Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc
The Fred L. Emerson Foundation is a private foundation based in Auburn, New York. Its website says it has supported organizations in Auburn and surrounding central New York since 1932.
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc gave $7.9M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $113K), mostly in New York. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,892,812
- +216.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- -19.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $112,754
- +292.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,750
- Total assets
- $94,524,517
- -2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (22 of 70, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (99% 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 Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Proposals must be submitted through the Foundation’s online application process using its grant application form. Before applying, organizations are asked to confirm that they are qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, their project aligns with the guidelines and will have meaningful and direct impact on Auburn and surrounding central New York, and they have previously received Foundation funding. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations and does not sponsor fundraising events or political activities. Its 2025 filing says proposals seeking support solely for recurring operating expenses are strongly discouraged. Grant recipients are expected to submit an evaluation report after project completion.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals are accepted and considered on an ongoing, rolling basis. The Foundation says it typically responds within 1–3 months. Organizations that have received a grant are asked to wait 2–3 years before submitting another proposal; organizations whose proposals were not selected may apply again the following year, though the Foundation advises against resubmitting the same proposal.
- Deadline
- Proposals are accepted and considered on an ongoing, rolling basis.
- Contact
Application contact: Daniel J Fessenden Executive Direct
Mailing address: 5654 South Street Road, Auburn, NY 13021
Phone: (315) 253-9621
Website: https://emersonfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc
Who Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Seward House Museum ($5.5M). Together the top 10 received $7.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
410 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 337 grants of 410 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that its grantmaking is focused on Auburn and the surrounding central New York area, particularly Auburn, Cayuga County, and nearby communities. Its application guidance asks organizations to explain how their proposed work will have a meaningful and direct impact in that area. In filing year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York. The Foundation says it occasionally makes discretionary grants outside its immediate geography but does not invite proposals of that type.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 22 of 70 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $143K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 178% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2023) to $8.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $7.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seward House Museum Auburn, NY | Toward endowment ($4.9m); capital restricted ($500k); seward carriage ($100k) | $5,525,032 |
| Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY | McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center | $450,000 |
| The Rev Theater Company Auburn, NY | Programming ($175K); Unrestricted ($175K); Tribute Band Event ($10K) | $360,000 |
| Causewave Community Partners Rochester, NY | Capacity navigation with streamlined access to capacity building support | $259,475 |
| Booker T Washington Community Center Auburn, NY | Toward Before and After School Feeding Program, Unrestricted | $121,000 |
| Food Bank of Central New York Syracuse, NY | Capacity expansion project ($50,000); support Cayuga county food programs ($45,000); unrestricted ($15,000) | $110,000 |
| Catalyst Cayuga Auburn, NY | Investing in peer-to-peer networking and learning in Cayuga county | $100,000 |
| Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre Syracuse, NY | Toward the Centennial Capital Campaign | $75,000 |
| E John Gavras Center Auburn, NY | Preschool capacity building grant ($44,000); dolly parton imagination library sustainability project ($30,000) | $74,000 |
| Friends of Emerson Park Auburn, NY | Toward development mgmt ($50k); unrestricted ($3k); easter 2025 event ($2.5k); sunday funday ($1k) | $56,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,524,517 | $7,012,780 | $8,993,988 | $7,892,812 | 70 | $8,631,811 | $5,988,082 | $5,761,470 |
| 2024 | $96,505,725 | $4,590,551 | $3,590,432 | $2,496,660 | 87 | $3,273,130 | $4,261,902 | $5,368,130 |
| 2023 | $95,505,606 | $4,340,751 | $3,567,987 | $2,396,399 | 91 | $3,132,707 | $3,797,299 | $4,811,632 |
| 2022 | $94,732,842 | $2,372,345 | $4,342,165 | $2,835,815 | 84 | $3,520,438 | $1,942,722 | $4,954,142 |
| 2021 | $96,702,662 | $21,193,646 | $9,593,483 | $8,376,224 | 78 | $9,043,661 | $20,888,447 | $4,962,442 |
| 2020 | $85,102,499 | $15,845,112 | $4,641,089 | $3,514,094 | 99 | — | $15,609,064 | $3,980,810 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.8M 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 Foundation says it continues Fred L. Emerson’s work of investing in individuals and the community. It seeks to invest in organizations where it believes its support can make a critical and significant difference. Its guidelines identify interest in projects that improve organizational sustainability, involve other funders, and address an organization’s highest priority. Support may include capital, programmatic, or unrestricted funding. The Foundation also continues to consider private higher education, with a narrowed focus on initiatives that directly impact Auburn.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and purposes, including historic preservation, higher education, theater, food programs, nonprofit capacity building, and youth activities. For example, Seward House Museum describes its work as preserving and interpreting the legacy of William H. Seward and William H. Seward Jr.; Food Bank of Central New York says its mission is to help eliminate hunger through community partnerships, education, advocacy, and food distribution; and Auburn Public Theater describes its purpose as bringing people together through performances, cinema, arts, education, and community events.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 70 grants totaling $7,892,812. Individual awards ranged from $850 to $5,525,032, with a median grant of $10,750. The largest award was $5,525,032 to Seward House Museum, including support toward endowment, capital-restricted purposes, and the Seward carriage. Other notable awards included $450,000 to Skidmore College for the McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center; $360,000 to The Rev Theater Company for programming, unrestricted support, and a tribute band event; and $259,475 to Causewave Community Partners for capacity navigation and access to capacity-building support. Other grants included $121,000 to Booker T. Washington Community Center, $110,000 to Food Bank of Central New York, and $100,000 to Catalyst Cayuga.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel J. Fessenden as executive director; Lori E. Robinson as president; Alex Kinal-Wagner as vice president; Heather A. Emerson as treasurer; and Sally E. Wagner as secretary. Directors listed on that filing are Kristen E. Rubacka, W. Gary Emerson, W. Eric Emerson, Katelyn M. Perkins, and Mary McLean Evans.
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc is led by Daniel J. Fessenden, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel J. Fessenden
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$221K (2020) → $258K (2025)
Lori E. Robinson
President
Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Katelyn M. Perkins
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Kristen E. Rubacka
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2025)
W. Eric Emerson
Director
Vice President & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Mary McLean Evans
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $11K (2025)
Ann M. Huston
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $15K (2025)
Darlene G. Motley
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$7K (2023) → $14K (2025)
Alex Kinal-Wagner
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Heather A. Emerson
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Sally E. Wagner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Former officers (7)
- Former: Elizabeth A. August (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael F. Nozzolio (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Joan H. Stewart (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Peter J. Emerson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jack E. Rubacka (2021) — Associate Member
- Former: Julia Wagner (2021) — Associate Member
- Former: Samuel C. Rubacka (2021) — Associate Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $258K, to Daniel J Fessenden (Executive Director). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc
How much does Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc give each year?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc gave $7.9M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 87 grants.
What is Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,750, and its average grant was $112,754, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc that year got $48K on average.
Where does Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc give grants?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Auburn, NY (28 grants), Syracuse, NY (7 grants), Rochester, NY (3 grants) and Moravia, NY (3 grants).
Does Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Seward House Museum ($5,525,032), Skidmore College ($450,000) and The Rev Theater Company ($360,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc reported $94.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation says it continues Fred L. Emerson’s work of investing in individuals and the community. It seeks to invest in organizations where it believes its support can make a critical and significant difference. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc?
Proposals must be submitted through the Foundation’s online application process using its grant application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's EIN?
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 15-6017650. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fred-l-emerson-foundation-inc-morg_66c56e9bb9234a8f959b176ed47fa3ee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_156017650_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fred-l-emerson-foundation-inc-morg_66c56e9bb9234a8f959b176ed47fa3ee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc'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.
Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?