43 COMMUNITY NON-PROFITS RECEIVE $100,000 IN GRANTS

CLAVERACK, NY—Evidence of a more challenging economy characterized the 2026 awards of The Ackerman Foundation, where the number of applications grew by nearly 50% and the funds available to grant—pegged at the same level as last year—met less than 40% of requests.

As a result, only a handful of applications were funded at the full amount of their requests in the interest of helping as many non-profits as possible in their community improvement activities. Forty-three local organizations, including 16 new applicants, received an average amount of $2,325.

“It has been a challenging process,” said Foundation President Claire Ackerman. “We focused on the pressing needs people have for food, housing, and medical care, while not ignoring the arts and education. We also wanted to give special attention to the needs of children and overall citizen well-being. On the plus side, we have very strong confidence that this year’s grants are making important contributions to community resilience.”

Organizations receiving funds this year are:

  • African American Archive of Columbia County, Pinkster Fest
  • Ancram Center for the Arts, storytelling for school kids
  • AnimalKind, veterinary assistance
  • Art School of Columbia County, art education
  • Bloom Project NY, postpartum support
  • Churchtown Firehouse Community Support Center, community kitchen expansion
  • Claverack Free Library, social interaction programs for children
  • Columbia Children’s Center, subsidy loss assistance
  • Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium, community cancer fund
  • Columbia County Historical Society, local artists of Hudson River School
  • Columbia County Libraries Association, digital accessibility tools
  • Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, immigrant case management support
  • Columbia County Youth Theater, summer theater festival
  • Columbia Kitchen, community meal expansion
  • Columbia Opportunities, family literacy program
  • Columbia Pathways to Recovery, individual and family wellness bags
  • Columbia-Greene Habitat for Humanity, community engagement initiative
  • Crandell Theater, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program for kids
  • Destiny’s Ride Therapeutic Program, veterans’ equine wellness program pilot
  • Family Resource Centers of Columbia County, early learning enrichment
  • FASNY Museum of Firefighting, Super Saturday fire safety
  • Friends of Copake Grange #935, movies and music community programs
  • Friends of Hudson Youth, bike co-op project
  • Friends of the Chatham Public Library, children’s summer reading program
  • Germantown Library, summer story time plus afterschool makerspace for kids
  • Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, TeamTam afterschool program
  • Greenport Rescue Squad, emergency communication integration
  • High & Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center, veteran mental health support
  • Hudson Area Association Library, oral history and archiving support
  • Hudson Children’s Book Festival, enabling free books
  • Hudson Literacy Fund, free book voucher program for kids
  • Hudson Little League, tournament fencing
  • Lebanon Valley Community Corporation, weekend food backpack program
  • Long Table Harvest, gleaning operations
  • Mac-Hayden Theater, artist housing improvement
  • Mental Health Awareness and Creative Arts Gallery (ARTLife717), reclaimed and reimagined creative reuse of discarded materials
  • Perfect Ten After School, tutoring and mentoring
  • Roeliff Jansen Community Library, empowering English language learners
  • Roving Actors’ Repertory Ensemble (The Two of Us Productions), performing arts events
  • Safe Haven Rescue, reading with horses program for kids
  • Taghkanic Community Free Fridge, operational support
  • The Second Show, basic needs voucher program
  • Upstage Productions, summer theater for young artists

Grant recipients provide follow-up evaluation reports assessing the effectiveness of the program activities funded.

The Ackerman Foundation awards are given once a year in July. The application for the next grant cycle will open in early Spring 2027 and notice will be posted on the website.

Applications must meet the criterion of improving the lives of people and animals in Columbia County, NY, and must be submitted by a qualified 501(c)3 organization or via a fiscal agent who is.

The Foundation’s website, theackermanfoundation.org, contains additional details about the grant application process as well as information about the Foundation’s operations, board, and previous grantees. The website also hosts the online portal where grant applications and evaluation reports can be filed.

The Ackerman Foundation and its work honor David M. Ackerman, long-time local businessman known for his quick wit, “negative charisma,” and genuine good heartedness demonstrated through his many acts of private philanthropy throughout his life. He established the Ackerman Foundation shortly before his death in January 2022.

For questions or more information, please visit theackermanfoundation.org or email info@theackermanfoundation.org.