Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland Launches Following Merger Approval

MONTGOMERY, N.Y. — A new regional philanthropic organization is officially up and running after New York State regulators approved the merger of two longtime Hudson Valley nonprofits.

The New York State Attorney General has signed off on the merger between the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan and the Rockland Community Foundation, forming the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland. The combined organization began operating under its new name on Jan. 1, 2026.

After nine years of collaboration as separate entities, the merger unites all operations and administration under one organization overseeing more than 600 individual charitable funds serving Orange, Sullivan and Rockland counties.

The foundation says the move will allow it to operate more efficiently while expanding its reach and support for donors, nonprofits and community initiatives across the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

“This merger is an exciting milestone for our region,” President and CEO Elizabeth Rowley said. “With expanded leadership and a unified mission, the Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan & Rockland is well-positioned to build deeper connections and more opportunities for philanthropy and community impact.”

Rowley will continue to lead the organization, overseeing strategy, development and operations. Former Rockland Community Foundation Executive Director Julie Sadowski has joined the team as senior director of development for Rockland County, while Regina Clark was recently hired as director of development for Orange and Sullivan counties.

As part of the merger, five members of the Rockland Community Foundation’s board have joined the larger governing board, bringing total board membership to 28.

The foundation’s primary office will remain in Montgomery, with a satellite office that opened last year in Bridgeville, Sullivan County. A future satellite office is planned for Rockland County to support staff and maintain a local presence in all three counties.

The merger was supported by both organizations’ boards of directors and backed by the Dyson Foundation. A grant from Dyson’s Strategic Restructuring Program funded legal and merger support from the New York Council on Nonprofits, guided by a joint staff and volunteer merger task force.

Alongside the organizational change, the foundation has also unveiled a new logo reflecting its expanded geographic footprint and shared mission. While the name and branding have changed, the foundation says its core mission remains the same: strengthening communities through philanthropy, strategic grantmaking and long-term charitable stewardship.

Founded in 1999, the Community Foundation now administers 620 active charitable funds representing nearly $71 million in assets. Since its inception, the foundation and its donors have awarded nearly $45 million in grants and scholarships supporting causes ranging from education and health to the arts, environment and youth programs.