Rochester Area Community Foundation
Rochester Area Community Foundation is a public charity based in Rochester, New York. It works with philanthropists and community partners to improve quality of life across an eight-county region through leadership and strategic grantmaking.
Key facts about Rochester Area Community Foundation
In short: Rochester Area Community Foundation gave $2.9M across 130 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in New York. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 22-3106737
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,863,473
- Grants made (2025)
- 130
- Average grant
- $22,027
- Median grant
- $10,050
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (48 of 130, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,358,418
- Primary geography
- New York (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Apply through the online grant portal for an opportunity for which the organization qualifies. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
-18.6% YoY
Grant Count
130
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-28.0% YoY
Is Rochester Area Community Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 48 of 130 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is “cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.” Its strategic grantmaking areas are Upward Mobility; Arts, Culture & Narrative; and Environmental Justice & Sustainability.
Its 2024 filing describes grants to eligible public charities chosen by donors for charitable, educational, or community purposes. Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of missions: the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra says it seeks to inspire, engage, and enrich the community through music; Goodwill of the Finger Lakes says it works to empower people facing barriers to independence; and WXXI Public Broadcasting Council describes itself as an educational public-media resource for Greater Rochester. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 130 grants totaling $2,863,473. Itemized grants ranged from $5,250 to $241,850, with a median of $10,050. Separately, the Foundation says typical awards for its competitive grant opportunities range from $500 to $50,000, depending on the opportunity.
Ready to take the next step with Rochester Area Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s general service area is eight upstate New York counties: Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates. Its competitive grants support programs, projects, and initiatives within the region. In 2025, 82% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York; grants were also reported in DC, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 130 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2022) to $6.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 130 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region ($242K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
605 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 540 grants of 605 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region Rochester, NY | Environment | $241,850 |
| Humane Society of Greater Rochester Fairport, NY | Animals | $181,650 |
| Landmark Society of Western New York Rochester, NY | Historical | $149,678 |
| University of Rochester James P Wilmot Cancer Center Rochester, NY | Medical Care | $113,700 |
| Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Rochester, NY | MUSIC | $78,525 |
| General Endowment Fund Rochester, NY | General Support | $78,230 |
| Prolife Across America Minneapolis, MN | Women's Issues | $78,230 |
| University of Rochester Gifts & Donor Records Rochester, NY | Higher Education | $75,818 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | Religion | $72,080 |
| Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York Rochester, NY | Health-GENL,PREV | $62,455 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing-year figures reported for the Foundation:
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,358,418 | $3,775,811 | $3,914,356 | $2,863,473 |
| 2024 | $5,444,725 | $4,162,831 | $4,457,596 | $3,515,801 |
| 2023 | $5,760,315 | $3,128,482 | $3,478,607 | $2,554,529 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,358,418 | $5,444,725 | $5,760,315 |
| Revenue | $3,775,811 | $4,162,831 | $3,128,482 |
| Expenses | $3,914,356 | $4,457,596 | $3,478,607 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $226,555 | $171,654 | $59,330 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sujatha Ramanujan MD, Mark A. Eidlin, Denishea R. Ortiz, Todd Butler, James H. Norman, Ann H. McMullen, Dr. William M. Valenti, Arline L. Bayo Santiago Esq, and Francis J. Clement as members, and Flor M. Colon as secretary. The Foundation’s website identifies Simeon Ban as president and CEO.
Rochester Area Community Foundation is led by Simeon Banister, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; none of the 30 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Simeon Banister
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David R. Ferris Esq.
Chair
Counsel → Member, 2023
Member → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail J. Bennett
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy S. Vars CPA
Senior Vice President & CFO
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann H. McMullen
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann H. Stevens
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arline L. Bayo Santiago Esq.
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn G. Nussbaum Esq.
Counsel
Member → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David P. Veniskey CPA
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Flor M. Colon
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Francis J. Clement
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James H. Norman
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mollene B. Benison CPA
Member
Member → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R. Scott Burdett
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas S. Richards
Member
Member → Chair, 2022
Chair → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Butler
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William M. Valenti
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denishea R. Ortiz
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas C. Mitchell
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Eidlin
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Cunningham
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sujatha Ramanujan MD
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abigail A. Reinhard
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam P. Anolik
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa S. Whitfield
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred A. Beer
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Gallina
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Mullen
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gay Mills
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Langston McFadden Esq.
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Richard J. Riedman (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Gina A. Cuyler MD (2022–2024) — Member
- Former: Jennifer Leonard (2020–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Michelle A. Hutchinson Esq. (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Elizabeth A. Thorley Ms Cfp Clu (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Lori Van Dusen (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Robert D. Baden (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Audrey P. Peartree Esq. (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Carol H. Adams (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Kim Vangelder (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Krishan D. Thanik (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Mark R. Siewert (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: David A. Still (2020) — 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 500 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 271-4100
Website: https://racf.org
Frequently asked questions about Rochester Area Community Foundation
How much does Rochester Area Community Foundation give each year?
Rochester Area Community Foundation gave $2.9M across 130 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2024 it gave $3.5M across 115 grants.
What is Rochester Area Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Rochester Area Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,050, and its average grant was $22,027, across 130 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rochester Area Community Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Rochester Area Community Foundation give grants?
Rochester Area Community Foundation gives mostly in New York: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (81 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Fairport, NY (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Rochester Area Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 16% of Rochester Area Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 130) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Religion" (21 grants), "Higher Education" (13 grants) and "Arts/Cult/Humnts" (8 grants).
Who are Rochester Area Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Rochester Area Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region ($241,850), Humane Society of Greater Rochester ($181,650) and Landmark Society of Western New York ($149,678), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rochester Area Community Foundation?
Rochester Area Community Foundation reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does Rochester Area Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is “cultivating a thriving Greater Rochester region — powered by philanthropy, grounded in community, and sustained across generations.” Its strategic grantmaking areas are Upward Mobility; Arts, Culture & Narrative; and Environmental Justice & Sustainability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rochester Area Community Foundation?
Apply through the online grant portal for an opportunity for which the organization qualifies. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rochester Area Community Foundation's EIN?
Rochester Area Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3106737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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