History
John J. Gartland, Jr. and several Poughkeepsie leaders established the Poughkeepsie Area Fund in 1969 with a initial $100,000 grant from the McCann Foundation to cover its operating expenses. The original mission was to support the revitalization of the City of Poughkeepsie. Organizers led the capital campaign to build the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. The Poughkeepsie Area Fund purchased the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, the Cunneen Hackett Cultural Center and the Stanford Medical Center. In 1979, the Community Foundation expanded from Poughkeepsie to include all of Dutchess County. By 2010 the Foundation expanded to include Putnam and Ulster Counties and formed the Community Foundations of Hudson Valley.
Today, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) empowers individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to fulfill their philanthropic goals through the establishment of charitable funds that support the needs of Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties. With over $100 million in assets, CFHV manages nearly 600 charitable funds and has distributed millions in grants and scholarships since our founding in 1969. We lead initiatives to address urgent community needs such as food insecurity and educational challenges, offering both immediate relief and long-term support.