The Ascienzo Family Foundation
The Ascienzo Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Katrine, New York. It supports nonprofit programs focused on educational opportunities, poverty alleviation, and services for the elderly, through local partnerships and a network of Ambassadors who advocate for organizations in their communities.
Key facts about The Ascienzo Family Foundation
In short: The Ascienzo Family Foundation gave $362K across 69 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-2453496
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $361,922
- Grants made (2025)
- 69
- Average grant
- $5,245
- Median grant
- $7,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (26 of 69, 2025)
- Total assets
- $899,639
- Primary geography
- New York (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website lists September 1–10 for 2026 local grant applications and April 1–15 for 2026 Ambassador grant…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$900K
+170.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$362K
+12.4% YoY
Grant Count
69
-15.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+33.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ascienzo Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Ascienzo Family Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 69 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 644% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 partners with and assists nonprofits working on poverty alleviation, educational opportunities, and services for senior citizens. It says it generally funds programs rather than organizations’ general funds, though Ambassador guidance notes that requests combining programming and general funding may be considered.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for varied community programs. An individual recipient received $10,000 for educational programming; the organization describes its work as collecting, preserving, and promoting Red Hook’s history and creating community programs. Island Autism Group received $10,000 for educational programming; it describes its mission as supporting the lifelong independence, confidence, and happiness of autistic people and their families on Martha’s Vineyard. Fleur de Lis Camp received $7,750 for summer camp for young adults; the organization describes its objective as providing an at-cost camping experience for girls ages 8–15. Other 2025 recipients included Land to Learn, which describes its work as garden-based education for food justice and community wellness, and Dutchess Outreach, which describes its work as providing hunger and relief services and access to fresh, healthy food.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 69 grants totaling $361,922. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $23,691, with a median grant of $7,500. Its largest reported grant was $23,691 to Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York for backpack programs in an individual recipient schools. Other notable grants included $16,500 to an individual recipient Central Schools for programs including summer academy, a music festival, student council, and a garden classroom; $10,000 each to two individual recipients Community Center, Island Autism Group, and Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County; and $9,000 to Bard Center for Civic Engagement for internship and mentoring programs.
The Foundation makes grants through local nonprofit partnerships and an Ambassador network. Ambassadors are former an individual recipient Central School District students who advocate for organizations in their communities and submit joint applications with those organizations. The Foundation says applications should connect to one of its three priority areas and focus on programs. Local applicants must be nonprofit organizations located in Dutchess, Ulster, or Columbia counties.
Review Cycle
The website lists September 1–10 for 2026 local grant applications and April 1–15 for 2026 Ambassador grant applications.
How to Apply
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website describes local applications as a process for eligible nonprofits in the three counties and Ambassador applications as joint submissions by an Ambassador and an organization. The website lists 2026 application windows of September 1–10 for local grants and April 1–15 for Ambassador grants.
Ready to take the next step with The Ascienzo Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s local application process is open to nonprofits located in Dutchess, Ulster, or Columbia counties. Its Ambassador network extends grantmaking to organizations in communities where Ambassadors live. In 2025, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 9% to Massachusetts, 4% each to California and Maine, and 2% to New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $139K (2019) to $440K (2020). In 2025 it made 69 grants totaling $362K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Regional Food Bank of Northeastern ($24K). Together the top 10 received $112K.
Grant Size Distribution
320 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 319 grants of 320 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Food Bank of Northeastern Latham, NY | Backpack Programs in Red Hook Schools | $23,691 |
| Red Hook Central Schools Red Hook, NY | Various programs including summer academy, music festival, student council, & garden classroom | $16,500 |
| Historic Red Hook Red Hook, NY | Educational Programming | $10,000 |
| Red Hook Community Center Red Hook, NY | Administrative Support for Infrastructure | $10,000 |
| Island Autism Group Inc West Tisbury, MA | Educational Programming | $10,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Ulster Count Kingston, NY | After School Programming | $10,000 |
| Bard Center for Civic Engagement Annandaleonhudson, NY | Intersession Internship Program and SISTER2SISTER Mentor-Mentee Program | $9,000 |
| Fleur De Lis Camp Fitzwilliam, NH | Summer Camp for Young Adults | $7,750 |
| Literacy Pittsburg Pittsburgh, PA | Reading Program | $7,750 |
| Ramapo for Children Rhinebeck, NY | Summer and School Year Programming | $7,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $899,639 | $955,437 | $388,890 | $361,922 | 69 |
| 2024 | $333,092 | $195,998 | $347,887 | $322,067 | 82 |
| 2023 | $484,981 | $509,672 | $298,465 | $291,586 | 76 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $899,639 | $333,092 | $484,981 |
| Revenue | $955,437 | $195,998 | $509,672 |
| Expenses | $388,890 | $347,887 | $298,465 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $361,922 | $322,067 | $291,856 |
| Net Investment Income | $352,149 | $194,873 | $195,480 |
| Distributable Amount | $56,203 | $53,559 | $52,899 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Nicholas J. Ascienzo as President; Sophie Lang as Vice President; Jennifer Melitski as Treasurer; Frances Thompson as Secretary; and Ali Fraenkel, Deb Fraleigh, and Sue Kaiser as at-large directors.
The Ascienzo Family Foundation is led by Nicholas J. Ascienzo, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas J. Ascienzo
President
On filings since 2019
25 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ali Fraenkel
At Large
Secretary → At Large, 2022
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sophie Lang
Vice President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Thompson
Secretary
At Large → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Melitski
Treasurer
At Large → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Kaiser
At Large
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deb Fraleigh
At Large
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Brittany Mosher (2019–2024) — At Large
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 60 Penstock Lane, Lake Katrine, NY 12449
Phone: (845) 594-7879
Website: https://ascienzofamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Ascienzo Family Foundation
How much does The Ascienzo Family Foundation give each year?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation gave $362K across 69 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $322K across 82 grants.
What is The Ascienzo Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $5,245, across 69 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ascienzo Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Ascienzo Family Foundation give grants?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Poughkeepsie, NY (9 grants), Red Hook, NY (8 grants), Kingston, NY (6 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does The Ascienzo Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on The Ascienzo Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "After School Programming" (3 grants).
Who are The Ascienzo Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Regional Food Bank of Northeastern ($23,691), Red Hook Central Schools ($16,500) and Historic Red Hook ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ascienzo Family Foundation?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation reported $900K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $362K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ascienzo Family Foundation fund?
The Foundation partners with and assists nonprofits working on poverty alleviation, educational opportunities, and services for senior citizens. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ascienzo Family Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ascienzo Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ascienzo Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2453496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ascienzo Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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.
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