Attorney General Approves Merger Creating Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan, Rockland

The New York State Attorney General has approved the merger of the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan and the Rockland Community Foundation, creating the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland (CFOSR). The combined organization began operating under the new name on January 1, 2026 and now administers more than 600 individual charitable funds across Orange, Sullivan and Rockland counties.

Elizabeth Rowley will continue as president and CEO of the merged foundation, overseeing strategy, development and operations. Rowley said, "This merger is an exciting milestone for our region." She added that with expanded leadership and a unified mission the new foundation is "well-positioned to build deeper connections and more opportunities for philanthropy and community impact."

The governing board expanded as part of the consolidation. Five members of the Rockland Community Foundation board joined CFOSR's larger governing board, bringing total membership to 28. Orange-Sullivan Board President Chris Corallo emphasized continuity for existing funds, saying, "We remain committed to providing excellent service to each of our component funds."

Staffing adjustments include the addition of former Rockland executive Julie Sadowski, who has joined CFOSR as Senior Director of Development, Rockland County. Regina Clark was recently hired as Director of Development for Orange and Sullivan counties. CFOSR is headquartered in the Town of Montgomery at 30 Scott's Corners Drive, Suite 203, Montgomery, NY 12549. The organization maintains a satellite office in Bridgeville, Sullivan County that opened in 2025 and plans a future satellite office in Rockland County to preserve a local presence across the three-county region.

Foundations and nonprofit partners that supported the merger pointed to operational efficiencies and expanded capacity as key benefits. SCDemocratonline noted the combined organization is "continuing its mission of strengthening communities through philanthropy, strategic grantmaking and trusted charitable stewardship." The Dyson Foundation provided a grant from its Strategic Restructuring Program enabling the engagement of merger and legal experts from the New York Council on Nonprofits and the work of a staff and volunteer Merger Task Force. SCDemocratonline reported, "This merger was made possible with the enthusiasm and support of each entity’s Board of Directors, as well as the leadership of the Dyson Foundation." The same outlet added, "A grant from Dyson’s Strategic Restructuring Program allowed engagement of the expert merger and legal team at New York Council on Nonprofits (NYCON), all led by a staff and volunteer Merger Task Force."

Local impact will hinge on how quickly CFOSR translates administrative consolidation into increased grantmaking, donor services and nonprofit support. The merged foundation has signaled continuity for existing component funds and a commitment to regional outreach, but public materials do not yet disclose exact assets under management, annual grant totals, or the names of the individual funds covered by the 600+ count. Residents and nonprofit leaders should watch for details on the planned Rockland satellite office, an updated fund roster, and financial disclosures as CFOSR normalizes operations under its new structure. For contact and subscription information, CFOSR lists its Montgomery address and invites the public to subscribe to its newsletter and communications.