The John Ben Snow Foundation Inc
The John Ben Snow Foundation is a private foundation established in 1948 by John Ben Snow, a businessman who rose through the ranks of the Woolworth organization and later built the Speidel chain of newspapers. Based in Manlius, New York, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that has been operating continuously since its inception under the terms of its original charter. The Foundation focuses on making grants to tax-exempt organizations serving Central New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.9M
+2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$264K
-15.3% YoY
Grant Count
36
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-8.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission centers on collaborative grantmaking that responds to the changing needs of targeted populations, with particular emphasis on closing the opportunity gap for individuals who are under-resourced.
Primary Focus Area: Education remains the overarching grantmaking priority since the Foundation's inception. The Foundation supports primary and secondary education, literacy, and vocational training as essential ingredients to improving life outcomes and reducing barriers that limit equitable opportunities.
Secondary Focus Areas:
- Arts and Culture
- Community Initiatives
- Youth Programs
Tertiary Focus Areas:
- People with Disabilities and Universal Access
- Environment
- Historic Preservation
The Foundation notes that tertiary areas receive limited funding, with priority given to proposals that incorporate an educational focus.
Grantmaking
Most grants range from $5,000 to $10,000. The Foundation reports typical awards between $800–$30,000, with no stated minimum or maximum grant amounts.
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses funding for tax-exempt organizations primarily serving Central New York, defined as Onondaga County and its four surrounding counties: Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Oswego.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,920,164
- Total Revenues: $404,112
- Total Expenses: $496,031
- Total Giving: $263,557
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $8.68 Million
- Total Revenues: $413,000
- Total Expenses: $545,000
- Total Liabilities: $25,000
The Foundation has zero employees and maintains a lean operational structure.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,920,164 | $8,675,317 | $9,719,606 |
| Revenue | $404,112 | $413,397 | $636,152 |
| Expenses | $496,031 | $545,406 | $563,618 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $399,657 | $439,955 | $455,350 |
| Net Investment Income | $309,228 | $312,296 | $535,325 |
| Distributable Amount | $432,691 | $413,585 | $485,395 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John Ben Snow Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Jonathan Snow, President
- David Snow, Vice-President and Treasurer
- Keegan Snow, Secretary
- Angus Burton
- Marion Hancock Fish
- Valerie MacFie
- Emelie Williams
Staff:
- Elizabeth Snow, Program Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JONATHAN L SNOW | PRESIDENT | 5 | $26,750 |
| DAVID H SNOW | VICE PRESIDENT / TREASURER | 5 | $8,000 |
| KEEGAN SNOW | SECRETARY | 1 | $3,100 |
| JAMES MACFIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
| MARION HANCOCK FISH | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
| ANGUS M BURTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
| VALERIE A MACFIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
| EMELIE M WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has continued active grantmaking in 2024 and 2025, with recent grant announcements supporting initiatives across its focus areas including early childhood education, mental health services, and literacy programs within its Central New York service region.
Oswego County TodayJohn Ben Snow Foundation Awards $10,000 in Grants forData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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