Orange and Rockland County Foundations Merge, Launch New Charitable Funds

After nine years of operating as separate but collaborating entities, the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan and the Rockland Community Foundation officially became one organization on January 1, 2026, with New York State Attorney General approval clearing the way for the merger that created the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland.

The consolidated organization, headquartered in Montgomery, now administers 620 active charitable funds representing nearly $71 million in assets. Since its founding in 1999, the foundation and its donors have awarded nearly $45 million in grants and scholarships spanning education, health, the arts, environmental programs and youth initiatives across the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

"This merger is an exciting milestone for our region," said President and CEO Elizabeth Rowley. "With expanded leadership and a unified mission, the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland is well-positioned to build deeper connections and more opportunities for philanthropy and community impact."

The merger, guided by a staff and volunteer Merger Task Force, allows the foundation to consolidate operations and expand its geographic reach without changing its core services or mission. A satellite office opened last year in Bridgeville in Sullivan County, and a second satellite is planned for Rockland County. The foundation also unveiled a new logo reflecting the expanded three-county footprint.

The merger caps a period of active program growth. In 2024, the foundation distributed $3,941,382 in grants across 54 awards and $543,000 in scholarships reaching students in every school district across Orange and Sullivan counties. In November 2025, it launched the Community Harvest Fund to direct grants toward food insecurity, encouraging nonprofits to apply for funding to support neighbors in need. That same month, the foundation held its annual "Forging Paths of Purpose" reception celebrating donor impact.

Earlier in 2025, the foundation announced it would award $500,000 in scholarships, with an April 14 application deadline for students. Its Make a Difference Fund, which awards up to $5,000 per county for educational, recreational and wellness programs serving children and families in distressed communities, announced 2025 recipients in September. The program has recently expanded to include arts and humanities programming for disadvantaged youth and elderly residents across Orange, Sullivan and Rockland counties.

The Hudson Valley Animal Shelter Fund, established through a bequest from Jean Rowe, awarded its 2025 grants in March to organizations dedicated to rescuing, sheltering and defending animals. Past recipients have included the Sullivan County SPCA and Iron Horse Sanctuary in Goshen.

The foundation's Community Perspective Fund awards up to five $1,000 grants each fall to organizations with annual budgets of $1 million or less that advance equity and inclusion across the region. Applications open each year between October 20 and November 24.

More information about the merged foundation and its funds is available at cfosrny.org.