Bob Wilder, a 20-year resident of Stanfordville, N.Y., has given generously over the years to causes he is passionate about, primarily animal welfare and land conservation. In 2006, he sought to deepen his philanthropy by connecting with people who had broad-based knowledge about local needs in the region he calls home. He established a relationship with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and steadily expanded his giving to include significant donations to the Northeast Dutchess Area Fund (NED), with a special focus on the Northeast Dutchess Scholarship Fund.

Wilder has donated over $199K to NED’s Scholarship fund. To date, this fund has provided $5,000 per year to over 30 student winners for their tuition. Scholarships are also renewable for each of their college years. His focus on education for Northeast Dutchess youth, he shares, is a way to expand opportunities for young people to pursue their interests and discover new talents. “There’s a whole world out there,” he says. Educational support is one way to help students step beyond the familiar ground of what they know and imagine a new future for themselves.

Additionally, he has directed $6,000 to the NED area fund, which supports a variety of community-enrichment initiatives, including housing, food security, and more.

Bob has many interests he avidly pursues. He likes to ski, has an award-winning vintage car collection, and collects large art sculptures for his property, which includes a farm he manages. He also oversaw the historic restoration of his home.

Finding creative ways to integrate some of his recreational pursuits with his philanthropy is something Bob finds gratifying. In May 2025, he combined a car-rally fundraising tour for Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC), attended by over 100 people, with a pit stop at The Wassaic Project, a community art space dedicated to inclusive programming, artist support, and neighborhood revitalization.

Bob found this was a great way to connect groups of people in Northeast Dutchess who might not have had the chance to socialize with each other. He recognizes that income disparities across the region and from town to town can play a part in determining the types of events where people gather and meet. As someone who grew up in a “working family” and attended public schools, he enjoys finding opportunities to dissolve some of those traditional barriers and create awareness around organizations and causes he supports.

Bob counts the DLC event as a great success due to the high level of interest from attendees and the new contacts generated. He was recently honored at The Wassaic Project Gala for his contributions.