A Bridge to the Future
For All of Us
The Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) offers an opportunity for everyone to invest in the present and future of Allegany County, NY. Support for the Foundation comes from local individuals, civic groups, businesses, and estates. We also receive a number of donations annually from persons who left Allegany County years ago but retain a fondness for their former home and want to support our local students, organizations, and communities.
Students – click here to access the online scholarship application
(then scroll down to LOGIN BUTTON to create an account and begin applying)
News & Information
ACAF Grants Have Supported
Highlighted Funds
The Arts
Shake on the Lake
After School Programing
Youth Mentoring in Schools
Preserving Local History
College Scholarships
Library Programs
News & Information
ACAF Grants Have Supported
The Arts
Shake on the Lake
After School Programing
Youth Mentoring in Schools
Preserving Local History
College Scholarships
School Security Enhancement
Library Programs
Highlighted Funds
What is the Allegany County Area Foundation?
Founded in 1983, the Foundation is a non-profit organization that manages donations and endowments (now $12M) and devotes the earnings from those funds to efforts that serve the educational, social, cultural and wellness needs of Allegany County residents. The Foundation awards scholarships to individuals and grants to community non-profits. It helps organizations secure their futures by managing endowment funds and works with individuals (and their advisors) – helping them to establish endowments that create a lasting benefit to their causes and interests.
Why a community foundation?
The community foundation movement started with the founding of the Cleveland (OH) Foundation in 1914. There are now 700 such organizations in the US, and 1700 worldwide. ACAF is in this tradition. Community foundations provide for the pooling of donations and efficient investing of funds and coordinated grantmaking for the benefit of a specific community or region.
What We do
The Allegany County Area Foundation was established in 1983, with scholarships our primary focus. That continues to be our main activity, though our grantmaking has increased significantly in recent years. We currently manage 70 scholarship and grant programs that have been created through gifts and endowments from individuals, business and organizations. These funds and the students and programs they support are described on the pages of this web site.
Our annual support for Allegany County approximates $300,000 for scholarships, and $60,000 in grants. ACAF’s assets of $12,000,000 are invested with Vanguard’s Institutional Division and overseen by the Foundation’s Investment Committee.
What fund options does the Foundation have?
ACAF offers donors the opportunity to establish (or support existing) Field of Interest funds, Donor-Advised funds, general unrestricted funds, and scholarships.
ACAF Founder Peter Sprague: A man with a vision and on a mission
Judge Peter Sprague, founding member of the Board of Directors of the Allegany County Area Foundation had a vision and a belief…
Scholarships 2022
Allegany County produces many outstanding students and ACAF is pleased that we are able provide them with $310,000 in scholarships for this upcoming 2022-2023 school year. We encouraged recipients to send a photo. Shown below are several local graduates that are benefitting from the generosity of donors like you.
More News
Foundation’s June Grants Support Education, Theater, Public Health
(July 2022) The Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) June grants support youth, the arts, libraries, and public health. The Allegany County Area Foundation awarded the following grants at its June 15 meeting: Alfred Montessori School - $750 to update pre-school...
March Grants Support RAM Clinic, Oil Museum, libraries.
(April 2022) At its March meeting, the Allegany County Area Foundation reviewed several grant applications and was pleased to make grants to these local organizations. ACAF awarded $2500 to Genesee Valley Central School in support of this fall’s Remote Area Medical...
December Grants Support NTHS, Book Program, Holiday Assistance
(DEC 2021) The Allegany County Area Foundation recently made grants to support a variety of local activities. ACAF awarded $600 to the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) Belmont Chapter (BOCES). The chapter’s usual fundraising efforts have been sidelined by COVID...
Cuba and Genesee libraries, GVCS, Wellsville Cemetery Project Benefit from ACAF’s March Grants
(April 2021) Genesee Library, Genesee Valley Central School, Cuba Circulating Library, and the Wellsville American Legion were approved for grants at the Allegany County Area Foundation’s (ACAF) March 24 meeting. The Foundation’s Robert Christian Fund, which supports...
Your Community, Your Foundation, Your Legacy
Thank you for your consideration. If you wish to support the Foundation but prefer to do so by check, you can send that to:
Allegany County Area Foundation
6087 State Rte. 19N
Belmont, NY 14813
Our phone number: 585-296-5616
Get In Touch
Our Events
