Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pittsford, NY EIN: 16-1530490

The Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust is a private foundation based in Pittsford, New York. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in areas including healthcare, the arts, Jewish community services, and support for people with disabilities.

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust at a glance

In short: Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust gave $273K across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$272,800
-7.9% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
50
-3.8% vs 2024
Average grant
$5,456
-4.3% vs 2024
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$4,168,467
-4.4% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
6% first-time grantees (3 of 50, 2025)
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing lists Myrl S Gelb as the contact and states there are no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Myrl S Gelb
Mailing address: C/O Jay R Gelb Company 180 Office P, Pittsford, NY 14534
Phone: (585) 232-7046

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong: $50KGolisano Children's Hospitalat Strong$50KRochester Fringe Festival Inc: $38KRochester Fringe Festival Inc$38KSyracuse University College of Law: $38KSyracuse University College ofLaw$38KJewish Community Center of Greater Rochester: $25KJewish Community Center ofGreater Rochester$25KJewish Senior Life Foundation: $16KJewish Senior Life Foundation$16KWXXI: $13KWXXI$13KJewish Community Center: $7KJewish Community Center$7KJewish Community Federation: $6KJewish Community Federation$6KJewish Federation of Greater Rochester: $5KJewish Federation of GreaterRochester$5KRochester School of the Holy Childhood: $5KRochester School of the HolyChildhood$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong ($50K). Together the top 10 received $202K.

Grant Size Distribution

218 grants across all recorded years

214<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 214 grants of 218 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. Many listed recipients are based in Rochester.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.

States

Cities

RochesterPittsfordBuffaloWebsterAltonPenfieldSyracuseAlbanyHoneoye FallsNew York

Is Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust open to new grantees?

6%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 50 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K0 grants2021 57 grants2022 59 grants2023 52 grants2024 50 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $273K (2025) to $316K (2023). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $273K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Rochester, NYGeneral$50,000
Rochester Fringe Festival Inc Rochester, NYGeneral$37,500
Syracuse University College of Law Syracuse, NYGeneral$37,500
Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester Rochester, NYGeneral$25,000
Jewish Senior Life Foundation Rochester, NYGeneral$16,000
WXXI Rochester, NYGeneral$12,500
Jewish Community Center Rochester, NYGeneral$7,000
Jewish Community Federation Rochester, NYGeneral$6,000
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester Rochester, NYGeneral$5,000
Rochester School of the Holy Childhood Rochester, NYGeneral$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$4,168,467$134,317$324,593$272,80050$303,009$121,890$263,616
2024$4,362,339$119,194$344,331$296,35052$314,455$431,572$222,617
2023$4,246,532$117,988$363,936$316,00059$335,081$144,166$241,022
2022$4,441,410$123,504$337,299$290,70057$306,518$198,810$282,589
2021$4,550,400$91,475$48,060———$92,240$257,254

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 September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available information does not state the trust’s mission. Its 2025 grants include support for a children’s hospital, an arts festival, Jewish community organizations, and organizations serving people with disabilities.

Grantee descriptions illustrate this range: Rochester Fringe Festival Inc says it produces an annual festival showcasing performance and visual arts; Jewish Senior Life Foundation says it raises support to enhance the lives of residents, patients, and families; and Trillium Health describes its work as providing affordable, judgment-free healthcare. Mary Cariola Children’s Center describes its work as education and life-skill services for individuals with complex disabilities and their families.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the trust reported 50 grants totaling $272,800. Grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $2,000. The largest awards included $50,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, $37,500 to Rochester Fringe Festival Inc, $37,500 to Syracuse University College of Law, and $25,000 to Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester. Other awards included $16,000 to Jewish Senior Life Foundation, $12,500 to WXXI, and $5,000 each to Rochester School of the Holy Childhood and Trillium Health.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Myrl Gelb, Jay Gelb, Robert Vigdor, Richard Vigdor, and Justin Vigdor Esq as trustees.

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jay Gelb

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $4K (2025)

  • Justin Vigdor Esq.

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $4K (2025)

  • Myrl Gelb

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $4K (2025)

  • Robert Vigdor

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $4K (2025)

  • Richard Vigdor

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Myrl Gelb — Trustee: $4KMyrl GelbTrustee$4KJay Gelb — Trustee: $4KJay GelbTrustee$4KRobert Vigdor — Trustee: $4KRobert VigdorTrustee$4KJustin Vigdor Esq — Trustee: $4KJustin Vigdor EsqTrustee$4K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $4K, to Myrl Gelb (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust

How much does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust give each year?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust gave $273K across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $296K across 52 grants.

What is Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's typical grant size?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $5,456, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust that year got $10K on average.

Where does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust give grants?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (42 grants) and Pittsford, NY (2 grants).

Does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's largest grantees?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong ($50,000), Rochester Fringe Festival Inc ($37,500) and Syracuse University College of Law ($37,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust reported $4.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $303K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $264K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust fund?

The available information does not state the trust’s mission. Its 2025 grants include support for a children’s hospital, an arts festival, Jewish community organizations, and organizations serving people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑

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

The trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's EIN?

Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1530490. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ames-amzalak-memorial-trust-morg_4fb06d9db96b44dd87c21b446e2389fd

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161530490_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/ames-amzalak-memorial-trust-morg_4fb06d9db96b44dd87c21b446e2389fd},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Ames-Amzalak Memorial Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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