William & Sheila Konar Foundation
The William & Sheila Konar Foundation is a private grant-making entity founded in 1982 and based in West Henrietta, New York. It supports programs, institutions, and organizations in Rochester and elsewhere, guided by the founders’ commitment to opportunity and helping communities grow and prosper.
William & Sheila Konar Foundation at a glance
In short: William & Sheila Konar Foundation gave $5.9M across 100 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in New York. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,882,293
- -12.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 100
- -1.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,823
- -11.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $133,116,566
- +2.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (25 of 100, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William & Sheila Konar Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit applications through the online grant portal. The foundation advises applicants who are unsure whether their organization already has an account to contact it before creating one. Review the grant-process materials before applying.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application timeline lists quarterly deadlines of January 28, April 8, July 8, and September 17. Results are to be sent within one week after the applicable board meeting.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application timeline lists quarterly deadlines of January 28, April 8, July 8, and September 17.
- Contact
Application contact: Ann Marie Mahoney
Mailing address: 75 Thruway Park Drive, W Henrietta, NY 14586
Phone: (585) 533-2900
Email: ammahoney@konarfoundation.org
Website: https://konarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from William & Sheila Konar Foundation
Who William & Sheila Konar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Alzheimer's Association ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
469 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 298 grants of 469 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports organizations in Rochester and elsewhere, with first priority generally given to organizations in or near Monroe County, New York. In 2024, recipient-state shares of grant dollars were New York 71%, Illinois 17%, District of Columbia 6%, California 3%, and Massachusetts 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 100 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William & Sheila Konar Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 100 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.8M (2021) to $6.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 100 grants totaling $5.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Health Services Research Initiative | $1,000,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | Support Program Services | $500,000 |
| Jewish Family Services Rochester, NY | Services for Jewish families, pencils & paper program, mental wellness, future preparedness | $257,500 |
| Greater Rochester Housing Project Rochester, NY | Regional Revitalization Partnership Award | $250,000 |
| US Holocaust Museum Washington, DC | Denial & Antisemitism Initiative | $200,000 |
| University of Rochester East EPO Rochester, NY | Annual Donation - Step to College | $200,000 |
| Common Ground Foundation Inc Fairport, NY | Millcreek citizen assembly | $175,000 |
| JCC of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | Grant Support | $150,000 |
| Greater Rochester Enterprise Foundation Rochester, NY | Economic Gardening Program & general program support | $150,000 |
| WXXI Public Broadcasting Council Rochester, NY | Journalism Initiative | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $133,116,566 | $10,009,940 | $6,843,230 | $5,882,293 | 100 | $6,383,279 | $9,556,769 | $6,962,404 |
| 2023 | $129,948,284 | $9,687,964 | $7,798,232 | $6,730,874 | 101 | $7,160,520 | $3,774,327 | $6,453,979 |
| 2022 | $128,058,646 | $10,046,155 | $7,772,998 | $6,629,936 | 93 | $14,560,603 | $9,363,256 | $6,317,757 |
| 2021 | $125,785,489 | $10,896,609 | $6,958,687 | $5,830,508 | 83 | $6,366,233 | $10,318,058 | $7,292,322 |
| 2020 | $121,665,833 | $5,963,258 | $7,928,826 | $6,929,996 | 92 | — | $5,328,752 | $6,183,259 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William & Sheila Konar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.0M for 2024 — 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 aim is to enhance communities through philanthropic giving. Its 2024 filing lists grants in education, cultural and civic organizations, improving health care services, promoting ethnic, religious, and cultural understanding and tolerance, and benefiting the Jewish community.
Its grantees include organizations working in varied fields. For example, WXXI describes its work as providing educational public media for Greater Rochester and promoting understanding of diverse issues; Hope585 describes its mission as helping marginalized youth and their families hope, heal, and thrive; and Foodlink describes its work as leveraging food to end hunger and build healthier communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 100 grants totaling $5,882,293. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $1,000,000, with a median of $25,000.
Notable 2024 grants included $1,000,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association for its Health Services Research Initiative; $500,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester for program services; $257,500 to Jewish Family Services for services for Jewish families and related programs; and $250,000 to Greater Rochester Housing Project for a Regional Revitalization Partnership Award. Other grants included $200,000 each to the US Holocaust Museum for its Denial & Antisemitism Initiative and the University of Rochester East EPO for Step to College.
Applications are submitted through the online grant portal. The foundation’s FAQ says the application is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and applications are evaluated quarterly. Its 2024 filing describes a process of contacting Ann Marie Mahoney and submitting a letter of intent with a brief overview of the organization and reason for the request. The filing lists the funding areas noted above as restrictions on awards.
The foundation also lists a joint 2026 Summer Programs opportunity with United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes and ESL Federal Credit Union. It seeks to expand equitable access to high-quality, affordable summer learning experiences for economically disadvantaged school-aged youth throughout Monroe County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Howard Konar, Rachael Guttenberg, Donald Nowill, Lawrence Fine, and Jeremy Konar as trustees.
William & Sheila Konar Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald Nowill
Trustee & Hours - As Required
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Howard Konar
Trustee & Hours - As Required
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lawrence Fine
Trustee & Hours - As Required
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rachael Guttenberg
Trustee & Hours - As Required
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeremy Konar
Trustee & Hours - As Required
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sheila Konar (2020) — Trustee & Hours - As Required
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 William & Sheila Konar Foundation
How much does William & Sheila Konar Foundation give each year?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation gave $5.9M across 100 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.7M across 101 grants.
What is William & Sheila Konar Foundation's typical grant size?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $58,823, across 100 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William & Sheila Konar Foundation that year got $36K on average.
Where does William & Sheila Konar Foundation give grants?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation gives mostly in New York: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (17%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (77 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does William & Sheila Konar Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of William & Sheila Konar Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 100) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (7 grants) and "Program services" (7 grants).
Who are William & Sheila Konar Foundation's largest grantees?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Alzheimer's Association ($1,000,000), Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester ($500,000) and Jewish Family Services ($257,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William & Sheila Konar Foundation?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation reported $133.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.0M (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 William & Sheila Konar Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to enhance communities through philanthropic giving. Its 2024 filing lists grants in education, cultural and civic organizations, improving health care services, promoting ethnic, religious, and cultural understanding and tolerance, and benefiting the Jewish community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William & Sheila Konar Foundation?
Submit applications through the online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William & Sheila Konar Foundation's EIN?
William & Sheila Konar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2434846. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William & Sheila Konar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-and-sheila-konar-foundation-morg_816cb84f93194162a2ef41a10ce1856f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222434846_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William \& Sheila Konar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-and-sheila-konar-foundation-morg_816cb84f93194162a2ef41a10ce1856f},
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 William & Sheila Konar 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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