Seneca Foods Foundation
The Seneca Foods Foundation is a private foundation based in Fairport, New York. Since 1988, it has supported philanthropic initiatives in communities where Seneca Foods employees work and live, with funding categories that include agriculture, academics, community, health and wellness, memorial and bereavement, and youth sports.
Seneca Foods Foundation at a glance
In short: Seneca Foods Foundation gave $2.3M across 227 grants in 2026 (avg $10K), mostly in New York. 24% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $2,250,925
- +388.7% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 227
- +1.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $9,916
- +382.3% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $20,044,291
- +44.0% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (55 of 225, 2026)
- Primary geography
- New York (91% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Seneca Foods Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s website provides a grant application and encourages eligible organizations with aligned programs to submit a request. The 2025 filing states that no standard form or application is used.
- Review Cycle
- None, according to the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- None, according to the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Paul L Palmby Seneca Foods Corporat
Mailing address: 350 Willow Brook Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450
Phone: (585) 495-4185
Website: https://senecafoods.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 Seneca Foods Foundation
Who Seneca Foods Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Cornell University ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
985 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 974 grants of 985 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it primarily supports communities where Seneca operates and gives priority to organizations located within or near a community where Seneca has a facility or substantial presence. In filing year 2026, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 5% to Wisconsin, and 1% each to Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Listed recipients also included organizations in Texas and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 227 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Seneca Foods Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 55 of 225 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $798; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 67% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 615% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 308% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $242K (2020) to $2.3M (2026). In 2026 it made 227 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Dyson annual fund; support local agricultural dev program, cornell endowment fund | $2,005,300 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Janesville Janesville, WI | Provide a safe place for children after school and during summer | $26,000 |
| Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Chop Buddy Walk | $15,000 |
| United Way of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | To Support the General Fund for Local Non-Profits | $15,000 |
| Wisconsin FFA Foundation Madison, WI | Support Agricultural Students | $15,000 |
| Boyce Thompson Institute Ithaca, NY | Plant Research | $10,000 |
| Heartsupport Inc Round Rock, TX | Peer to Peer Support Services for Mental Health | $10,000 |
| 2B Continued Glencoe, MN | Increase Awareness of Mental Health | $5,000 |
| Crystal Valley Care Fund Hart, MI | Help families in Oceana county affected by life threatening illness or fire | $3,000 |
| United Way Blackhawk Region Janesville, WI | To Support the General Fund for Local Non-Profits | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Seneca Foods 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $20,044,291 | $1,608,423 | $2,375,313 | $2,250,925 | 227 | $2,263,289 | $1,091,333 | $734,969 |
| 2025 | $13,914,853 | $17,579 | $1,240,987 | $460,560 | 224 | $471,270 | — | $522,450 |
| 2024 | $9,512,719 | $1,001,705 | $1,435,811 | $1,413,852 | 173 | $1,424,331 | — | $412,140 |
| 2023 | $9,462,632 | $502,539 | $337,644 | $314,851 | 186 | $326,247 | — | $461,707 |
| 2022 | $9,067,696 | $1,000,000 | $475,518 | $455,604 | 175 | $464,761 | — | $395,145 |
| 2021 | $7,906,048 | $1,009,900 | $299,311 | $279,857 | 307 | — | — | $286,879 |
| 2020 | $5,781,906 | $251,702 | $262,731 | $242,477 | 231 | — | — | $241,190 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Seneca Foods Foundation reported a distributable amount of $735K for 2026 — 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’s stated funding categories are academics, agriculture, community, health and wellness, memorial and bereavement, and youth sports. It gives priority consideration to organizations or programs with Seneca employee or retiree connections, those near a Seneca facility or substantial presence, and those whose activities align with Seneca’s mission and vision.
Its 2026 grants included support for agricultural research and students, youth programs, community nonprofit funds, and mental health initiatives. For example, Cornell University received funding for the Dyson Annual Fund, local agricultural development, and the Cornell Endowment Fund. Boys & Girls Club of Janesville received support for a safe place for children after school and during summer. The Club describes its mission as enabling young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. HeartSupport describes its mission as connecting and empowering music fans to support one another with their mental health; 2B Continued says its mission is to increase awareness of suicide prevention, mental health, and wellness through advocacy, education, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the Foundation reported 227 grants totaling $2,250,925. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $2,005,300, with a median grant of $500. The largest award was $2,005,300 to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Other notable grants included $26,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Janesville; $15,000 each to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, United Way of Greater Rochester, and Wisconsin FFA Foundation; and $10,000 each to Boyce Thompson Institute and HeartSupport.
The Foundation’s website invites organizations whose programs align with its funding areas to submit a grant application. Its guidelines say applicants must be qualifying charitable or educational entities under Section 501(c)(3), and that, as a general rule, it considers one request per organization annually. Its stated restrictions include not funding organizations that are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), direct grants to individuals, or propaganda or lobbying to influence legislation; religious programs may be considered when they provide needed services to the community at large. The Foundation’s 2025 filing states that no standard form or application is used and that only Section 501(c)(3) organizations will be given donations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Michael Wolcott as senior vice president, CFO, and treasurer; Kraig Kayser as chairman and director; Susan W. Stuart as director; Jesse J. Patton as secretary; Paul L. Palmby as president, CEO, and director; and Gregory R. Ide as assistant secretary.
Seneca Foods Foundation is led by Paul L. Palmby, President, CEO & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Paul L. Palmby
President, CEO & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kraig H. Kayser
Chairman & Director
President, CEO & Director → Chairman & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan W. Stuart
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory R. Ide
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Wolcott
Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jesse J. Patton
Secretary
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: John Exner (2020–2025) — Secretary
- Former: Timothy Benjamin (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
- Former: Arthur S. Wolcott (2020–2021) — Chairman & Director
- Former: Jeffrey L. Van Riper (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Seneca Foods Foundation
How much does Seneca Foods Foundation give each year?
Seneca Foods Foundation gave $2.3M across 227 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $461K across 224 grants.
What is Seneca Foods Foundation's typical grant size?
Seneca Foods Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $500, and its average grant was $9,916, across 227 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Seneca Foods Foundation that year got $798 on average.
Where does Seneca Foods Foundation give grants?
Seneca Foods Foundation gives mostly in New York: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Janesville, WI (23 grants), Baraboo, WI (23 grants), Rochester, MN (20 grants) and Geneva, NY (14 grants).
Does Seneca Foods Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Seneca Foods Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 227) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Local Fire Department" (8 grants), "School Athletic Program" (4 grants) and "Support Local Fire Department" (4 grants).
Who are Seneca Foods Foundation's largest grantees?
Seneca Foods Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Cornell University ($2,005,300), Boys & Girls Club of Janesville ($26,000) and Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia ($15,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Seneca Foods Foundation?
Seneca Foods Foundation reported $20.0M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $735K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Seneca Foods Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated funding categories are academics, agriculture, community, health and wellness, memorial and bereavement, and youth sports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Seneca Foods Foundation?
The Foundation’s website provides a grant application and encourages eligible organizations with aligned programs to submit a request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Seneca Foods Foundation's EIN?
Seneca Foods Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2996324. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
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 2026 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Seneca Foods Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/seneca-foods-foundation-morg_74efbf178adb4d7a9b85d06f97aa6a00
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222996324_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Seneca Foods Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/seneca-foods-foundation-morg_74efbf178adb4d7a9b85d06f97aa6a00},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Seneca Foods 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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