Max and Marian Farash Charitable
The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Rochester, New York. Established in 1988, the foundation received its tax-exempt status in October 2014. The foundation is committed to supporting energetic organizations working to transform the community into a beacon of opportunity, connection, and joy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$341.9M
+4.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.0M
+6.4% YoY
Grant Count
139
-5.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
+12.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max and Marian Farash Charitable reported a distributable amount of $16.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on illuminating the brilliance of organizations and individuals. Core to their approach are collaboration and innovation in bringing new possibilities to the region.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Jewish Life: Supporting innovative ways to nurture growth and connection within the vibrant and diverse Jewish community
- Out-of-School Time: Improving the lives of young people through innovative and enriching out-of-school time programs that create opportunities for learning and fun
- Arts: Cultivating creativity and imagination for all
- Community Response: Supporting the changing needs and unexpected demands of the community
The foundation also funds education, entrepreneurship, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation is active in grantmaking with recent grant activity documented in tax filings.
Grant Range
$28,000
Ready to take the next step with Max and Marian Farash Charitable?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with some grants extending to Massachusetts and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $326.7 million
- Total Revenue: $26.5 million
- Total Expenses: $29.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $7.96 million
The foundation ranks in the top 1% of foundations by asset size nationally.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $341,907,880 | $326,670,285 | $307,139,731 |
| Revenue | $29,955,570 | $26,460,451 | $21,978,001 |
| Expenses | $24,403,631 | $29,082,246 | $20,039,017 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,301,081 | $16,209,695 | $14,895,604 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,913,068 | $20,565,657 | $16,097,985 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,054,996 | $14,824,047 | $15,227,662 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Max and Marian Farash Charitable
Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation: Grant for Arts
MAX AND MARIAN FARASH CHARITABLE
Amount
US $4,000 - US $48,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation: Jewish Life Grant Program
MAX AND MARIAN FARASH CHARITABLE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation: Out-of-School Time - Summer Fun and Learning Grants
MAX AND MARIAN FARASH CHARITABLE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee ($280,000), Center for Teen Empowerment ($260,000), Freedom Scholars Learning Center Inc ($226,403).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADIRONDACK FOUNDATION LAKE PLACID, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| ADIRONDACK HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| ALFRED STATE SUNY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY ALFRED, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ALLENDALE COLUMBIA SCHOOL ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION ROCHESTER & FINGER LAKES REGION CHAPTER ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $280,000 |
| AUTISMUP ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $12,500 |
| BADEN STREET SETTLEMENT OF ROCHESTER INC ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BARAKAH MUSLIM CHARITY ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| BORINQUEN DANCE THEATRE INC ROCHESTER, NY | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation maintains a board of trustees:
- Daan Braveman, Trustee & Board Chair
- Edward Hourihan Jr., Trustee
- Gregory Wolcott, Trustee
- Hoffman Moka Lantum MD PhD, Trustee & Secretary
- Joy Ryen Plotnik, Trustee & Committee Chair
- Kenneth D Bell, Trustee & Treasurer
- Matthew Aroesty, Trustee & Committee Chair
- Nathan J Robfogel Esq, Trustee
- Patricia Loveland, Trustee & Committee Chair
- Theresa Mazzullo, Trustee & Committee Chair
The foundation employs approximately 10 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAN BRAVEMAN | TRUSTEE & BOARD CHAIR | 5 | $35,000 |
| EDWARD HOURIHAN JR | TRUSTEE | 1.25 | $20,000 |
| GREGORY WOLCOTT | TRUSTEE | 2.25 | $20,000 |
| HOFFMAN MOKA LANTUM MD PHD | TRUSTEE & SECRETARY | 2 | $25,000 |
| JOY RYEN PLOTNIK | TRUSTEE & COMMITTEE CHAIR | 1.5 | $25,000 |
| KENNETH D BELL | TRUSTEE & TREASURER | 3.25 | $30,000 |
| MATTHEW AROESTY | TRUSTEE & COMMITTEE CHAIR | 1.75 | $25,000 |
| NATHAN J ROBFOGEL ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1.25 | $20,000 |
| PATRICIA LOVELAND | TRUSTEE & COMMITTEE CHAIR | 1.75 | $25,000 |
| THERESA MAZZULLO | TRUSTEE & COMMITTEE CHAIR | 1.25 | $25,000 |
| DOUGLAS BENNETT | TRUSTEE | 1.25 | $20,000 |
| JENNIE SCHAFF | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 37.5 | $338,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced significant grants in recent years, including a $50,000 grant to Monroe Community Hospital for a new hospice and palliative care center. The foundation announced more than $2 million in year-end grants in 2014.
MCH Foundation Secures $50K GrantSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Max and Marian Farash Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission centers on illuminating the brilliance of organizations and individuals. Core to their approach are collaboration and innovation in bringing new possibilities to the region. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Jewish Life**: Supporting innovative ways to nurture growth and connection within the vibrant and diverse Jewish community • **Out-of-School Time**: Improving the lives of young people through innovative and enriching out-of-school time programs th…
How do I apply for a grant from Max and Marian Farash Charitable?
The foundation is active in grantmaking with recent grant activity documented in tax filings. **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $28,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $2.2 million • 139 grants documented in recent filings **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester NY: $1,622,500 • Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester (JCC): $769,700 • The Center for Youth Services: $739,300 **Active Grant Programs:** • Out-of-School Time - Summer Fun &…
Where does Max and Marian Farash Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with some grants extending to Massachusetts and Virginia.
What size grants does Max and Marian Farash Charitable award?
In 2024, Max and Marian Farash Charitable awarded 139 grants totaling $13.0M — an average of about $94K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Max and Marian Farash Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Max and Marian Farash Charitable reported a distributable amount of $16.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Max and Marian Farash Charitable's EIN?
Max and Marian Farash Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2948675. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Max and Marian Farash Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Rochester Area Community Foundation
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
$510.7M
Grants
554
Total Given
$22.9M
Esl Charitable Foundation
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
$106.8M
Grants
197
Total Given
$21.7M
United Way of Greater Rochester and
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
$183.2M
Grants
329
Total Given
$18.1M
William & Sheila Konar Foundation
W HENRIETTA, NY
Assets
$133.1M
Grants
100
Total Given
$5.9M
Greater Rochester Health Foundation
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
$273.8M
Grants
204
Total Given
$8.9M
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Rochester Area Community Foundation
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
$5.4M
Grants
130
Total Given
$2.9M
JM McDonald Foundation Inc
WILMINGTON, DE
Assets
—
Grants
187
Total Given
$1.5M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Paychex Charitable Foundation Inc
ROCHESTER, NY
Assets
—
Grants
121
Total Given
$2.6M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Max and Marian Farash Charitable on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Max and Marian Farash Charitable to a real strategy.