Our Mission

The Upstate Foundation's mission is to assist Upstate New York businesses and communities in attracting and retaining young professional talent in the region.

Why we're here...

Every single year, over a hundred thousand talented students migrate to Upstate New York to go to one of our incredible higher education institutions.  And every year, they leave for job markets like New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and LA.

Some leave to pursue employment opportunities not prevalent in Upstate.  Some leave to return to the places where they grew up.  Some leave to follow their friends.  And some leave simply because they do not believe there exists an option to stay.

We are here to fix this; to connect the supply of labor available to the businesses that demand those skills.  We do not expect our job to be easy, but we do believe that through three initiatives - Upstate Connect, Upstate Fellowships Program, and Shake Upstate - we can help to turn the tide of the "brain drain" in Upstate New York, and assist in the development of sustainable communities of young professionals in our cities.

Why you're here...

Right now, the Upstate Foundation is in its first phase of its development:  disseminating information across New York State.  The more people we can speak to about the problems we are facing as a region, and the steps we are taking to combat these issues, the greater the likelihood of success going forward.  Thus, we need you to spread the word.  We need you to forward this website on to your professional associates, your business partners, and your friends.

The draining of our labor market is not only a problem facing our businesses. It is a problem facing our communities - who must deal with the rising costs of governing with a diminishing tax base. It is a problem facing our politics - with a falling population relative to the rest of the US, Upstate New York has consistently been losing seats (and influence) in the US House of Representatives. It is a problem facing our families - we are raising our kids knowing that, should they want to come home after college, it may not be financially viable for them to do so. This is a problem facing us all, and it's going to take us all, working together, to solve it.

So please, forward this site on to as many people as you can.  Sign up for our email list (we promise not to bombard you).

We can make this happen, but we cannot do it without your help. 

Over Downtown Buffalo (courtesy)

Welcome

  - A message from our founder -