The vision of the Wilson Foundation is to act as a catalyst for change.

In 1963, the Wilson Foundation was established by Joseph C. Wilson, then Chair of the Board of Xerox Corporation, and his wife, Peggy. As he shepherded his father's company, Haloid, from a small photographic paper manufacturer to the multi-national corporation Xerox, Joe Wilson developed a reputation as a thoughtful leader committed to addressing problems head-on.

Our mission is to affect poverty by increasing housing stability and trauma-informed responsiveness for the youth and families of Rochester, New York.

“Life’s persistent and most urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

Foundation Milestones

  • 1963

    Joe and Peggy created the Foundation Early grants: University of Rochester; the Community Chest of Monroe County; St. Thomas More Church.

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  • 1964 - 1968

    Following the racial unrest that rocked Rochester in 1964, grants to the United Negro College Fund; Ralph Bunche Scholarship; St. Martin de Porres Center in Rochester; NAACP; and the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing.

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  • 1969 - 1997

    Funding for Diabetes research at Joslin Diabetes Center, totaling $1,639,150.

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  • 1973 - 1989

    Invested $720,000 in the Wilson Fellows Program at the University of Rochester for oncology research.

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  • 1984

    Inspired by Warren Village in Denver, the Board agreed to explore creating a transitional housing model for women and children in Rochester.

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  • 1991

    Wilson Commencement Park opened as the first transitional housing program for women and children in Rochester, which included wrap-around services, such as childcare.

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  • 2002

    Formation of Rochester Small Grants program, which, until its sunset in 2019, gave over four million dollars to Rochester area non-profits.

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  • 2007

    Publication of the Replication Assessment for Wilson Commencement Park and A Transformational Housing Implementation Guide

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  • 2009

    Publication of the Wilson Commencement Park Alumni Study, revealing that 97% of former residents were stably housed several years after leaving the program

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  • 2010

    Funded the National Center on Family Homelessness’ policy work through the Campaign to End Child Homelessness

    Publication of America’s Youngest Outcasts: Report Card on Child Homelessness

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  • 2012

    Support for the Looking Into Light traveling exhibit on family homelessness

    Publication of America’s Youngest Outcasts: Report Card on Child Homelessness

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  • 2013

    SHIFT Study released, a longitudinal study of different housing models in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany

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  • 2019 - Present

    After strategic planning that involved several structual changes to the Foundation, the Strategic Grants program was launched with its focus on four strategies to advance systems change: Advocacy, Collaboration, Capacity Building, and Prevention. To date, community investments under this grants program have exceeded $3.5m and now comprise approximately $1m a year.

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Leadership

Now in its fourth generation, the members of the Board of Managers honor the legacy of the founders while advancing their original intentions. Descendants of Joe and Peggy Wilson may be geographically dispersed, but work together in their collective legacy.

Executive Committee

Scott Wilson, Chair
Mimi Tabah, Alternate
Nelli Garton, Treasurer
Joanie Donahue, Secretary
Emma Donahue
Deirdre Garton
Olivia Tabah
Emily Wilson

Board of Managers

Emma Donahue
Joanie Donahue
Taylor Ensign
Deirdre Garton
Nelli Garton
Chris Kling
Jessa McIntosh
Ben Tabah

Isabelle Tabah
Mimi Tabah
Olivia Tabah
Alex Wilson
Deirdre Wilson
Emily Wilson
Joe Wilson
Samantha Wilson
Scott Wilson

Staff

Rachel Sherman joined the foundation in 2019 in an operations role until her elevation to Executive Director in 2023. As ED, Rachel manages all day-to-day foundation activities, including community relationships, grantmaking, communications, board and committee support, family engagement, and operations/finance. Under her leadership, the foundation has leaned in more on trust-based, catalytic, and equitable philanthropic principles and has transitioned a traditional investment portfolio to one invested for impact and values-alignment. Prior to joining the Foundation, Rachel served as the Vice President of Client Service at a firm providing integrated wealth management services, including philanthropic support. Rachel started her career in Boston as an attorney.

Rachel holds a B.S. from Cornell University in Industrial Relations and a law degree from Harvard Law School. She has completed an intensive managerial leadership training course with the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs. In 2024, Rachel received a Women of Distinction Award from N.Y.S. District 138, Assemblymember Bronson’s office.

Rachel spends her free time volunteering for organizations that assist refugees, children, and those experiencing homelessness. She finds joy in raising her three determined teenagers, tending to her vegetables and flowers in the community garden, and attempting to train her rescue dog. Rachel is supported by her partner and husband of 25 years, Matt.

Rachel Sherman