5 Rochester environmental organizations to donate to on Giving Tuesday

Have you heard of Giving Tuesday before? It was founded in 2012 and happens annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the shopping madness of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It’s a great time to give to organizations that support causes you believe in to help them continue their work. Keep reading to get some inspiration for local environmental organizations that you can donate to this Giving Tuesday! 

Greentopia

Greentopia is devoted to improving Rochester through environmental initiatives such as the creation of EcoDistricts and supporting young adults in the community through mentorship, training, job experience, and resume building in their Greenvisions program. In the Greenvisions programs, young adults work on a small urban flower farm and sell them at events, in several Wegmans locations, and the Rochester Public Market. 

Genesee Land Trust

Genesee Land Trust helps preserve our local environment by owning and managing nature preserves and partnering with local towns to create nature parks, all open to the public where they can host events educating people on the benefits of nature. They also work with landowners to create conservation easements to restrict future development on areas such as farms. 

Rochester Ecology Partners

Rochester Ecology Partners is a relatively new organization, holding its first board meeting in February of 2020 and officially becoming a nonprofit organization in November 2021. Their mission is to connect people with the nature that surrounds them, especially if they live in urban areas. Their vision is to create a network of environmentally connected places and programs that will lead to sustainable and equitable economic opportunity, along with environmental stewardship and improved community well-being. 

Highland Park Conservancy

The Highland Park Conservancy advocates for and participates in the preservation, restoration, and enhancement of all of Highland Park, including the Lamberton Conservatory. One of their big projects is restoring the Children’s Pavilion, which you can specifically donate to. The other option is their generic fund which supports their educational programming and other park improvement projects. 

Taproot Collective

Taproot Collective supports neighborhood and youth development through urban agriculture at First Market Farm across from the City of Rochester Public Market. In 2022, First Market Farm grew 1,000 pounds of food that fed people living nearby. Donating can help in several ways including buying new tools, hosting workshops, composting, and building more garden beds.

Written by Sarah Woodams ‘24(T5)

Photo by Sarah Woodams