Community foundations fill a unique role in the communities that they serve. They literally are the "community's foundation" becoming the center for local philanthropy. Their role is to identify charitable resources within a particular georgaphic area and preserve those resources for the area's benefit. Their mission is to provide the link between the community's financial resources and the charitable needs of the community.    What is a Community Foundation?   Community Foundations are for many a new idea. What exactly is a community foundation? The words "community" and "foundation" are certainly familiar, but when you put them together it sounds different. So let's get started with some basics. Community Foundations are . . .  A vehicle for personal philanthropy  An endowment supporting community needs now A legacy for the future A platform for building community capacity A place where charitable dreams become reality Your local community foundation is The Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, located in the heart of downtown Rochester at 127 W. University Drive. Our hours are from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Inquiries may be made directly by calling (248) 608-2804.