Friends and Foundation of the Rochester, based in Rochester, New York, is a public charity formed in 1989. It raises funds and provides programming in support of the Rochester Public Library, and also provides materials support to eligible libraries in a wider regional area.
Key facts about Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library
In short: Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library gave $1.2M across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 16-1347453
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,225,863
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $39,544
- Median grant
- $11,025
- Total assets
- $32,943,358
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$32.9M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-4.3% YoY
Grant Count
31
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-4.3% YoY
How Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds and provide programming in support of the Rochester Public Library. Its goals include helping ensure the library’s financial security, enabling a high level of library service, and building public support for library programs. It also provides materials support to eligible libraries in the Monroe County, OWWL, and Nioga Library Systems. Its website names eligible libraries in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston, Orleans, and Genesee counties.
The 2025 grants show support for public libraries. For example, Rochester Public Library describes its mission as engaging the community in lifelong learning through access to information, technology, gathering spaces, and expert staff. Chili Public Library says it provides books, audiovisual materials, services, and programs to residents of Chili and surrounding areas. Victor Farmington Library describes its purpose as providing inclusive access to information, technology, and educational resources while fostering lifelong learning and community connection.
Grantmaking
The listed purpose for the largest grants was to support the recipient organizations’ exempt purposes.
The largest 2025 grant was $378,541 to Rochester Public Library. Other large grants included $70,162 to Fairport Public Library, $62,404 to Greece Public Library, $58,803 to Brighton Memorial Library, $57,348 to Pittsford Community Library, and $50,610 to Webster Public Library. Additional recipients included Henrietta Public Library ($48,941), Penfield Public Library ($48,390), Gates Public Library ($27,249), Chili Public Library ($25,092), Victor Farmington Library ($24,629), and Wood Library Association ($24,360).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated materials-support reach includes eligible libraries in Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston, Orleans, and Genesee counties. Its 2025 grant dollars were reported as 100% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $606K (2021) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rochester Public Library ($565K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 65 (78%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester Public Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $564,532 |
| Fairport Public Library Fairport, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $70,162 |
| Greece Public Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $62,404 |
| Brighton Memorial Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $58,803 |
| Pittsford Community Library Pittsford, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $57,348 |
| Webster Public Library Webster, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $50,610 |
| Henrietta Public Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $48,941 |
| Penfield Public Library Penfield, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $48,390 |
| Gates Public Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $27,249 |
| Chili Public Library Rochester, NY | Support the organization's exempt purpose | $25,092 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,943,358 | $2,142,622 | $1,922,044 | $1,039,872 |
| 2024 | $30,168,170 | $3,112,960 | $1,948,790 | $1,145,702 |
| 2023 | $27,148,847 | $3,440,482 | $1,502,838 | $452,169 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,943,358 | $30,168,170 | $27,148,847 |
| Revenue | $2,142,622 | $3,112,960 | $3,440,482 |
| Expenses | $1,922,044 | $1,948,790 | $1,502,838 |
| Net Investment Income | $881,770 | $1,277,025 | $562,462 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Justin Stevens as president. Directors listed were Arelis Aponte, Jim Kraus, Adam Brady, Om Popli, Hannah Espinoza, Carissa Guzski, and Karen Soanes. Emily Clasper was listed as ex officio, and Patty Uttaro as ex officio through February 14, 2025.
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library is led by Donna Borgus, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 21 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donna Borgus
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$93K (2023) → $98K (2025)
Justin Stevens
President
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Yust
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie Shelly
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Minarik
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Futch
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Suozzi
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Brady
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arelis Aponte
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Kraus
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khalid Vrede
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Om Popli
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carissa Guzski
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hannah Espinoza
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ichin Zinn
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Soanes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patty Uttaro
Executive Officio
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Millick
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Lippa
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shiva Ramaswamy
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Clasper
Executive Officio
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Diana Carter (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Donna P Benjamin (2021–2024) — Consultive & Executive Officio
- Former: Kiah Nyame (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Sheila Strong (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Andrew Iserson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Brian McLaughlin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Dan Ross (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: David Hou (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Richard L Hamilton (2021–2023) — Consultive & Executive Officio
- Former: Tiana Stephens (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Amy Button (2023) — Director
- Former: Donna Borgus Executive (2022) — Director
- Former: Edward B Davis III Executive (2022) — Director
- Former: Donna Goldberg (2021) — Director
- Former: Edward B Davis III (2021) — Executive Director
- Former: John Lovenheim (2021) — Director
- Former: Justin Runke (2021) — Director
- Former: Lois Giess (2021) — Director
- Former: Rosalind Clancy (2021) — Director
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $98K, to Donna Borgus (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 115 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: (585) 428-8321
Website: https://ffrpl.org
Frequently asked questions about Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library
How much does Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library give each year?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library gave $1.2M across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 31 grants.
What is Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's typical grant size?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's median grant in 2025 was $11,025, and its average grant was $39,544, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library give grants?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (6 grants).
Who are Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's largest grantees?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's largest 2025 grantees include Rochester Public Library ($564,532), Fairport Public Library ($70,162) and Greece Public Library ($62,404), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library reported $32.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.1M.
What does Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds and provide programming in support of the Rochester Public Library. Its goals include helping ensure the library’s financial security, enabling a high level of library service, and building public support for library programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ffrpl.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's EIN?
Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1347453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library by hand.
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