Rich Family Foundation
Rich Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. It supports immediate community needs and long-term partnerships, concentrating its giving on “building a better life through the food system” and making place-based grants for education, arts and culture in neighborhoods around Rich Products’ global headquarters in Buffalo.
Rich Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Rich Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 120 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in New York. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,261,199
- -1.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 120
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,843
- -1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $12,699,989
- +20.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (37 of 120, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rich Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2024 filing says to submit a formal letter request; applications are accepted at any time, and it states there are no restrictions if a request is from a bona fide charity. The website says Rich Family Foundation applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly, with application status provided through the grant portal and decisions shared by email.
- Review Cycle
- The filing says applications are accepted at any time. The website advises submitting a grant application 60–90 days before funds are needed.
- Deadline
- The filing says applications are accepted at any time.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert E Rich Jr
Mailing address: PO Box 245, Buffalo, NY 14240-0245
Phone: (716) 878-8000
Website: https://richs.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rich Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was FeedMore WNY ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
524 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 440 grants of 524 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Buffalo, New York. In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 9% to Ohio, 7% to Florida, 4% to Arkansas and 4% to Washington, D.C. The foundation’s website describes its place-based grants for education, arts and culture as concentrated in neighborhoods around its Buffalo headquarters.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 120 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rich Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 37 of 120 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 356% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2022) to $2.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 120 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FeedMore WNY Buffalo, NY | General Donation | $200,150 |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Annual Donation | $200,000 |
| Buffalo AKG Art Museum Buffalo, NY | Annual Donation | $180,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH | Memorial Donation | $173,200 |
| Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Miami, FL | General Donation | $122,036 |
| Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church New York, NY | General Donation | $100,000 |
| Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Bentonville, AR | Annual Donation | $100,000 |
| Buffalo Prep Buffalo, NY | General Donation | $75,000 |
| National Restaurant Association Educational Founda Washington, DC | Memorial Donation | $70,000 |
| United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Buffalo, NY | General Donation | $60,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Rich Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,699,989 | $4,514,277 | $2,340,919 | $2,261,199 | 120 | $2,298,559 | $516,370 | $645,527 |
| 2023 | $10,526,631 | $4,181,953 | $2,420,813 | $2,283,847 | 119 | $2,307,439 | $358,076 | $478,146 |
| 2022 | $8,765,491 | $4,210,109 | $2,193,003 | $2,029,384 | 120 | $2,057,922 | $316,689 | $407,196 |
| 2021 | $6,748,385 | $4,250,367 | $2,713,454 | $2,571,012 | 98 | $2,585,712 | $335,668 | $363,315 |
| 2020 | $5,211,472 | $2,986,936 | $2,590,150 | $2,465,510 | 67 | — | $112,783 | $268,124 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rich Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $646K for 2024 — 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 describes its focus as building a better life through the food system, alongside place-based support for education, arts and culture near its Buffalo headquarters.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work. For example, Massachusetts Avenue Project says its mission is to nurture a diverse and equitable community food system and promote access to affordable, nutritious food. Buffalo Prep says it promotes educational access and opportunity for students in Western New York. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House says it preserves, interprets and promotes the Darwin Martin House complex. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated foundation program areas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 120 grants totaling $2,261,199. Grant sizes ranged from $150 to $200,150, with a median of $5,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $200,150 to FeedMore WNY for a general donation; $200,000 to Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for an annual donation; $180,000 to Buffalo AKG Art Museum for an annual donation; $173,200 to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for a memorial donation; and $122,036 to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for a general donation. Other grants included $75,000 to Buffalo Prep and $51,713 to West Side Community Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert E. Rich Jr. as chairman, Melinda Rich as president and Joseph W. Segarra as treasurer.
Rich Family Foundation is led by Melinda Rich, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melinda Rich
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert E. Rich Jr.
Chairman
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joseph W. Segarra
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mary Pat O'Connor (2020–2021) — Executive Director & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Rich Family Foundation
How much does Rich Family Foundation give each year?
Rich Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 120 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 119 grants.
What is Rich Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Rich Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $18,843, across 120 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rich Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Rich Family Foundation give grants?
Rich Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (9%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (59 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (3 grants).
Does Rich Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of Rich Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (101 of 120) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Annual Donation" (9 grants), "Corporate Sponsorship" (6 grants) and "Memorial Donation" (4 grants).
Who are Rich Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Rich Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include FeedMore WNY ($200,150), Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ($200,000) and Buffalo AKG Art Museum ($180,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rich Family Foundation?
Rich Family Foundation reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $646K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Rich Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its focus as building a better life through the food system, alongside place-based support for education, arts and culture near its Buffalo headquarters. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rich Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rich Family Foundation's EIN?
Rich Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6026199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Rich Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rich Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rich-family-foundation-morg_5e537a0afa2a4e0489a953ba8651164d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166026199_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rich Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rich-family-foundation-morg_5e537a0afa2a4e0489a953ba8651164d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Rich Family Foundation'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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