The Florence M Muller Foundation
The Florence M Muller Foundation is a private foundation based in Penfield, New York. It supports child well-being, education, health care, and environmental conservation through grantmaking focused on six New York counties.
The Florence M Muller Foundation at a glance
In short: The Florence M Muller Foundation gave $1.2M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in New York. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,169,899
- -11.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,341
- -2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $29,068,889
- +1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (13 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Florence M Muller Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a preliminary inquiry, submitted by phone, email, or its online letter-of-inquiry form. Organizations whose work aligns with its priorities may be invited to submit a full application; application forms and instructions are provided to invited organizations. Applicants must be eligible 501(c)(3) charitable organizations located in and serving residents of the Foundation’s six-county service area.
- Review Cycle
- Inquiries are welcome at any time, and invited applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Foundation recommends submitting by February 1 for March consideration, May 1 for June, August 1 for September, and November 1 for December. The Board meets quarterly and may consider applications at each meeting.
- Deadline
- Inquiries are welcome at any time, and invited applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Contact
Application contact: Patricia K Leo Executive Director
Mailing address: 421 Penbrooke Drive Suite 5, Penfield, NY 14526
Phone: (585) 213-5183
Website: https://fmmullerfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Florence M Muller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Finger Lakes Community College Foundation ($637K). Together the top 10 received $981K.
Grant Size Distribution
158 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 131 grants of 158 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds organizations and projects located in and serving residents of Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties in New York State. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, with 1% going to Ohio; the reported shares for Illinois and Washington, DC, were each 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Florence M Muller Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 29 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $58K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 48% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $798K (2023) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Finger Lakes Community College Foundation Canandaigua, NY | Muller Field Station Conservation Education and Bunkhouse Capital | $636,751 |
| Finger Lakes Community Action Program Lyons, NY | Get Ready to GROW Wayne County | $50,000 |
| Holy Childhood Rochester, NY | Nurses' Clinic Renovation | $50,000 |
| Children's Institute Rochester, NY | Get Ready to GROW Program | $49,400 |
| CP Rochester Rchester, NY | Dental Clinic Program | $45,000 |
| Hope Hall School Rochester, NY | General Operating | $35,000 |
| Rochester Hearing & Speech Rochester, NY | Early Intervention | $34,893 |
| Cancer Support Community at Gilda's Club Rochester, NY | Mental Health Supports | $30,000 |
| Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association Rochester, NY | SummerLEAP | $25,000 |
| Junior Achievement Rochester, NY | Discovery Center | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Florence M Muller 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,068,889 | $1,949,588 | $1,549,534 | $1,169,899 | 29 | $1,421,586 | $1,781,442 | $1,536,263 |
| 2024 | $28,670,745 | $1,974,458 | $1,657,088 | $1,325,500 | 32 | $1,555,355 | $1,830,662 | $1,446,973 |
| 2023 | $28,344,224 | $1,858,171 | $1,179,724 | $797,914 | 23 | $1,024,017 | $1,372,423 | $1,328,449 |
| 2022 | $27,660,186 | $3,740,638 | $1,474,254 | $1,092,385 | 35 | $1,309,480 | $1,128,744 | $1,263,990 |
| 2021 | $25,400,432 | $2,567,549 | $1,490,448 | $1,097,112 | 39 | $1,295,775 | $1,579,756 | $1,337,953 |
| 2020 | $24,297,826 | $2,663,414 | $1,150,252 | $801,000 | 23 | — | $998,193 | $1,142,709 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Florence M Muller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — 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 mission is to strengthen the community and natural environment through grantmaking focused on child well-being, education, health care, and environmental conservation. It awards program, capital project, and general operating grants. Its responsive grantmaking focuses on child well-being, education, and health care; environmental conservation is supported through board-initiated strategic grants.
It funds not-for-profit charitable organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3), with preference and priority given to small and mid-sized organizations. The Foundation describes its child well-being priority as supporting disadvantaged children from prenatal stages through kindergarten entry, and its education priority as helping disadvantaged K–12 students stay on track and graduate prepared for the future. Its health care focus includes reducing health inequities and meeting underserved communities’ needs.
Examples of supported organizations include Children’s Institute, whose stated mission is “joining together to raise every child’s complete wellbeing,” and Mercy Flight Central, which describes itself as providing critical care to the sick and injured. Veterans Outreach Center says its mission is to serve veterans and advocate for those who have worn the nation’s uniform.
The Foundation does not fund governmental institutions, individuals, grantmaking organizations, lobbying for specific political candidates or legislation, scholarships, fundraising events, endowments, or deficits.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1,169,899. Itemized grants ranged from $500 to $636,751, with a median of $15,000. Typical responsive grants are $5,000–$50,000.
The largest reported award was $636,751 to Finger Lakes Community College Foundation for “Muller Field Station Conservation Education and Bunkhouse Capital.” Other notable 2025 grants included $50,000 to Finger Lakes Community Action Program for “Get Ready to GROW Wayne County,” $50,000 to Holy Childhood for “Nurses’ Clinic Renovation,” and $49,400 to Children’s Institute for its “Get Ready to GROW Program.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jean Muller-Rohland as President and Director; Edward L Short as Treasurer and Director; John A Thorne as Vice President and Director; Joseph Casion as Director; and A Dirk Hightower as Secretary and Director. Patricia K Leo is identified as Executive Director.
The Florence M Muller Foundation is led by Jean Muller-Rohland, President, Director & As Req. on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jean Muller-Rohland
President, Director & As Req.
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Edward L Short
Treasurer, Director & As Req.
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John A Thorne
Vice President, Director & As Req.
V President, Director & As Req. → Vice President, Secretary, Director & As Req., 2022
Vice President, Secretary, Director & As Req. → Vice President, Director & As Req., 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
A Dirk Hightower
Secretary, Director & As Req.
Director & As Req. → Secretary, Director & As Req., 2023
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Joseph Casion
Director & As Req.
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marilyn B Graffrath (2020–2021) — Secretary, Director & As Req.
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Florence M Muller Foundation
How much does The Florence M Muller Foundation give each year?
The Florence M Muller Foundation gave $1.2M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 32 grants.
What is The Florence M Muller Foundation's typical grant size?
The Florence M Muller Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $40,341, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Florence M Muller Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does The Florence M Muller Foundation give grants?
The Florence M Muller Foundation gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (18 grants) and Canandaigua, NY (3 grants).
Does The Florence M Muller Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of The Florence M Muller Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Florence M Muller Foundation's largest grantees?
The Florence M Muller Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Finger Lakes Community College Foundation ($636,751), Finger Lakes Community Action Program ($50,000) and Holy Childhood ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Florence M Muller Foundation?
The Florence M Muller Foundation reported $29.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Florence M Muller Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen the community and natural environment through grantmaking focused on child well-being, education, health care, and environmental conservation. It awards program, capital project, and general operating grants. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Florence M Muller Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a preliminary inquiry, submitted by phone, email, or its online letter-of-inquiry form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Florence M Muller Foundation's EIN?
The Florence M Muller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4275798. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Florence M Muller 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Florence M Muller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-florence-m-muller-foundation-morg_b638427de6bf4959aee378cfe3c415d5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134275798_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Florence M Muller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-florence-m-muller-foundation-morg_b638427de6bf4959aee378cfe3c415d5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Florence M Muller 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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