In 1996, Berkshire Taconic established its first education enrichment fund to help students reach their potential through learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

Since then, we have partnered with hundreds of generous donors to launch and grow funds for every public school district in our region. The foundation manages the funds and volunteer committees – parents, business leaders, teachers and administrators – award grants for field trips, artists in residence, robotics programs, special projects such as building gardens and greenhouses, and more. Enrichment funds are a permanent source of support for extraordinary learning experiences.

33

Number of funds supporting enrichment programs in public schools

Over $250,000

Total grants for school projects in 2021

As one of the largest private scholarship sources for our region’s students, we are helping young people and their families to offset the rising cost of tuition and reduce reliance on loans where possible.

Berkshire Taconic awards one-time and renewable scholarships to students attending trade schools, colleges and universities, and graduate programs through 75 scholarship funds.

We are privileged to partner with generous donors who make these funds possible, and we guide them, students, families, school systems and committees through our annual process.

Browse our scholarships

75

Number of scholarship funds at BTCF

Over $700,000

Total scholarships granted in 2021

25%

Percentage of scholarships awarded to families who cannot provide any financial support for college in 2021

Columbia County: Fresh & Healthy Food for All

Launched in 2015, this donor-directed project is designed to transform the food system over time for the benefit of all Columbia County residents, especially low-income families and seniors.

Two principal grantees, Hawthorne Valley Association and The Sylvia Center, implement the project, whose accomplishments include: opening a grocery store in downtown Hudson and a mobile market serving the county with tiered pricing systems; expanding a gleaning program that delivers unused or unsaleable produce directly to food pantries countywide; and bringing one-of-a-kind healthy cooking programs for young people and their families to all six of Columbia County’s public school districts. Over 80 local community members involved in food-related industries across the county – including farms, food pantries, distributors, food retailers, community-based organizations and public agencies – contributed to the project’s development.

Berkshire County: CARES Act Grants

Berkshire Taconic is partnering with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to administer the CARES Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV) Food Security Program in Berkshire County.

We are one of more than a dozen community foundations across the state that will re-grant funds to local or regional community-based organizations with the capacity to efficiently provide immediate relief and support for individuals and families.

These one-time grants are intended to direct vital resources to individuals and households experiencing food insecurity as a result of the pandemic. Grants are supporting capital expenses and projects aimed at expanding and/or improving the capacity of food provision programs.

Berkshire County: Food Access for School Families

Berkshire Taconic donors concerned that school-age children and their families lack sustainable access to fresh food have launched a multi-year project in partnership with Fairview Hospital’s Rural Health Network.

Funding for a new food coordinator position there has helped to strengthen existing efforts while initiating a plan to fill gaps in critical free and reduced lunch programs. The project has grown to become a working group of food pantries, schools, health care providers and others dedicated to building a better coordinated and enduring food access system.