Donate to a Fund

Adirondack Community Foundation stewards hundreds of individual, family, and organizational funds into one powerful engine for good. Though every fund represents a distinct charitable passion, they all unite behind a single, powerful goal: strengthening the communities of the Adirondacks.

Directly Support ACF’s work

Support A specific Fund

Other ways to give

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Make a Gift

Give Where It’s Needed Most

Your unrestricted gift to support our mission allows us to nimbly respond to the needs of today and tomorrow. As a public charity, all gifts to ACF qualify for the highest IRS charitable deduction.

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“The most valuable money is giving unrestricted because it can meet the need at the moment where it does the most good. There’s no better way to give if you trust the entity.”

Craig & Connie Weatherup

Adirondack Community Foundation board member and fundholders

Read Their Story
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  • Woman and man stand in front of their new business

    Economic Vitality Fund

    Supporting this fund helps the Foundation to pursue multiple initiatives that will drive regional prosperity and bring about economically thriving communities.
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  • shelves at food pantry

    Small Grants for Small Food Pantries Fund

    Provides small infrastructure-related grants to improve the function of regional food pantries.
    Donate Learn More

  • Small Grants for Small Children Fund

    Strengthens child care services in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton and north Warren counties.
    Donate Learn More
  • Community members stand in front of a new community center

    Generous Acts Fund

    Supports nonprofit organizations, schools, or municipalities whose work contributes to a strong community.
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  • two women in a library packing lunches for delivery to seniors

    Basic Needs Fund

    Supports the formation of vital nonprofit partnerships and region-wide services that will ensure the reach and resiliency of our regional safety net services.
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  • Woman and young boy play with Legos together

    Birth to Three Fund

    Helps us build our network of early childhood professionals and organizations, champion innovative regional strategies, and increase regional resources that support children.
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  • Special and Urgent Needs (SUN) Fund

    A responsive granting resource that can be deployed to assist Adirondack communities and nonprofits during times of crisis.
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  • Parents wave their kids off in school bus in the snow

    Educational Pathways

    The success of our youth will ensure the vitality of our region by inspiring more young people to stay and grow careers and families here.
    Donate Learn More

Give locally

Featured Funds

The following funds support a specific locality, organization, or interest area within the Adirondack region. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Search our complete list or inquire about starting a fund.

  • a gray-haired man wearing a shirt that says, "Minerva Sleeping Giants" talking with two women

    Community Fund for the Gore Mountain Region

    CFGMR serves nonprofit organizations in the towns of Chester, Horicon, Johnsburg, Minerva, and Schroon.
    Donate Learn More
  • group of people watching a stream restoration demonstration

    Essex Community Fund

    The Essex Community Fund delivers grants annually to nonprofit organizations serving Essex.
    Donate Learn More

  • Crary Education Fund at Adirondack Community Foundation

    Works closely with counselors in 40 schools to distribute scholarships to students living in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, and Warren counties.
    Donate Learn More

More Ways To Give

There are many more ways to give back to the Adirondacks

Make an online donation to any fund or send a check. Donors giving cash can deduct up to 60% of their adjusted gross income (AGI); non-cash assets held for more than one year can be deducted at full market value, up to 30% of AGI.

Make checks payable to Adirondack Community Foundation and send to PO Box 288, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Please note on the check memo which fund you would like to direct the gift to. For wire transfer instructions, contact Brandy Hobson at brandy@adkcommunityfoundation.org or 518.523.9904 for assistance.

If you are 70 ½ or older, you can make a tax-free Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) of up to $111,000 directly from your traditional IRA. If you are 73 or older, this gift can also satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution. Please note that while IRS rules prohibit sending tax-free QCDs directly to donor advised funds, you can still fund your DAF by taking a standard IRA distribution and donating it.

You can also name Adirondack Community Foundation a beneficiary of your IRA, 401k, or 403b, for example. This is a tax-smart option: when allocated to a charity, these assets are not subject to income tax and do not add to your heirs’ taxable inheritance.

Giving with appreciated stock held for more than one year remains a smart way to make a charitable contribution and minimize capital gains. Please reach out to Brandy Hobson at brandy@adkcommunityfoundation.org or 518.523.9904 for assistance.

Become a member of our Legacy Family and support the Adirondacks years into the future through estate planning. View sample language here for making a gift from your will or contact us to discuss other ideas, including options for Charitable Lead and Remainder Trusts, designating Adirondack Community Foundation as a beneficiary of an insurance or retirement plan, or setting up a legacy fund or converting an existing donor advised fund for legacy purposes. Reach out to Matt Donahue at matt@adkcommunityfoundation.org or 518.523.9904 for assistance.

Start Making a Difference Today

For more information about giving back to the Adirondacks through the community foundation or to discuss ideas, get in touch with us.

Support a Fund Start a Fund
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Photo credit: Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism