The Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust is a private foundation established in 1997 and located in Pittsford, New York. The trust was created through the combination of residuary trusts established under the wills of three brothers—Henry Ames, Dan Amzalak, and Semon Amzalak—who wished for their estate residues to benefit local charities. The foundation operates with no employees, with all grant review and decision-making handled by its four trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.2M
-4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$273K
-7.9% YoY
Grant Count
50
-3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-4.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's mission is to improve the quality of life in the Greater Rochester area. Its funding interests include:
- Non-profit agencies and institutions within the Rochester Jewish Community
- Other non-profit organizations in the Greater Rochester community benefiting:
- Children
- Physically and mentally challenged individuals
- Healthcare
- The arts
Grantmaking
The trust makes grants for:
Grant Range
s:**
Grant Types
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust focuses exclusively on the Greater Rochester, New York area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of April 2025:
- Total Assets: $4,168,467
- Total Revenues: $134,317
- Total Expenses: $324,593
- Investment Income and Dividends: $134,317
Historical Giving: Well over $10 million has been awarded in grants since the trust's establishment in 1997.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,168,467 | $4,362,339 | $4,246,532 |
| Revenue | $134,317 | $119,194 | $117,988 |
| Expenses | $324,593 | $344,331 | $363,936 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $303,009 | $314,455 | $335,081 |
| Net Investment Income | $121,890 | $431,572 | $144,166 |
| Distributable Amount | $263,616 | $222,617 | $241,022 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is governed by four trustees:
- Robert Vigdor — Trustee
- Richard Vigdor — Trustee
- Jay W. Gelb — Trustee
- Myrl S. Gelb — Trustee
- Justin L. Vigdor — In Memoriam (Trustee, 1985–2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrl Gelb | Trustee | 10 | $3,574 |
| Jay Gelb | Trustee | 10 | $3,574 |
| Robert Vigdor | Trustee | 10 | $3,574 |
| Richard Vigdor | Trustee | 10 | — |
| Justin Vigdor Esq | Trustee | 10 | $3,574 |
Contact Information
- Phone: 585-232-7046
- Email: amesamzalak@gmail.com
- Address: 180 Office Park Way, Pittsford, NY 14534-1762
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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