The Schenectady Foundation

What The Schenectady Foundation does

The Schenectady Foundation is a community foundation established in 1962/1963 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York. It operates as a tax-exempt charitable trust whose stated mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of Schenectady County through strategic philanthropy. Over the roughly six decades since founding, the Foundation has deployed approximately $35 million into the community through grants, scholarships, and community initiatives.

The Foundation's product surface is a portfolio of grantmaking programs rather than commercial goods. Active programs include food security funding (with a $740,000 deployment to nine organizations in 2025), neighborhood revitalization, emergent needs funding, and micro-grants. It also administers a scholarship program that expanded to $91,000 in a recent cycle. Newer product additions include the Grassroots Fund (2024) targeting smaller community-based initiatives and an Arts Fund seeded by a $322,000 bequest (2025). In 2023, the Foundation co-launched the Schenectady County Food Council as a multi-stakeholder coalition on food systems.

The Foundation's underlying economics follow the standard community foundation model rather than a revenue-generation model. Inflows come from individual, corporate, and bequest donations combined with endowment investment returns; outflows are grants, scholarships, and administrative costs. A small 8-person staff manages donor relations, endowment stewardship, and grantmaking operations. The 2025 grant program totaled approximately $2 million, and the Foundation has publicly signaled $1.4 million in planned grants and scholarships for 2026. Governance is provided by a volunteer board, with Kirk Lewis assuming the Chair role in January 2024 and additional new board members onboarded in 2026.

Name

The Schenectady Foundation

Legal name

The Schenectady Foundation

Website

https://schenectadyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Schenectady Foundation is a Schenectady County, NY community foundation established in 1962/1963 that manages an endowment, distributes grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students, and operates thematic programs in food security, neighborhood revitalization, and the arts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Charitable grantmaking
• Endowment management
• Scholarship programs
• Food security initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Schenectady

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Distribution: The Foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations addressing community priorities including food security, neighborhood revitalization, and emergent needs. The Foundation plans to invest $1.4 million in grants and scholarships in 2026.
2. Donor Contributions: Accepts charitable donations through mail, IRA Charitable Rollover, stocks & securities, Donor Advised Funds, and bequests/legacy gifts to build endowment for perpetual community support.
3. Endowment Management: Trust funds managed by Trustee banks (Trustco Bank, Key Bank, Arrow Bank) that grow through appreciation and new gifts, providing sustainable support for Schenectady charities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Schenectady Foundation is a community foundation and charitable trust that invests a sustainable endowment into Schenectady County, NY through grant programs, scholarships, and community initiatives. The Foundation operates as a Catalyst (investing in community projects), Convener (gathering organizations), and Custodian (stewarding donated resources), distributing grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and awarding scholarships to local high school seniors.

Product overview

The Schenectady Foundation is a community foundation serving Schenectady County, NY, established in 1963 as a charitable trust. The Foundation operates as a catalyst for community change through three primary mechanisms: (1) Grant programs including Equitable Access to Healthy Food, Neighborhood Revitalization, Emergent Needs, and Micro Grants; (2) Scholarship programs including the Erbacher Teaching Scholarship, Schenectady STEM Scholarship, and Build Your Future Vocational Scholarship; and (3) Community initiatives and funds such as the Weekend Backpack Partnership, Schenectady County Food Council, One Schenectady, Arts Fund, and Community Journalism Fund. The Foundation serves as a convener and steward of community resources, making grants that impact health and well-being for generations to come.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food-Secure Schenectady: A signature initiative focused on improving equitable access to nutritious food in Schenectady County, investing $3.5 million since 2021.
• Schenectady County Food Council
• Neighborhood Revitalization
• One Schenectady
• Community Journalism Fund
• Arts Fund

Products and services

• Equitable Access to Healthy Food Grants Grant program funding initiatives to ensure Schenectady County residents have consistent access to fresh, healthy, and nourishing food. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing food security in Schenectady County.
• Neighborhood Revitalization Grants Grant program supporting projects that transform Schenectady neighborhoods into healthier, safer, and more dynamic places through removing blight, creating green space, addressing health disparities, and stimulating economic activity. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Schenectady County.
• Emergent Needs Grants Grant program addressing new and emerging community needs, supporting organizations responding to urgent challenges such as youth mental health, domestic violence services, literacy training, and services for survivors of domestic violence. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Schenectady County.
• Micro Grants Seed funding grants of $10,000 or less for organizations to plan, research, and pilot new initiatives that foster innovation and build stronger community connections. Most awards fall in the $3,000-$7,000 range. For 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Schenectady County.
• Community Event Sponsorships Sponsorships for community events supporting local organizations and programs in Schenectady County.
• Anna Hudson Erbacher Teaching Scholarship Scholarship supporting students in Schenectady County pursuing teaching careers. Recipients receive $10,000 total, paid in annual installments of $2,500, based on academic performance and financial need. For Schenectady County high school seniors.
• Schenectady STEM Scholarship Scholarship supporting graduating seniors from Schenectady City School District pursuing STEM studies. Each year, at least two students receive $10,000 scholarships, established by Sanford A. Shuler to inspire innovators in STEM fields.
• Build Your Future Vocational Scholarship Scholarship supporting students pursuing vocational education and training in skilled trades. Provides up to $1,000 to graduating seniors to pursue certification from a trade or vocational school.
• Weekend Backpack Partnership Signature program reducing food insecurity for elementary school children across Schenectady County by providing nutritious food to take home over weekends.
• Schenectady County Food Council A multi-organization collaborative initiative established by the Foundation to increase food security within Schenectady County by engaging community members to identify food insecurity issues and develop solutions.
• One Schenectady A community-driven movement and declaration of possibility for a future where all Schenectady residents come together to support collective action for thriving communities.
• Arts Fund A dedicated fund established through a bequest from donor Paul Hooker ($322,000) to promote the arts and support community-accessible arts programs including Jazz on Jay, Music Haven Summer Concert Series, and Kids Arts Fest.
• Community Journalism Fund A fund managed by the Foundation to strengthen local news coverage and support independent journalism across Schenectady County, supporting reporters dedicated to local news coverage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2021, invested $3.5 million to make Schenectady County more food-secure
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schenectady County Food CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Multi-organization collaborative initiative established by The Schenectady Foundation to increase food security within Schenectady County. The Foundation serves as sponsor, committed to supporting initiatives that help make communities more food-secure.
• One SchenectadycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA declaration of possibility and community-driven movement for a future where everyone has the chance to thrive. The Foundation leads this initiative to unite diverse residents and organizations of Schenectady County to unleash collective strengths.
• The Daily Gazette / Community Journalism FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation serves as fiscal sponsor for the Community Journalism Fund, helping to sustain and expand local journalism across Schenectady County. Donations are managed by the Foundation and used solely to hire reporters dedicated to local news coverage.
• Capital RootsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization referenced in the Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment. Capital Roots released comprehensive food system assessment with mission to build equity and economic resilience.
• Schenectady County Public Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed development of the Schenectady County Healthy & Equitable Food Action Plan in 2017 to address food insecurity and its root causes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Foundation: The first community foundation (1914), serving Greater Cleveland with overlapping grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund offerings but at materially larger AUM scale.
• The New York Community Trust: One of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S., operating across NYC and broader NY. Overlaps with The Schenectady Foundation on donor-advised funds, scholarship/grantmaking, and endowed-fund stewardship at far greater scale.

Others

• United Way of Schenectady County: A domestic 501(c)(3) headquartered in the same Schenectady County service area. Not a direct grantmaking foundation competitor, but competes for the same donor dollars and engages overlapping nonprofit partners.

Direct peers

• Adirondack Foundation: A regional community foundation serving the Adirondack region of New York. Most comparable in mission, structure, and rural/upstate NY operating context to The Schenectady Foundation.
• The Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley: Another New York State community foundation with comparable grantmaking, scholarship administration, and convening function in a similar county-level service area.
• Rochester Area Community Foundation: An upstate New York community foundation with comparable mix of endowed funds, donor-advised funds, scholarships, and place-based initiatives serving a single regional market.
• Community Foundation for Greater New Haven: A place-based community foundation with comparable grant cycles, donor services, and food/equity initiatives in a single regional service area.
• The Dayton Foundation: A mid-sized legacy community foundation similar in age, structure, and place-based grantmaking focus, with comparable convening role in a single metropolitan region.
• Kalamazoo Community Foundation: A long-standing community foundation with comparable programs (food access, neighborhood revitalization, scholarships, youth) deployed within a single Midwestern county footprint.
• Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo: A New York State community foundation serving the greater Buffalo area with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund programs anchored in a post-industrial upstate economy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/schdyfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchenectadyFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-schenectady-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/schdyfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Schenectady Foundation