When the Albany Hospital for Incurables closed its doors in the early 1990s, proceeds from the sale were earmarked for charity. Arnold Cogswell, a well-known community leader, had held leadership positions at Albany Medical Center and Albany’s Hospital for Incurables in addition to his tenure on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. He knew the strengths of each of the organizations and had confidence that the Community Foundation would be a good steward and preserve the legacy of care he had witnessed at the Hospital for Incurables.

After guiding the Community Health Care Fund/Albany Hospital for Incurables to the Community Foundation, Mr . Cogswell went to work recruiting other community leaders to serve on the grants committee. The committee, comprised of Susan Dake, William Cromie, MD, and Thomas Older, MD and eventually led by Herb Shultz, remained unified in mission and steadfast in their commitment to serve impactful community led organizations and to keep a keen eye on stewarding the funds to ensure growth and impact.

In 2008, the grants committee chose to honor Mr. Cogswell and his lifelong  commitment to healthcare and community by renaming the fund in his honor .  Always visionary, the grants committee moved to endow the Arnold Cogswell Fund in 2022 ensuring that the fund will continue to meet the changing needs of our community.