The Hodgson Russ Charitable
The Hodgson Russ Charitable is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, that reported 13 grants totaling $147,340 in 2025. Its filing lists grants to charitable organizations in New York, including the University at Buffalo Foundation, Every Bottom Covered, and the Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation.
The Hodgson Russ Charitable at a glance
In short: The Hodgson Russ Charitable gave $147K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in New York. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $147,340
- -13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,334
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $8,185
- +9.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% 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 Hodgson Russ Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 140 Pearl Street 100, Buffalo, NY 14202-4040
Phone: (716) 848-1203
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hodgson Russ Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University at Buffalo Foundation Inc ($77K). Together the top 10 received $132K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 69 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Hodgson Russ Charitable open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 $50K (2020) to $170K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University at Buffalo Foundation Inc Buffalo, NY | Support and promote the university at buffalo activities and programs by assisting in the acquisition of strategic assets, managing and providing resources and proviiding an array of services to ub community. | $77,340 |
| Every Bottom Covered Buffalo, NY | Every bottom covered champions diaper need and provides diapers and basic hygiene needs to underserved families and advocates for them across Eight counties in western New York. | $10,000 |
| Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation West Seneca, NY | The firefighter arno memorial foundation is a nonprofit created for the benefit of first responders, their families, and their quality of life. Started in 2023 by the close friends and family of firefighter jason d. Arno, fam foundation was inspired by the outpouring of love and support from the citizens of wny and members of the first responder community. Our mission is to provide resources, financial support, and opportunities for western New York first responders and their families by fundraising and increasing community awareness of their daily efforts. | $10,000 |
| Child & Family Services Foundation Buffalo, NY | Our mission: nurturing a healthy and more equitable western New York for the benefit of current and future generations. | $5,000 |
| Friends of the Night People Inc Buffalo, NY | Our mission is to provide food and necessities to address the effects and impact of poverty. Those who come for meals all have different stories, whether it's rebuilding their lives after a natural disaster, experiencing homelessness dealing with deep family issues, or being crippled by addiction. We welcome each person with empathy, compassion, and the desire to help. Our staff and volunteers truly understand the importance of maintaining the dignity of the individuals that use our services. This is the foundation of a trusting relationship where people are willing to share their story and ask for the help they need to improve their lives and the lives of their families. | $5,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $5,000 |
| Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Latham, NY | Collects large donations of food from the food industry and distributes it to charitable agencies serving people in need in 23 counties. | $5,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Williamsville, NY | Volunteers dedicated to building, assembling and delivering top notch bunk beds to children and families in need. Our organization has grown steadily over time, and we're working on opening more chapters in different states to serve more people. The mission of shp demands: to see that "no kid sleeps on the floor in our town". | $5,000 |
| St Luke's Mission of Mercy Buffalo, NY | Together let us work toward a fullness of life, for all people, of all ages, of all cultures, of all social status, and of all faiths. Let our tools be unconditional acceptance, peaceful understanding and loving forgiveness in order to restore human dignity to the lonely, the broken-hearted, and the mentally and physically oppressed. | $5,000 |
| Things of My Very Own Inc Schenectady, NY | Provides crisis intervention services to children impacted by extensive abuse and/or neglect and at-risk of a child protective services intervention | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hodgson Russ Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,185 | $150,000 | $149,265 | $147,340 | 13 | $149,265 | $1,166 |
| 2024 | $7,450 | $150,000 | $171,825 | $170,000 | 14 | $171,825 | $1,789 |
| 2023 | $29,275 | — | $67,391 | $65,500 | 9 | $67,391 | $3,764 |
| 2022 | $96,666 | $150,000 | $88,334 | $85,000 | 16 | $88,334 | $3,244 |
| 2021 | $35,000 | $150,000 | $115,446 | $115,000 | 17 | $115,000 | $1,636 |
| 2020 | $446 | $52,100 | $51,724 | $50,000 | 11 | — | $1,300 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hodgson Russ Charitable reported a distributable amount of $1K 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 diaper and hygiene needs, support for first responders and their families, food and basic necessities, education, refugee support, and services for children affected by abuse or neglect. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation. For example, Every Bottom Covered says it addresses diaper need across Western New York, and Saint’s Place says it provides resources to refugees and their families as they integrate into the community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $147,340. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $77,340, with a median of $5,000. The largest grant was $77,340 to The University at Buffalo Foundation Inc. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Every Bottom Covered and the Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation, and $5,000 to each of Child & Family Services Foundation, Friends of the Night People, Nativity Preparatory Academy Associates of Rochester, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, St Luke’s Mission of Mercy, Things of My Very Own, Saint’s Place, and Sheridan Parkside Life Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Benjamin Zuffranieri as president; Mairi Stewart as vice president; Marla Waiss as secretary; and Kristin Zirnheld as treasurer. It lists Rick Kennedy, William Ciszewski, John J Zak, Thomas J Collura, and Craig M Fischer as directors.
The Hodgson Russ Charitable is led by Benjamin Zuffranieri, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin Zuffranieri
President
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John J. Zak
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick W. Kennedy
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig M. Fischer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Collura
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Ciszewski
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marla Waiss
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Zirnheld
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mairi Stewart
Vice President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Carol A. Fitzsimmons (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Daniel C. Oliverio (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Paul V. Hartigan (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Eileen Crotty (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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 Hodgson Russ Charitable
How much does The Hodgson Russ Charitable give each year?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable gave $147K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $170K across 14 grants.
What is The Hodgson Russ Charitable's typical grant size?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,334, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hodgson Russ Charitable that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Hodgson Russ Charitable give grants?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (6 grants).
Does The Hodgson Russ Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Hodgson Russ Charitable's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Hodgson Russ Charitable's largest grantees?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include The University at Buffalo Foundation Inc ($77,340), Every Bottom Covered ($10,000) and Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hodgson Russ Charitable?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable reported $8K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $149K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Hodgson Russ Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hodgson Russ Charitable?
The foundation states 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 Hodgson Russ Charitable's EIN?
The Hodgson Russ Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2898383. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Hodgson Russ Charitable 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hodgson Russ Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hodgson-russ-charitable-morg_7a6ccc3edfe145afa98079a561b663ee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_822898383_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hodgson Russ Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hodgson-russ-charitable-morg_7a6ccc3edfe145afa98079a561b663ee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Hodgson Russ Charitable'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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