our mission & values
about ECCF
what we stand for
Essex County Community Foundation inspires philanthropy that strengthens the communities of Essex County by managing charitable assets, strengthening and supporting nonprofits, and engaging in strategic community leadership initiatives.
Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life in the 34 towns and cities of Essex County.
ECCF is hiring! If you’re interested in joining our team as a Gift Planning & Advisor Relations Manager, learn more about the open position here.
about ECCF

what we do
partner with donors and professional advisors
We help donors of all sizes elevate their giving by managing charitable assets, sharing our local expertise and providing philanthropic guidance and education.
strengthen and support nonprofits
Essex County’s 4000+ nonprofit organizations are doing smart, innovative work. We support their critical efforts with education, resources and funding.
engage in systems based community leadership work
To solve our region’s most complex social issues, we invest and engage in community leadership initiatives driven by our Systems Philanthropy approach to change.
our history
Since 1998, ECCF has proudly served the 34 unique cities and towns of Essex County. What started as an organization solely dedicated to strengthening our region’s nonprofits, has evolved – along with our communities – to an innovative and deeply connected Foundation inspiring system based social change.
1998
Founded & Established
-
ECCF began with a vision to strengthen our region’s nonprofits. Our work expanded to connect donors with causes they care about and convene leaders around important issues. Through these endeavors, ECCF emerged as a trusted regional leader.
2008
Incubate Initiatives
- Our ability to convene allowed ECCF to incubate initiatives that had a great impact on our community, including the Institute for Trustees and the
.Youth at Risk Conference
2016 - 2019
Launch Impact Essex County
-
ECCF leveraged its unique position to launch Impact Essex County – our first community leadership initiative. This work addressed the region’s greatest challenges using data and collective action to deliver lasting social change and our future initiatives were shaped by this innovative approach.
2022 - 2020
Taking it to the next level
- We take our work to the next level in this three-year strategic plan. Join us in creating a sustainable, nimble community foundation that helps our communities thrive
.and prosper
how can we help?
Connect with us live and find out how we can elevate your giving.