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RCF Announces Merger At Tonight’s Annual Signature Awards Reception at Crowne Plaza in Suffern
By Tina Traster
Tonight, the Rockland Community Foundation will fete three recipients at its annual Signature Awards Reception at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern.
But the organization will also break news: Rockland Community Foundation (RCF) will merge with the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS), giving both organizations greater economy of scale and a robust symbiotic partnership in the Hudson Valley.
“By consolidating resources, we can achieve economies of scale, streamline operations, and enhance efficiencies in grantmaking and community support,” said Paul Adler, Rockland County Foundation president. “Aligning our missions and shared values will foster collaboration, strengthen local giving, and deepen our collective ability to address regional challenges. The uncertainty of policy shifts in Washington requires strategic planning and positioning for community foundations and other charities in New York.”
Adler, Chief Strategy Officer, Rand Commercial, was tapped as RCF’s board president in late 2024.
The new entity will be called The Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan and Rockland. It will have a 25-member board, five of whom will be current RCF board members.
“We are proud to partner with the Rockland Community Foundation who shares our values and commitment to the community,” said Christopher Corallo, Board Chair and Chief Financial Officer of Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union. “I am personally excited to be coming home to Rockland County.” Corallo was born and raised in Rockland County.
RCF, founded 20 years ago, manages $7.2 million in assets for more than 120 funds. It partners with the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan. The community foundation in two decades has doubled its assets under management and tripled the number of funds it stewards.
In 2024 RCF granted nearly $500,000 to nonprofits, through the 120 charitable funds it stewards.
The planned merger, which is slated to be completed by mid-summer, “is not an out-of-the-blue” initiative, said Julie Sadowski, RCF’s executive director.
“For over 9 years the RCF has been in a yoked relationship with CFOS, as the later has provided faithful and prudent support of the accounting and oversight of Rockland’s charitable funds. This type of partnership is common in the community foundation sector, especially when two CFs are in such close geographical proximity.”
A community foundation is a public charity that typically focuses on supporting a geographical area, primarily by facilitating and pooling donations into coordinated investment and grant making instruments used to address community needs and support local nonprofits. There are about 900 community foundations nationwide. Its long-term goal is to build permanent, named funds, for the broad-based public benefit of the residents.
RCF hopes to capitalize on more support and opportunities to grow philanthropy and charitable giving in Rockland County through its new partnership. Sadowski will remain on board to steer the Rockland foundation. CFOS has “a stronger infrastructure to improve communities they serve through philanthropy compared to Rockland’s one full-time staff member,” Sadowski added.
CFOS, which has $62.7 million in assets under management (this includes the RCF fund), has five employees. CFOS granted nearly $31 million in grants and scholarships through the 450 charitable funds it stewards.
“I am thrilled beyond measure to be able to focus my time on fund-development and more targeted outreach within the community, since many of my fund-related administrative tasks will now be handled by CFOS staff members,” Sadowski said.
The merger process of the two foundations has been directed by The New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON). Funding for the process was provided by a Strategic Restructuring Initiative Grant provided by The Dyson Foundation.
The Annual Signature Awards
The annual event celebrates individuals, funds and businesses who have made a positive impact on the community through philanthropy.
The honorees are:
Amy Stern for Community Champion of the Year
RBWN Women’s Professional Development Scholarship Fund for Fund of the Year
Donald Karlewicz and PKF O’Connor Davies for Corporate Supporter of the Year
