Our Purpose

Achieving Community Targets Rochester (ACT Rochester) is a data initiative of Rochester Area Community Foundation that uses community indicators, research expertise, and narrative to improve the culture of decision-making and establish a more equitable, inclusive, and vital 8-county region.

Our 8-county region includes Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties.

ACT Rochester focus areas align with the grantmaking goals of Rochester Area Community Foundation, outlined here.

Our Approach

ACT Rochester uses staff training and expertise to apply rigorous research design to our community by:

  • Helping you define the question/problem

  • Identifying data/information to address the defined question/problem

  • Connecting to others with similar questions or established solutions

We refer to this approach as The Four Cs

Curate Knowledge & Information

  • Engage national (i.e., Urban Institute) and local thinkers

  • Identify and filter research for best practices, salient articles/datasets

Catalyze Improvement in the Culture of Decision-Making

  • Identify key agents and key brokers to the decision-making process

  • Support Rochester Area Community Foundation programs in goal of catalytic changes

Communicate Data in Context

  • Present data with clear visualizations

  • Include complimentary narrative

  • Provide regular social media updates

Connect People and Research for Action

  • Inform collective impact

  • Leverage scholarly networks for technical assistance

  • Partner with Rochester Area Community Foundation to convene around key issues

Our History

2025 - New Director

Miranda Santillo joins ACT as its new Director.

2022 - Staff Updates & 10th Annual Event 

Ann Johnson retires as the Director of ACT Rochester.

Dr. Meg Norris becomes Executive Director.

ACT Rochester hosts its 10th annual Report Card Event.

2020 - Hard Facts Report Update

ACT releases Hard Facts Update: Race and Ethnicity in the Nine-County Greater Rochester Area.

2017 - Local Focus on Racial Inequities

ACT releases Hard Facts, a landmark report highlighting the racial and ethnic inequities across the region.

2016 - Third Poverty Report Published

ACT releases the third Poverty Report, Poverty and Self-Sufficiency in the Nine-County Greater Rochester Area (Sept 2016)

2015 - Second Poverty Report Published

ACT releases the second Poverty Report, Benchmarking Rochester’s Poverty (Jan 2015).

2013 - The State of Black Rochester & Poverty Report 

ACT contributes to The State of Black Rochester.

ACT releases the first Poverty Report, Poverty and the Concentration of Poverty in the Greater Rochester Area (Dec 2013).

2012 - RACF, County Report Cards, and Annual Event

RACF assumes full financial responsibility for ACT as United Way’s initial five-year commitment concludes.

ACT releases the first set of seven County Report Cards.

The Annual Report Card Event draws over 225 attendees.

2009 - ACT Rochester Launches!

ACT Rochester launches with support form Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF) and United Way.