Program, Philanthropy & Leadership Highlights
Northeast Dutchess Grants: For nearly 20 years, Berkshire Taconic's Northeast Dutchess Fund has awarded grants to nonprofits that improve the quality of life for residents of northeast Dutchess County. To assist these vital organizations in responding to the pandemic, the fund's committee awarded $90,000 to 13 nonprofits for unrestricted general operating support. Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley co-funded eight of these grants, doubling the amount these organizations received. The Northeast Dutchess Fund's NEDCorps 2.0 program also awarded $25,000 to four nonprofits that will develop new programs or expand services for immigrants living in northeast Dutchess.
Nonprofit Support in Changing Times: The nonprofit sector is facing acute challenges in these changing times. In response, we have joined coalitions with community foundations and other funders in northwest Litchfield County, the mid-Hudson region and across Massachusetts to help these vital organizations recover and rebuild. In Massachusetts, we are part of a group that is offering free technical assistance and capacity-building programs for nonprofits throughout the state. The topics of these programs, which focus on fundraising and strategy, were identified as key challenges facing organizations through a recent survey of over 1,000 nonprofits conducted in conjunction with Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.
Scholarship Awards: With support from our generous communities, our regional scholarship program awarded $650,000 in 2020 to deserving young people from dozens of area schools, providing them with a pathway toward greater opportunity. "While certainly not the start to my college career that I envisioned, I am determined to make the best of remote learning," said Olivia Oligny-Leggett of Valatie, who received the Dr. Luis A. Jacome Scholarship to pursue her medical degree at Dickinson College. "The road ahead is a long one, and I do not wish for any delays in pursuit of my dreams. Thank you for believing in me.”
Grants for Artists: The Martha Boschen Porter Fund awarded nearly $60,000 to 12 emerging artists or artists experiencing a significant change of direction in their work. Grantees throughout our region are focused on nonfiction writing, mixed media, music, photography, dance, sculpture and theater. A grant to the Millay Colony in Austerlitz will fund half the cost of a month-long residency for two of the recipients to advance their art in a supportive residential environment.
