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Sustaining Our Work

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Make no small plans.

Two hundred years ago New Yorkers made no small plans when they envisioned the Erie Canal and built the longest constructed transportation system on the North American continent.

Now, it's our time to think big, work smart, and make a lasting impact. Join the Next Century Campaign and help steer a course toward an ever more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future along New York's extraordinary canals. Your generous support today will ensure that the canals that transformed America continue to be cared for and enjoyed now and into the next century.

Five Key Focus Areas

Foster Diverse and Accessible Recreation & Promote Heritage-Based Tourism

Your donation will support expanded amenities, recreational initiatives, and stewardship of our trails and waterways.

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Host & Support Community and Corridor-wide Events

Your donation will help us engage hundreds of thousands of visitors and generate millions of dollars annually in economic impact for canal communities.

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Conserve Our Unique Heritage

Contribute to canal preservation and community development, including investments in rural Mohawk Valley and a condition assessment of canal structures from the 1800s.

Educate Current and Future Generations

Give more students—including from low-income schools—access to dynamic in-person field trips and bring the canal to the classroom through the Erie Canal Learning Hub.

Support Legacy Projects

Support our work to meet future needs, be responsive to urgent and emerging challenges, and ensure that generations to come can experience the canals that transformed America.

When you support the Erie Canalway Next Century Campaign, you are helping to promote economic vitality throughout 200 communities within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Donate Online

Join our community of supporters by making a secure online payment.

Mail Your Donation

Please make checks payable to:
Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 219
Waterford, NY 12188

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Next Century Campaign

Read our case statement to discover what we can accomplish together.

For more information on the Next Century Campaign or to discuss campaign corporate sponsorship, please contact:

Rebecca Keister, Development Manager
518-237-7000, ext. 221

Bob Radliff, Executive Director
518-237-7000, ext. 203

The Erie Canalway Heritage Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works hand-in-hand with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission. Your contribution to the Heritage Fund supports our efforts to preserve and share our extraordinary canal heritage. It helps us continue to work with partners to promote the Canalway Corridor as a world-class tourism destination. And it leverages additional financial support to advance the entire region.

Thank You to our 2024 - 2025 Next Century Campaign Donors

Leadership Circle Supporters

Gifts of $10k or greater

National Park Foundation
Fleming Family Foundation
BNY Mellon
Carl & Suzanne Blowers
Paul Comstock
Mark & Roxanne Hettler

Campaign Supporters

Gifts of $1k-$999k

Barbara Blanchard
Amy Durland
Judy & Philip Cherry
Marilyn Higgins
Paul Neureuter
Brad Packard
Harry Sicherman
Erin Tobin
Kal Wysokowski

Brookfield Renewable
Fairport Office of Community and Economic Development
GEICO/Boat U.S.
Momentive
Mustang Survival
NRS
Spruce Creek Campground
Stewart's Shops
Wegman Food Markets, Inc.
William G. Pomeroy Foundation

Public Sector Support

Empire State Development: Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation and I Love NY/Market NY
National Park Service
New York State Canal Corporation / New York Power Authority
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation