Our History

The Rockland Community Foundation has long been the dream and goal of many in Rockland County. It was in the past few years that this dream has become a reality thanks to the unbridled passion and commitment of its charter Board members.

With a portion of funds provided by the Foundation's first bequest, a gift from the Andrew Norman estate, the Foundation initiated a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a community foundation in Rockland.

Based on the study's findings, the Foundation was established and the remaining Norman funds went to establish six initial funds: The Environment Fund; The Arts Fund; The Andrew Norman Social Justice Fund; The Women and Girls Fund; The Education Fund, and The Health and Human Services Fund.

In addition to the six funds, the Rockland Community Foundation is quickly adding funds under its umbrella, and has the goal to surpass the growth of two nearby foundations:

• The Community Foundation of Orange/Sullivan, which in just six years has built its endowment and funds to more than $5 million and 120-plus funds operating underneath it.

• The Community Foundation of Dutchess County has been operating since
  1969 and has nearly $30 million in its endowment and hundreds of funds.