What Is the Rome Community Foundation?

Mission

The mission of the Foundation is to assist in providing monetary resources for the present and future enrichment of the Rome area community.

From Gifts to Grants

The Rome Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that accepts gifts and bequests which are held, invested, and administered under the direction of the Foundation's Board of Directors. The Rome Community Foundation has about $9 million dollars in assets which are under professional management. The income from the investment of these funds is used award grants and has grown since the Foundation was established in 1999.

Rome Community Foundation Makes 4th Quarter Grants to 15 Rome Area Nonprofits; Makes Two Board Appointments

The Rome Community Foundation has awarded $185,695 in grants to Rome area charitable organizations in the latest distributions for the 4th Quarter of 2025. The grants, ranging from $2,000 to $30,000, were made to 15 tax-exempt organizations.

Rome Community Foundation Board Members meet four times a year to review grant proposals for projects that benefit Rome area residents.

The Rome Community Foundation has about $9 million dollars in assets which are under professional management. The income from the investments is used to fund grants and has grown since the Foundation was established in 2000.

The recent grant recipients are:

1. Capitol Civic Center- $30,000 for remediation and repairs to interior space and construction of new restrooms in the annex behind the Capitol Cinema
2. Zion Episcopal Church- $20,000 towards the Phase II repair of the stained glass windows
3. Rome City School District- $7,500 to cover tuition related supplies for students to participate in the 1st STEAMPunkinetics Workshop put on by Project Fibonacci
4. Rome Cemetery Association- $12,000 to purchase a stand-on leaf blower
5. Copper City Community Connection- $12,000 towards the purchase of a new handicapped accessible van
6. Humane Society of Rome- $20,000 for the purchase of a 2005 Bobcat
7. Rome Community Theater- $15,000 towards their mold remediation project
8. Samaritan Counseling Center- $10,050 for purchase of computer equipment and related medical records equipment and software
9. Mercy Flight Central- $15,000 toward the purchase of a new Hamilton Vent
10. Hospice & Palliative Care- $21,645 to replace carpeting and flooring
11. Mom Starts Here- $3,300 to bring the Baby Item Network to Rome
12. Rome Art and Community Center- $8,000 for supplies and materials for the summer Artletics program
13. Kings Kids Christian Preschool- $4,200 for purchase of scooters and trikes, shelving and racks and an AED
14. Abraham House- $2,000 for general support
15. Upstate Venture Connect- $5,000 from the donor advised Shoreline Group Fund for program support

In addition, the Foundation also distributed in December $1,635 from the Elizabeth McKinstry Designated Fund and $3,650 from the Russel C. and Darlene E. Fielding Designated Fund, both of which annually make designated distributions to area non-profits.

“Once again the Foundation Board has made a significant impact on the quality of life in the Rome community with these grants,” Fariello said. “We are pleased to help these organizations with funding for the great work that they do,” he added.

In addition to the grant making, the Foundation Board made two Board appointments. Foundation Board Member Jennifer DeWeerth was reappointed to a 3-year term on the Board. She was first appointed to the Foundation Board in 2022. Sarah Rushton, owner of Engelbert Jewelers, was appointed to a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2026.

The Foundation has been the recipient of bequests from trusts and estates of Rome area residents and accepts contributions and memorial gifts from individual and corporate donors. Donors can request that their contributions be directed to a specific organization or for a specific purpose such as educational, cultural, recreational or health-related. Donors may also request the establishment of a donor-advised fund, through which the donor may recommend grants to tax-exempt organizations serving the Rome area.

Officers of the Rome Community Foundation are David Grow, President; Lynn Rosen, Vice President; and Robert Ritz, Treasurer.

For information on how to donate to the Foundation, or for information on applying for grants, visit How to Donate or How to Apply
.

You can also contact the executive director Victor Fariello by email at vjfariello@gmail.com or by contacting any Foundation Officer or Board Member. Checks should be made payable to “The Rome Community Foundation” and sent to PO Box 609, Rome, NY 13442-0609.

Rome Community Foundation Form 990 is now available for 2024

For complete details, visit RCF Form 990 (pdf).

25th Anniversary Community Celebration

With Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsor RBC Wealth Management

5:30 - 7:30 PM | Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Capitol Arts Complex | 220 W. Dominick Street | Rome, NY

For complete details, visit 25th Anniversary Community Celebration Announcement (pdf).

RSVP by May 15 to rcf25thanniversaryevent@gmail.com
For info contact: Vic Fariello 315-723-7285

ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025. Send to: Rome Community Foundation, PO Box 609, Rome, NY 13442-0609

Rome Community Foundation Brochure

For a brochure of the Rome Community Foundation with details of its history, fund types, donation possibilities, organizations supported and more, please download the Rome Community Foundation Brochure (pdf).