James M. and Olive Edmunds Memorial Fund in New York

The Rochester Area Community Foundation is accepting applications for its James M. and Olive Edmunds Memorial Fund. This grant program aims to support local community organizations in the Village of Brockport or towns of Sweden or Clarkson. The foundation's mission, as evidenced by this fund, is to enhance the well-being of these communities by fostering arts and cultural opportunities, reducing poverty, enriching the community's beauty, and preserving historic buildings and sites. This aligns with a strategic priority to empower local initiatives that directly benefit residents and address critical community needs. The target beneficiaries are local, community-based organizations within the specified geographic areas (Village of Brockport, towns of Sweden or Clarkson, NY) and, by extension, the residents of these areas. The impact goals are to provide local arts and cultural opportunities, reduce poverty, enhance community beautification, and restore historic buildings and sites. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by funding local organizations addressing these key areas, they can create tangible improvements in the quality of life and cultural richness for residents. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined: supporting traditional and folk arts (not pop culture), physical restoration and maintenance of historic buildings, monuments, sculptures, and other historic items, programs that help lift people out of poverty, and beautification efforts in public areas. These specific focuses indicate a strategic approach to supporting initiatives that have a lasting and tangible positive effect on the community. Expected outcomes include increased access to arts and culture, a reduction in poverty levels, more aesthetically pleasing public spaces, and the preservation of important historical assets. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on "local groups that perform traditional and folk arts," "physical restoration of buildings," and "programs that help lift people out of poverty" suggests that the foundation will be looking for tangible outputs and, ultimately, positive changes in the lives of the residents. Funding ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, with an overall size of $1,000 to $10,000, indicating a focus on supporting a variety of project scales that can demonstrate significant local impact.