William & Sheila Konar Foundation
The William & Sheila Konar Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in 1982 and based in West Henrietta, New York. The foundation supports programs, institutions, and organizations guided by the philanthropic goals and priorities of its founders, William and Sheila Konar. The foundation operates with a commitment to "conscious philanthropy"—providing measurable benefits to the community and supporting the collective capacity of communities to improve quality of life for all citizens.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$133.1M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
-12.6% YoY
Grant Count
100
-1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
-11.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on enhancing communities through philanthropic giving. The driving force behind its giving is William and Sheila Konar's commitment to opportunity and their desire to help others in their community grow and prosper.
Primary funding areas include:
- Pre-K Through 12 Education
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The foundation supports organizations in Rochester, New York, and elsewhere, with particular emphasis on the Rochester area and surrounding regions.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grant application process. Organizations can verify eligibility and submit grant proposal packages through the foundation's website. The foundation is currently revising its website and grantmaking process, though grant applications remain accessible.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Rochester, New York
- New York State
- Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $129,948,284
- Total revenues: $9,687,964
- Total expenses: $7,798,232
Assets (2024):
- Total assets: $133,116,566
The foundation is supported by the William B Konar Estate.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $133,116,566 | $129,948,284 | $128,058,646 |
| Revenue | $10,009,940 | $9,687,964 | $10,046,155 |
| Expenses | $6,843,230 | $7,798,232 | $7,772,998 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,383,279 | $7,160,520 | $14,560,603 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,556,769 | $3,774,327 | $9,363,256 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,962,404 | $6,453,979 | $6,317,757 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from William & Sheila Konar Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester ($500,000), Jewish Family Services ($257,500), US Holocaust Museum ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monroe Community College Foundation Rochester, NY | Scholar's Day Fund, Healthy Hero Summer Camp, Unrestricted Donation | $45,000 |
| JCC of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY | Grant Support | $150,000 |
| JCC Rochester Jewish Film Festival Rochester, NY | Jewish cultural support through film - Annual donation | $25,000 |
| Jewish Family Services Rochester, NY | Services for Jewish families, pencils & paper program, mental wellness, future preparedness | $257,500 |
| Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Rochester, NY | Annual campaign support for local musicians | $50,000 |
| United Way Rochester, NY | General community support services | $10,000 |
| US Holocaust Museum Washington, DC | Denial & Antisemitism Initiative | $200,000 |
| Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester Rochester, NY | Support of breast cancer awareness programs/advocacy | $2,500 |
| Water for South Sudan Rochester, NY | Provide access to clean water for Sudanese communities | $2,500 |
| Sisters of St Joseph of Rochester Rochester, NY | Medical Support for Retired Nuns | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation employs 4 staff members and is guided by a board of trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD KONAR | Trustee, Hours - As Required | — | — |
| RACHAEL GUTTENBERG | Trustee, Hours - As Required | — | — |
| DONALD NOWILL | Trustee, Hours - As Required | — | — |
| Lawrence Fine | Trustee, Hours - As Required | — | — |
| Jeremy Konar | Trustee, Hours - As Required | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants and activities include:
**RochesterWorks Downtown Career Center:** Awarded $5.5 million from a public-private partnership (2024)
RochesterWorks Downtown Career Center awarded $5.5M**Carthage University Education Department:** Received a Konar Foundation grant award
Education Department earns another Konar Foundation Grant Award**University of Rochester:** Received gifts supporting literacy initiatives
New gifts from the William & Sheila Konar Foundation support literacy - Advancement**University of Rochester Medical Center:** Received a gift supporting clinical research on Alzheimer's Disease
Gift from William and Sheila Konar Supports Clinical Research on Alzheimer\u2019\**Regional Revitalization Partnership:** Supported through foundation grants
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William & Sheila Konar Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on enhancing communities through philanthropic giving. The driving force behind its giving is William and Sheila Konar's commitment to opportunity and their desire to help others in their community grow and prosper. Primary funding areas include: • Pre-K Through 12 Education • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking The foundation supports organizations in Rochester, New York, and elsewhere, with particular emphasis on the Rochester …
How do I apply for a grant from William & Sheila Konar Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical awards range from $250 to $1,240,000 • The foundation made 85 grants in its most recent reporting year • Total giving: $5,882,293 (based on 2024 IRS Form 990) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester NY: $750,000 (Support Program Services, Emergency Israel Campaign) • Education Success Foundation: $375,000 (Whole Child Initiative) • Jewish Family Service of Rochester: $295,500 (Services for Jewish Families, Holistic Progr…
Where does William & Sheila Konar Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • Rochester, New York • New York State • Massachusetts • District of Columbia
What size grants does William & Sheila Konar Foundation award?
In 2024, William & Sheila Konar Foundation awarded 100 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is William & Sheila Konar Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, William & Sheila Konar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in William & Sheila Konar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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