Four of the Adirondack Foundation staffers pose outside their office. From left are Brandy Hobson, senior accountant; Cali Brooks, president and CEO; Stanzi Bliss, director of giving and communication; and Linda Battin, chief financial officer. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Twenty-six years ago, Meredith Prime, Fred Brown and others had an idea, and that was to create a community foundation, an organization where people could pool their resources for enhancing the quality of life in the Adirondacks.

At the time, Prime was the go-to person nonprofit leaders wanted on their boards. They wanted her for more than her ability to raise money; they wanted her equally, if not more so, for her smarts. She was good at governance, strategic thinking, and tapping into the talents and connections of others. In many respects, her qualities then, and even sharper today, are the same that make the Adirondack Foundation such a valuable resource today.

“The reason I was hopeful 25 years ago and am hopeful today is that community foundation is a powerful concept,” said Prime at a 25th celebration held Friday, Aug. 12. “It’s an easy and efficient way for donors to support the causes they care about. For those able, donors can set up a fund in the Foundation and, over time, support special projects or a particular place. They can also make those funds permanent, so their wishes are followed in perpetuity. I am hopeful that as the Foundation has grown and its staff increases in numbers, they will become knowledgeable about this region’s needs. The current staff does have that in-depth knowledge.”

Think about it. The Adirondack Foundation connects donors with the broad area of non-profits in the Adirondacks, along with identifying critical issues to be addressed. Through the Adirondack Non-profit Network (ANN), the Foundation brings together non-profit leaders so they can learn from each other, develop strategic partnerships, and improve skill sets through participating in workshops that address self-identified needs.

“Sometimes the Foundation’s impact is immediate, such as helping people in Keene get back on their feet after Tropical Storm Irene, but more often the impact is in the intermediate term,” said Reg Gignoux, trustee. “I believe that’s a good approach because the Foundation is helping build capacity.”

Craig Weatherup, Rob Riley, president of the Northern Forest Center, and Jerry Delaney, executive director of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board pose on Friday, Aug. 12 at Heaven Hill Farm during the Adirondack Foundation’s 25th anniversary party. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

The Foundation provides donors with support staff to handle all aspects of giving and investing resources towards increasing their value. The Foundation is nimble; when a critical challenge emerges, like Tropical Storm Irene or COVID-19, they can create a unique initiative and fund to address that challenge.

For example, the Foundation established the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance (BT3 Alliance), which aims to provide kids with the best possible start during the first three years of their life, when 80% of brain development begins.

“When I first joined as a trustee, I was very intimidated,” said Joseph Steinger. “At the first couple of meetings, I was presented with how many problems in the region need to be addressed; food insecurity, homelessness, opioid addiction, and others. It was truly overwhelming to think that we are trying to deal with all these issues here in the Adirondacks. But I soon came to find out, and more importantly, came to appreciate, how many people want to help and how many organizations are trying to help. I came to understand that the Foundation’s primary function is to ensure those organizations have the resources they need, which was truly overwhelming in a positive way.”

The Adirondack Foundation has five areas of focus: basic needs; education pathways; economic vitality and civic engagement; arts and culture; and the environment. These issues translate into ensuring all Adirondackers have access to affordable and nutritious food, stable housing, and opportunities for healthy living. They want all children, people of all ages, to benefit from high-quality early and lifelong learning, development, and career training.

The Foundation works to help all communities, large and small, be able to provide equitable and just economic opportunity, attract residents and businesses, and inspire civic engagement. They work to foster vibrant arts and cultural opportunities. And finally, they work to bolster climate change resilience, encourage stewardship and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Adirondack Foundation Chair Rich Kroes and trustee Lawson Prince Allen (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

These lofty goals take money. Twenty-five years ago, the Foundation had $300,000 in the bank. Today, its assets are close to $90 million. Since then, the Foundation has given out over 17,000 grants and other transactions to benefit the region. This past year, they granted over $8.1 million. Critical has been hiring dedicated and talented staff, beginning with President and CEO Cali Brooks, who has been leading the Foundation for 25.

“Cali’s compassion, leadership, and wisdom are behind all that we’ve accomplished,” said trustee Lawson Prince Allen. “People accuse me of being hyperbolic and exaggerating sometimes, but I believe that Cali is the Adirondack GOAT (Greatest of all time).”

“This is an incredibly caring and generous region,” said Brooks. “It doesn’t matter where they live or where they are at in life; everybody wants to give back with time, resources, and support in any way they can. We just tapped into that attribute of Adirondackers. We have a holistic view of the needs and care deeply about the whole community, from the arts and environment to education, basic needs, and economic vitality. We work on a regional scale. We see how different groups working locally and brilliantly can do better working together. As a result, we foster and establish alliances and collaborations. I think there is a lot of power in that as it helps us better address the needs of a very under-resourced area. We are thinking about systems change. I hate using that phrase, but I think it’s true.”

“The Foundation has been a great strategic partner,” said Rob Riley, president of the Northern Forest Center. “I think we have been helping each other channel funds and investments differently into the community, particularly around accessible housing, but, in particular, in regards to the macro trends affecting this region and its people; demographic trends, employment trends, healthcare trends. How can we ensure that rural places like the park stay viable for young people now and in the future; that’s where I think we intersect at a very high level. If we don’t have strategic partners like the Foundation thinking long term while also thinking about addressing the tangible issues of today that will enable us to reach those goals, then it’s game over.”

Critical is moving beyond the choir, the same people talking only with each other. Fortunately, for Adirondackers, Brooks has that ability, as is true of the Foundation’s staff and many of its trustees and partner agencies.

Adirondack Foundation Vice Chair Joseph Steinger and Peter Paine Jr. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“When Adirondackers work together, we can make a difference, today, tomorrow, always,” said Brooks.

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(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the News for more than 15 years.)

Jay Ward and daughters Lucy and Mollie (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Nancy and Lee Keet (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)