About Action for A Better Community
Action for a Better Community is a Community Action Agency that promotes and provides opportunities for low-income individuals and families to become self-sufficient.
Focus Areas
Early childhood educationWorkforce training and career readinessEnergy conservation / home weatherizationFinancial education and counselingHealth (HIV/STD/Hepatitis services)Substance abuse treatmentCommunity developmentYouth employment and prevention programsFamily support services
Who They Fund
low-income children and families (Head Start participants)aspiring health professionals/healthcare students
About Action for A Better Community
Action for a Better Community Inc’s recent grantmaking is anchored by Head Start and Early Head Start services, with five- and six-figure awards recurring across multiple years. The largest recent grant in the data is $1,177,231 to Volunteers of America in Rochester for Head Start and Early Head Start services, and the same service area also supports Ibero American Action League through several awards, including $911,237 in 2024 and $640,370 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that uses substantial program-specific grants to sustain direct services rather than broad discretionary support. The organization also supports health professions training and scholarships, including grants to Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes in Geneva and to Rochester-based partners such as Pathstone Corporation and Catholic Charities Family and Community Services of Rochester. Another visible thread is workforce and family support tied to the CSBG CARES Act health careers program, alongside local service delivery in Rochester and Monroe County. Across the recent grants listed, the foundation’s giving is concentrated in New York and tied to community-based providers serving low-income children, families, and adults.
What Action for A Better Community Funds
Early childhood education is a core theme. Action for a Better Community Inc gave $911,237 in 2024 and $640,370 in 2025 to Ibero American Action League for Head Start and Early Head Start services, and it also awarded $879,676 in 2024 to Volunteers of America for the same purpose. Health professions training is another clear area. The foundation gave $184,351 in 2023, $122,868 in 2024, and $121,309 in 2025 to Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes for the Health Professionals Opportunity Grant. It also supported Catholic Charities Family and Community Services of Rochester with $67,720 in 2024 for that program. Workforce-related emergency support appears through the CSBG CARES Act health careers program, with grants to Childcare Council in Rochester in 2023 and 2024. The foundation also backs Pathstone Corporation for health professionals opportunity grants, including awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
How Action for A Better Community Gives
Grant size ranges from a 25th percentile of $56,915 to a median of $122,868 and a 75th percentile of $671,644, showing a mix of smaller capacity-building awards and much larger service contracts. The recent grants list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially for Head Start and health professions programs, which suggests ongoing program-specific funding rather than one-time support. The organization is a community action agency, and the data show direct service delivery and restricted/program-specific funding as its dominant style. The active programs also show an application or intake path for Head Start through ChildPlus, and unsolicited bids or RFPs are accepted for procurement opportunities.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$526K
Total Assets
$9.6M
Total Revenue
$24.2M
Total Expenses
$24M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $57K and $672K, with a median of $123K.
25th Percentile
$57K
Median
$123K
75th Percentile
$672K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JEROME UNDERWOOD
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