Our Goal
When thinking about this place we call home, we see a hopeful and optimistic future. Our goal, then, is to improve the individual lives and the entire Greater Rochester community. After all, a strong and vibrant Rochester is great for everyone—including ESL.
Our Vision
At ESL, our Purpose is to help our community thrive and prosper. Through our Community Impact initiatives, we aspire to live up to that purpose by building a healthy, resilient and equitable Greater Rochester region where all residents are well-educated, live in affordable, connected neighborhoods, and have access to quality employment opportunities.
Priorities
Through collaboration and partnerships with other local organizations in a logical and deliberate way, we strive to help move Greater Rochester in a positive, and equitable direction.
Areas of Impact
Through the ESL Community Impact initiatives, we reinvest in our communities in ways that support these areas of impact:
Expanding Individual Opportunity
We support programs and efforts to expand professional and educational opportunity for all residents of Greater Rochester.
Education
prepares students for college and careers
Employment
is attainable and supports financial wellness
Building Strong Neighborhoods
We Invest in neighborhoods across Greater Rochester to ensure they are prosperous, well-connected, and inclusive.
Housing
is accessible and affordable
Neighborhoods
are connected, prosperous, and engaged
Strengthening Local Organizations
We support organizations and initiatives by investing in the necessary yet less visible systems and policies to ensure they're successful.
Collaboration
between organizations is strong and effective
Data
is accessible and shared
Human Capital
in the local nonprofit sector is world-class
Stories that Lift Us Up
We inspire hope and strive to change hearts and minds through uplifting community stories
Tell
Inspiring stories of change
Share
what we learn is working
Advocate
for policies and practices needed for success
ESL also funds programs and activities that keep our community strong, healthy, and vibrant—such as community crisis response, ensuring basic needs, and arts and culture. By doing so, we're making a difference in the lives of many people—and helping the Rochester community thrive and prosper.
Would you like to apply for ESL Community Impact Funding?
If you are a local not-for-profit organization and have funding needs that align with our areas of impact, we encourage you to make a grant request by completing an online application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and funding decisions are typically completed in approximately 12 weeks of receiving your request.
ESL Community Impact Grants Portal
(Best viewed in Google Chrome)
Looking to request funding for a sponsorship? Click to learn more or email your request to sponsorships@esl.org.
Stories that Lift Us Up
Lots of good things are happening in our community, but sometimes those stories are easy to miss. Dive into these stories of locally led initiatives that work together to achieve a healthy and resilient community.
These stories cover a wide range of themes; check back often as our library grows.
Explore the Stories of our Community >