Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust

PITTSFORD, NY EIN: 16-1530490

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

-3.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

-4.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust reported a distributable amount of $264K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

& Purposes:**

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

New York $1.0M (100%)

States

New York

Cities

AlbanyAltonBuffaloHoneoye FallsNew YorkPenfieldPittsfordRochesterSyracuseWebster

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.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong ($50,000), Rochester Fringe Festival Inc ($37,500), Syracuse University College of Law ($37,500).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AFP-NY Genesee Valley Chapter Rochester, NY	General	$1,000
Al Sigl Center Rochester, NY	General	$1,400
Alzheimer's Association Rochester, NY	General	$2,000
ARC of Monroe Rochester, NY	General	$4,000
AutismUp Webster, NY	General	$2,600
BioDance Inc Pittsford, NY	General	$2,000
BOA Editions Limited Rochester, NY	General	$500
Boy Scouts Rochester, NY	General	$500
Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester Rochester, NY	General	$1,000
Cancer Support Community Rochester Rochester, NY	General	$1,000

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

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust fund?

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

How do I apply for a grant from Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust?

**Grant Types & Purposes:** The trust makes grants for: • Capital needs • Technology and equipment needs • Pilot projects • Innovative programs Support is typically not provided for individuals, endowments, land acquisition, or ordinary operating expenses. **Grant Sizes:** Historically, grants have ranged from a minimum of $250 to a maximum multi-year commitment of $300,000 paid over seven years. Well over $10 million has been awarded in grants since the trust's establishment in 1997. **Applica…

Where does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust make grants?

The trust focuses exclusively on the Greater Rochester, New York area.

What size grants does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust award?

In 2025, Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust awarded 50 grants totaling $273K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust reported a distributable amount of $264K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.