About Us
At the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF), we believe in the power of local generosity to shape a stronger future.
We provide scholarships to students and grants to nonprofit organizations across Allegany County, New York — investing in education, opportunity, and community well-being.
By working with individuals, families, and advisors to establish charitable funds, we help turn personal passions into lasting impact — ensuring that giving today continues to benefit our community for generations to come.
Alton A. Sylor Memorial Bridge. County Road 16, Angelica, NY. Photo by Jules Hoepting.
ACAF serves as “A Bridge to the Future,” connecting generosity with opportunity across Allegany County.
What is a Community Foundation?
ACAF is part of a powerful global movement that began in 1914 with the Cleveland Foundation, the first community foundation in the world.
Community Foundations are built on a simple idea: When people come together to give, they can create greater impact.
By combining the resources of many donors, these foundations are able to support local non-profits, respond to community needs, and invest in long-term solutions that improve quality of life.
What started as one foundation has grown into a worldwide network — there are more than 900 in the United States and over 1,800 globally.
Vision and Persistence:
Allegany County Area Foundation History
The Allegany County Area Foundation was an early effort to adapt the community foundation model, which had been established primarily in urban areas, to a rural setting by combining the talents and resources of our various towns and villages, while relying heavily on volunteers for administrative support.
The preliminary planning, including the design of the organizational structure and selection of directors, was a collaborative effort between Cuba attorney, and later county judge, Peter R. Sprague and Wellsville trust officer, and later investment manager, John M. (“Jack”) Carter, with the valuable guidance and encouragement of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and its Executive Director Francis Grow.
An exploratory meeting of community and business leaders was convened at the Wellsville Country Club on April 12, 1983 to present and discuss the plan, which received a generally favorable response.
The organizational meeting was held on September 20, 1983, when the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws were approved by the original directors Kenneth Nielsen, Patricia Regan, James Searle, Allen Schintzius, Harry Graves, Jr., Claudia Kauffman, and Leslie Haggstrom. The officers elected by unanimous vote were: Allen Schintzius, President; Kenneth Nielsen, Vice-President; and Jack Carter, Secretary/Treasurer.
A timely start-up grant from the Carnahan-Jackson Foundation covered organizational and early operation expenses. In 1989, the Mary Bishop Scholarship Fund was transferred from a local bank to form the cornerstone of our growing scholarship program.
Our first decade was a period of slow progress, as members sought to explain to residents how a type of institution that was unfamiliar to most might enhance the quality of life in our area.
In the ensuing years, we have steadily expanded our community service grants and scholarship awards as more current and former residents have come to embrace the Foundation.
Who can be part of the Foundation?
Anyone and everyone. Dozens of people make gifts to the various funds of the Allegany County Area Foundation each year, while several create entirely new endowed funds.
Many local organizations, including food pantries, libraries, agencies, and historical societies, have benefitted from ACAF grants. Over 200 young people receive Foundation college scholarships each year.
The Allegany County Area Foundation was established in 1983, and is governed by a 12-member volunteer board, representing various occupations and Allegany County communities. ACAF also benefits from the service of non-board volunteers, especially with our scholarship process.
If you are interested in being involved with the Foundation, please get in touch. We’d like to talk with you!
You can contact our Executive Director Bruce Campbell at 585-296-5616 or director@acafny.org.
What fund options does the Foundation have?
Unrestricted Funds
Explore our Unrestricted FundsUnrestricted Funds (also known as discretionary funds) provide flexible, permanent resources that support a wide range of projects across Allegany County.
Because these funds carry no donor-imposed restrictions, they allow ACAF to respond to the community’s most pressing and emerging needs. Earnings from these funds are distributed as grants each year to local organizations, supporting programs and initiatives that make a meaningful difference for Allegany County residents.
ACAF’s Unrestricted Funds include the Allegany Fund, Moogan Family Fund, Shear Fund, Joseph Bucher Fund, Peter Sprague Founder’s Fund, Carter-Windus Family Fund, and the Leadership & Innovation Fund.
Designated Funds
Explore our Designated FundsDiscretionary Funds allow donors to support a specific organization or cause that matters to them. When establishing a fund ($5,000 minimum), the donor may name a particular non-profit organization as the beneficiary. Some examples of Discretionary Funds include the Fund for the Andover Free Library, Pioneer Oil Museum Fund, and Cuba Council of Churches Food Pantry Fund.
Each year, the fund’s earnings are distributed as a grant to the designated recipient, providing ongoing, reliable support for their work in the community.
Field-of-Interest Funds
Explore our Field-of-Interest FundsField-of-Interest Funds allow donors to support causes they care about while giving ACAF the flexibility to meet evolving community needs. When establishing a fund ($5,000 minimum), donors can identify an area of interest — such as youth programs, local history, the environment, literacy, or the performing arts.
Each year, ACAF’s Grant Committee awards grants from these funds to organizations and initiatives that best align with the donor’s intent, ensuring meaningful and lasting impact across Allegany County.
Some examples of ACAF's Field-of-Interest Funds include the Bob Christian Fund and Kendall Environmental Fund.
Scholarship Funds
Explore our Scholarship FundsScholarship Funds allow donors to invest in the future of Allegany County students. Anyone can establish a fund ($5,000 minimum; $10,000 preferred) and define the criteria for awards — such as high school attended, college attending, extracurricular activities, or field of study.
Each year, scholarships are awarded to deserving students, helping make higher education more accessible and supporting the next generation of leaders.
ACAF is an affiliate of Dollars for Scholars.
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