FAQ
Q: I’ve heard of The Ascienzo Family Foundation (“AFF”) from friends, family, or through social media, but can you explain its history & purpose?
A: The AFF is a multi-dimensional 501(c)(3) private non-profit foundation whose members include former Red Hook graduates and a Board of Directors putting philanthropy into action. Our Directors manage a two-fold mission:
Serving Red Hook and surrounding communities by supporting “social justice initiatives and community health & well-being , including educational needs, poverty alleviation, and services for the elderly.” We review local grant applications and donation requests (see below) on a rolling basis.
Cultivating a community of AFF Ambassadors - the Red Hook graduates mentioned above - who advocate for an agency or organization wherever they may reside. An Ambassador’s advocacy would fall within the same mission scope as our grants in the Red Hook locale. Through our network of Ambassadors, AFF is able to expand our giving to a national scale.
Check out this blog post for more on our history!
Q: So what was the 2023 grant year like?
A: We had an exciting and fulfilling grant year, in which we were able to grant more than anticipated! Some highlights of 2023 giving included:
Giving a total of approximately $260,000 which was distributed to about 30 organizations based in Red Hook, the surrounding region, and in communities across the country in which our ambassadors reside.
Sponsoring five scholarships - our 2022 scholars had their scholarships renewed for a second year and we added two new scholars from the RHHS Class of 2023.
Collaborating for the fourth year with Dr. Melitski’s Nonprofit Leadership and Management class at Marist. We provided matching donations for students’ fundraising campaigns for five local organizations - Best Buddies, Grace Smith House, Lexington Center for Recovery, Scenic Hudson, and Special Olympics NY.
Sponsoring our fourth No Cost Market at the Red Hook Community Center in November after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Rotary Club and other volunteers assisted in the event which provided poultry and other foodstuffs to about 225 participants - almost doubling the amount of people reached last year.
Q: I run a local nonprofit organization. Can I apply for funding?
A: First, your organization must be located within the NY counties of Dutchess, Columbia, or Ulster. Second, please check that your organization’s work fits within the AFF mission. Additionally, If you are interested in applying for a grant, contact us at ascienzofamilyfoundation@gmail.com or 845-594-7879. You can find our grant application on our home page. If you are interested in a donation of under $1,500, check out our next question below. The deadline for local applications is September 1-15.
Q: Do you do donations, too? How do donations differ from grants?
A: Yes, we do. Donations are less paperwork to consider and the funding is not restricted. Your considerations for a donation must include:
Organizational influence within a three county region of Dutchess, Columbia, and Ulster in NY
a brief narrative of purpose other than a formal application - contact us directly at ascienzofamilyfoundation@gmail.com or 845-594-7879 with questions
limited to $1,500 or less
one donation per organization per calendar year
Q: What do ambassadors do?
A: There are varying degrees of involvement:
A passive advocacy is one whereby you support a group in whose cause you believe and aligns with an AFF goal, but you are not actively engaged in a service capacity.
An active advocacy is one whereby your support is tangible through volunteering or assisting in some direct capacity.
Most AFF Ambassadors tend to fall somewhere in between passive and active advocacy at various times during the year depending on their personal “busy season.”
The deadline for Ambassador applications is April 1-15.
Q: Is an ambassador involved in an advocacy all year long?
A: In an ideal scenario, you have pursued engagement in your local community (volunteerism, collaborative learning, researching needs, etc.) throughout the year. The Ambassador would then appeal to the AFF team for funding during our April grant cycle. The unique feature of an ambassadorship is access to our grant funding, and the ability they have to coordinate financial resources to an organization doing good work in their community. Ambassadors serve for at least two years (or two grant making cycles). We’re fortunate that most Ambassadors have remained active since they first became an Ambassador, some now for eight years.
Q: As a member of the greater Red Hook Community, how might I assist your organization in any way?
A: Thanks! While we manage an endowment and do not solicit donations, we try to stay in tune with “everything Red Hook” through our affiliation with RH Together and personal partnerships. There are those organizations however that do fly under our radar and are in need. We’re interested in their mission and how we might assist. Drop us a name of an organization/agency that might benefit from our resources or mention our foundation to them. Interested in serving on our Board of Directors which is currently 6 members? Let us know and we’ll send you information on time commitment, responsibilities, and our organizational protocol.