Leveraging Partnerships and Building Community

View more photos from the March 3, 2023, ground-breaking in North Canaan, Conn. for the Community Health and Wellness Center of Greater Torrington.

Educational Enrichment Funds and Arts Build Community Initiative

Yvette "Jamuna" Sirker, Coordinator of Arts Integration & Community Partnerships for the Pittsfield Public Schools, connects local students to arts programming and cultural resources in Berkshire County. Funding for her work is supported by Berkshire Taconic through the Pittsfield Educational Enrichment Fund and our Arts Build Community Initiative. Berkshire Taconic manages 33 Educational Enrichment Funds for every public school in our region. Learn more about these funds and all of our local and regional philanthropy.

Berkshire Choral International Expands Horizons of Amateur Singers

Choral Group will Perform at Tanglewood's Seiji Ozawa Hall on May 28, 2023

Berkshire Choral International (BCI) opened a Nonprofit Agency Fund with BTCF to receive planned giving support and utilize our professional investment management. BCI's summer singing weeks kicks off with a week at the Tanglewood Learning Institute culminating in a performance on May 28 in Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.

From Hudson to Tanzania

Charting a Course of Understanding Through Travel

Regional Roundup Expanded

Columbia County

We welcome Tanu Kumar of Chatham, NY, to our board of directors! Tanu leads a consulting practice that supports clients working to build more equitable and inclusive communities. Read Tanu's full bio.	Former board member Suzette Brooks Masters published her report "Imaging Better Futures for American Democracy" in the Democracy Funders Network. The report is a call to imaging what democracy could become and bring ideas for better futures. Read the Report.

Northeast Dutchess County

Rock Steady Farm premiered the screening of "Pollinate!," a 35-minute documentary chronicling the apprenticeship of queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, and people of color farmers. Watch "Pollinate!"	NEDCorps Coalition for Youth Success, part of BTCF's School-to-Work initiative, is focusing on integrating youth services within the greater school community and providing transportation. Read More about the Northeast Dutchess Fund

Berkshire County

We have committed over $900,000 to eight organizations through our partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to administer the CARES Act Community Development Block Grant Food Security Program. Read more on our Local and Regional Philanthropy page.	Our Arts Build Community initiative awarded over $150,000 to 22 arts and culture organizations in Berkshire County that are testing new ideas to increase community engagement through the arts. Read more about the Arts Build Community initiative.

Northwest Litchfield County

The Northwest Corner Fund is supporting the Region One School District's summer school program for middle school youth, including funding to support transportation costs. Activities include STEAM projects, agriculture, athletics, arts, and music.	Supported by BTCF's Community Fund and donor advised fundholders, the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity helped towns, including Norfolk, Salisbury, and Sharon, apply for earmarked Community Project Funds. Visit LCCHO website.