LAKE PLACID — This April, Adirondack Community Foundation (ACF) awarded more than $1.16 million in grants to 136 local nonprofits through its Generous Acts fund. To drive deeper impact, this year’s cycle introduces multi-year funding for projects addressing basic needs, educational pathways, and economic vitality.
The record funding comes amid a 15% surge in applications, with local needs outstripping last year’s requests by more than $1 million.
“The high demand is a call for more resilient philanthropy,” said Jennifer Russell, ACF vice president of community impact. “By moving to multi-year grants, we are providing the reliable support our partners need to tackle complex, long-term challenges rather than just offering temporary fixes.”
Addressing Critical Needs
Among the first multi-year recipients is the Advocacy and Resource Center (ARC) in Plattsburgh. Their two-year grant will provide plain-language healthcare education about upcoming changes to Medicare and insurance coverage.
“Navigating the complexities of healthcare is often a daunting barrier for the people we serve,” said Robin Pierce, executive director of ARC. “By translating complex Medicaid changes into plain language, we can ensure that all our neighbors — from seniors to those with disabilities — have the clarity and confidence to access the care they deserve.”
Other Basic Needs grants include the Long Lake Rescue Squad’s new “Community Paramedic Program” for elderly residents and a “no-questions-asked” hygiene closet at Lake George Schools.
Educational Pathways
Grants in this category supported programs ranging from a culinary and building trades camp at BOCES to the preservation of Mohawk traditions at Craigardan. The Town of Webb school district received funding to provide work-based learning for high school students.
A grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks will expand access to structured group mentoring for underserved middle and high school youth.
“This funding will create immediate and lasting impact by expanding access to Group Mentoring for youth who face barriers to traditional one-to-one mentoring,” said Andrea Kinderman, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks. “Through consistent relationships with trained Group Mentors, youth gain structure, emotional support, and skill-building needed to succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. Over time, these changes help youth envision positive futures.”
Economic Vitality & Local Media
Economic grants focused on housing, supporting phase two of Fawn Valley in Lake Placid, helping municipalities secure state funding, and assessing the feasibility of land banks in Hamilton and Clinton Counties.
The fund also awarded a two-year grant to The Commons, a new media partnership between WAMC, Adirondack Explorer, and others, to amplify local journalism. Additionally, the Adirondack Explorer received support to strengthen its community reporting in underserved rural areas.
"Adirondack Community Foundation’s Generous Acts grants in support of our journalism organizations are a meaningful investment in the future of community news and news collaborations,” said Tracy Ormsbee, publisher of the Adirondack Explorer. “These grants will strengthen local news infrastructure and ensure more people have access to the information they need to make informed decisions."
The Power of Co-Giving
Beyond direct grants, ACF acts as a hub for co-giving, where donors and partners pool resources. One key partner is the Upstream Fund, managed by the John Rugge Center for Community Impact at Hudson Headwaters.
“We approach co-funding as a partnership strategy to maximize our support of community-led solutions that address social drivers of health such as housing, transportation and child care,” said Jessica Rubin, executive vice president and chief impact officer at Hudson Headwaters Health Network. “By leveraging the Generous Acts program to award our Upstream Fund grants, we reduce administrative burden, allowing recipients to focus resources on their projects to improve community health rather than navigating multiple grant applications and reporting requirements.”
To see the full list of 2026 Generous Acts grant recipients, go to adkcommunityfoundation.org/2026GAF.