis. The application window for invited organizations runs from February 10 to September 15. We emphasize local impact within a 20-mile radius of Corning, NY, ensuring that our contributions foster collective growth and engagement in the community.