The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in New York and some going to recipients in Utah.
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation gave $199K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in New York. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $199,000
- -33.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,308
- -43.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,743,181
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (95% 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 Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 50 Fountain Plaza Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 631-8000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Build Promise Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 51 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 5% to recipients in Utah. Named recipients include organizations in Buffalo, Hamburg, and Rochester, New York, and Park City, Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 127% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 193% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $88K (2022) to $298K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $199K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Build Promise Inc Buffalo, NY | General Purpose | $75,000 |
| Villa Maria College Buffalo, NY | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Buffalo Buffalo, NY | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Madonna of the Streets Rochester, NY | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Hilbert College Hamburg, NY | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Mountain Town Music Park City, UT | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| Mountain Trails Foundation Park City, UT | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| Summit Land Conservancy Park City, UT | General Purpose | $3,000 |
| Park City Performances Park City, UT | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Kevin Guest House Buffalo, NY | General Purpose | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Frank L Ciminelli 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,743,181 | $187,282 | $246,259 | $199,000 | 13 | $199,000 | $162,916 | $102,866 |
| 2024 | $1,802,158 | $136,269 | $347,486 | $297,500 | 11 | $297,500 | $114,259 | $92,750 |
| 2023 | $2,013,375 | $287,667 | $349,862 | $295,000 | 12 | $295,000 | $262,450 | $108,940 |
| 2022 | $2,075,570 | $164,474 | $140,341 | $87,500 | 8 | $87,500 | $136,116 | $140,582 |
| 2021 | $2,051,437 | $213,917 | $121,491 | $93,000 | 7 | — | $189,152 | $125,916 |
| 2020 | $1,959,011 | $12,108 | $226,580 | $194,000 | 10 | — | $17,824 | $111,155 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $103K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations working in areas such as shelter and human services, education, land conservation, trails, and the performing arts. For example, BUILD PROMISE INC describes its work as providing year-round and emergency shelter and access to health and social services through partner agencies. Hilbert College describes its work as educating students in liberal arts and professional programs, while Summit Land Conservancy says it works with Utah communities to conserve land and water.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $199,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Among the largest grants were $75,000 to BUILD PROMISE INC, $50,000 to Villa Maria College, and $25,000 each to Catholic Charities of Buffalo and Madonna of the Streets. The filing lists the grants as for general purposes.
Grantee descriptions indicate that the foundation’s recipients include organizations providing shelter, food, and social services, as well as educational, conservation, trail, and performing arts organizations. For instance, Catholic Charities of Buffalo describes its work as providing human services to people across Western New York, and Park City Performances describes the Egyptian Theatre as enriching lives through the performing arts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul F Ciminelli, John A Ciminelli, William B Stark Jr, Susan Ciminelli, Mary Ciminelli, and Gary Ciminelli as directors.
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Ciminelli
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2025)
John A. Ciminelli
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$7K (2023) → $7K (2025)
Mary Ciminelli
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2023) → $5K (2025)
Paul F. Ciminelli
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Susan Ciminelli
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
William B. Stark Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2023) → $2K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Louis P. Ciminelli (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rosalie G. Ciminelli (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $7K, to John a Ciminelli (Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation
How much does The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation give each year?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation gave $199K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $298K across 11 grants.
What is The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $15,308, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation give grants?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (7 grants) and Park City, UT (4 grants).
Does The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Build Promise Inc ($75,000), Villa Maria College ($50,000) and Catholic Charities of Buffalo ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $199K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $103K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations working in areas such as shelter and human services, education, land conservation, trails, and the performing arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation?
The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's EIN?
The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1552205. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Frank L Ciminelli 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-frank-l-ciminelli-family-foundation-morg_5b5b22ef7f2e4fa4be0d6b96cbb07837
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161552205_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-frank-l-ciminelli-family-foundation-morg_5b5b22ef7f2e4fa4be0d6b96cbb07837},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Frank L Ciminelli 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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