UpMobility Foundation Inc

LITTLE FALLS, NY EIN: 47-1689125 Website

UpMobility Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Little Falls, New York, established in 2015 by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Martin Babinec. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission centered on leveraging networks and partnerships to drive philanthropic impact. The foundation describes itself as using "an entrepreneurial mindset to scale philanthropic investments through connecting and collaborating with community partners."

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$6.1M

+38.0% YoY

Grant Count

+22.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$111K

+12.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Connections: Leveraging connections and contacts to amplify impact
Community: Fostering mutual support, shared goals, and a sense of belonging to strengthen the social fabric of communities
Collaboration: Facilitating collaborations and resource sharing to address societal challenges more effectively

Primary funding focus areas include:

Education and advancing education initiatives
Community building
Health and wellness
Human services
Racial equity

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$25,000 to $100,000+

Average Grant

amounts vary, with awards documented in the low five figures to mid six figures range

Review Cycle

- The foundation strongly encourages organizations outside the Mohawk Valley area to contact staff before submission

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

UpMobility Foundation prioritizes the Mohawk Valley region of New York State, with particular emphasis on Central New York. However, the foundation's mission extends to:

The United States broadly
International organizations and initiatives

The foundation has documented funding activity across multiple states including New York, California, Virginia, Washington, and others.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $12.7M (82%)

Colorado $675K (4%)

Texas $350K (2%)

South Carolina $342K (2%)

Florida $305K (2%)

Massachusetts $240K (2%)

Virginia $211K (1%)

California $143K (1%)

+11 more states

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Massachusetts Maryland Michigan Missouri North Carolina New York Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Virginia

Cities

ALBANYARLINGTINATLANTAAUSTINAlbanyArlingtonAustinBALTIMOREBRENTWOODBUFFALOBaltimoreBrooklynCOCONUT CREEKCOLORADO SPRINGSCOOPERSTOWNClintonColorado SpringsDALLASDENVERDULLES

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

Total assets: $21.2 million (as of 2024)
Total assets: $24.2 million (as of 2023)

Annual Activity:

Total giving: $6.1 million (2024)
Annual expenses: approximately $4.7 million (2023)
Revenue: $8.85 million (2023)
Total liabilities: $0 (2023)

Historical Investment:

Since inception in 2015, UpMobility has invested over $25.4 million in supporting 140+ organizations and partners

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	—	—	—
Revenue	—	—	—
Expenses	—	—	—
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	—	—	—
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

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

172 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Cnty ($1,166,263), Little Falls City School District ($1,102,746), Unite America Institute ($250,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
Little Falls City School District Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$1,102,746
Upstate Venture Connect Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$200,000
Institute for Humane Studies Arlington, VA	General Charitable Purposes	$50,000
Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, CO	General Charitable Purposes	$100,000
Little Falls Youth & Family Center Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$185,612
Special Operations Warrior Foundation Tampa, FL	General Charitable Purposes	$20,000
Utica University - Young Scholars Utica, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$3,333
Holy Family Parish Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$32,825
Main Street First Inc Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$2,000
Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts Little Falls, NY	General Charitable Purposes	$82,884

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Martin Babinec - Founder, Director, President, and Treasurer

The foundation's leadership team includes additional members who work with minimal compensation, reflecting a commitment to the organization's mission.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Martin Babinec	Director/President/Treasurer	1	—
Michael Sciotti	Chief Financial Officer	1	—
Peggy O'Shea	Interim Executive Director	1	$121,700
Kevin Crosley	Board Member	2	—
Randall VanWagoner	Board Member	2	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

UpMobility Foundation has established a strategic partnership with the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties to strengthen organizational capacity and expand impact. This partnership includes:

Announcing UpMobility Foundation's Partnership With the Community Foundation

Co-hosting the annual Mohawk Valley Gives Day of Giving campaign

Community Foundation and UpMobility Foundation to Host Fourth-Annual Giving

Collaborating on the MV Gives University initiative

Joint efforts to support nonprofits in the region

Recent grant stories highlight the foundation's work supporting diverse initiatives, including:

Community building efforts such as Holy Family Parish's Mohawk Valley Gives Campaign

Community Foundation and UpMobility Foundation Join Forces to Host Mohawk

Support for veteran-focused organizations

Arts exposure programs for Utica youth

Educational and community development initiatives

2020

The foundation received the Foundation of Hope Award in 2020 in recognition of its philanthropic work and impact.

Announcing UpMobility Foundation's Partnership With the Community Foundation

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does UpMobility Foundation Inc fund?

UpMobility Foundation's stated mission is to "activate networks and cultivate partnerships to spark innovation, scale solutions, and uplift lives." The foundation emphasizes three core principles in its approach: • **Connections**: Leveraging connections and contacts to amplify impact • **Community**: Fostering mutual support, shared goals, and a sense of belonging to strengthen the social fabric of communities • **Collaboration**: Facilitating collaborations and resource sharing to address soc…

How do I apply for a grant from UpMobility Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • 43 grants awarded in 2024 • 45 grants awarded in 2023 • Typical grant range: $25,000 to $100,000+ • Average grant amounts vary, with awards documented in the low five figures to mid six figures range **Application Process:** • Applications are submitted through an online grants portal on the foundation's website • Decision timeline: 4-8 weeks after deadline • The foundation strongly encourages organizations outside the Mohawk Valley area to contact staff before submission …

Where does UpMobility Foundation Inc make grants?

UpMobility Foundation prioritizes the Mohawk Valley region of New York State, with particular emphasis on Central New York. However, the foundation's mission extends to: • The United States broadly • International organizations and initiatives The foundation has documented funding activity across multiple states including New York, California, Virginia, Washington, and others.