The Joan Rothenberg Family Foundation concentrates its giving in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region, supporting a mix of land conservation, local education, community service, faith-based initiatives, and health/arts organizations. Grants are targeted and pragmatic—often labeled as "ongoing needs" or specific scholarship support—indicating unrestricted or flexible operating support for established local nonprofits. The foundation shows a preference for organizations that serve place-based community needs (conservation, neighborhood learning, religious/retreat programming) and for backing higher-education scholarship and program funds at a nearby university.
Joan Rothenberg Family Foundation Inc. stands out for a pattern of targeted, practical support to established nonprofits in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area, with repeated funding for land conservation, neighborhood learning, and scholarship support. The foundation has backed Genesee Land Trust in multiple years for ongoing needs, funded Finger Lakes Land Trust, and made recurring gifts to Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business scholarship fund. It also supports direct-service organizations that work with families and community members, including Northside Learning Center and Interfaith Works of Central New York. The grant list shows a mix of unrestricted operating support and purpose-specific awards. Several gifts are labeled "ongoing needs," while others support named funds or programs such as the Ron Kelly Scholarship Fund and Ready for Pre-K Program. The foundation also funds faith-based retreat programming through Stillpoint Retreats and voice-health work through The Voice Foundation. Smaller awards extend to community legal services, domestic violence support, and donated assistive technology for public libraries. Across those grants, the foundation favors organizations with concrete local service roles and clear program uses.
Land conservation is a visible thread in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $10,000 to Genesee Land Trust in 2024 for ongoing needs, after earlier gifts of $10,000 in 2023 and another $10,000 in 2025. Finger Lakes Land Trust also received $10,000 in 2024 for ongoing needs. Education support appears in both higher education and early learning. Rochester Institute of Technology received $15,000 in 2025 and $12,000 in 2024 for the Saunders College of Business, Ron Kelly Scholarship Fund. In K–12 and pre-K related work, the foundation gave $5,000 to DC Public Education Fund for the Ready for Pre-K Program and $5,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area for school supplies. Community and family services also receive consistent backing. Jubilee Homes of Syracuse Inc got $7,000 in 2025 and $5,750 in 2024 for ongoing needs, while Oswego County Opportunities received $2,500 in 2025 for the Victims of Domestic Abuse Hotline.
Grant size clusters around small to mid-sized awards: the typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $3,500 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including several recipients of ongoing-needs grants and a recurring scholarship award. That pattern points to relationship-based giving rather than one-time project funding. The foundation is a family foundation and also funds individuals. Program-related investments are not part of its activity shown here.
$72K
$967K
$60K
$93K
Most grants fall between $2K and $10K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, moderate-sized grants within the Rochester/Finger Lakes area with several repeat grantees; grants lean toward flexible/ongoing operating support and occasional designated scholarship funding rather than one-off project funding.
Notable grantees: Genesee Land Trust, Rochester Institute of Technology (Saunders College / scholarship fund), Northside Learning Center, Interfaith Works of Central New York, Stillpoint Retreats
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in New York. Seventy-four percent of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s home state of NY, with the strongest recipient cluster in Rochester and Syracuse. Other New York locations include Ithaca, Albany, Fulton, East Syracuse, Old Forge, and Westminster is outside the state. Outside New York, grants reached Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA; Derry, NH; and Rockville, MD. All recorded grants in the recent list went to U.S. recipients.
The foundation backs land trusts, learning centers, scholarship funds, legal aid, domestic-violence services, and arts or health-related nonprofits. Recent examples include Genesee Land Trust, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business scholarship fund, Northside Learning Center, and Oswego County Opportunities.
Both appear in the record, but operating-style support is common. Many awards are labeled "ongoing needs" or "operating needs," while some are tied to named purposes such as the Ron Kelly Scholarship Fund, Ready for Pre-K Program, school supplies, and donated sign-language tablets.
The grant-size distribution is modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,500, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Recent grants include amounts below and above that range, but most awards fall in the small-to-mid-sized range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Genesee Land Trust, Northside Learning Center, Jubilee Homes of Syracuse Inc, and Rochester Institute of Technology. The repeated "ongoing needs" labels suggest ongoing relationships with some grantees.
Giving is regional and centered in New York. Seventy-four percent of grants go to NY recipients, and the top recipient city cluster includes Rochester and Syracuse. The recent record also includes grants in Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Boston; Derry, New Hampshire; and Maryland.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALL SAINTS CHURCH | SYRACUSE, NY | $22,000 | 2026 | EFWA WINTER DRIVE |
| ST CHARLES OF BORROMEO HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY | SYRACUSE, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT TROOPS IN UKRAINE |
| GENESEE LAND TRUST | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | WHERE NEEDED MOST |
| NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | WHERE NEEDED MOST |
| EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART | SYRACUSE, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | WHERE NEEDED MOST |
| ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ONONDAGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES | SYRACUSE, NY | $486 | 2026 | STANDS FOR DONATED SIGN LANGUAGE TABLETS |
| ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ROCHESTER, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| GENESEE LAND TRUST | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER | SYRACUSE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE CAPITAL AREA | ALBANY, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL SUPPLIES |
| WASHINGTON LEGAL CLINIC FOR THE HOMELESS | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,575 | 2025 | "HOME COURT" |
| OSWEGO COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES | FULTON, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE HOTLINE |
| ONONDAGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES | SYRACUSE, NY | $1,981 | 2025 | DONATED SIGN LANGUAGE TABLETS |
| SAINT LUCY'S CHURCH | SYRACUSE, NY | $1,027 | 2025 | BREAD FOR LIFE |
| ST CATHERINE'S CENTER FOR CHILDREN | ALBANY, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,000 | 2024 | SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| THE VOICE FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| GENESEE LAND TRUST | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| STILLPOINT RETREATS | DERRY, NH | $10,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $5,750 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| ROCHESTER ECOLOGY PARTNERS | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | READY FOR PRE-K PROGRAM |
| SDA CHARITY PREVIEW | SYRACUSE, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER |
| MAKE-A-WISH CENTRAL NEW YORK | EAST SYRACUSE, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| HOUSING VISIONS UNLIMITED | SYRACUSE, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| EASTERN FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION | SYRACUSE, NY | $500 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| THE MCALISTER FOUNDATION | LAURENS, SC | $500 | 2024 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER | SYRACUSE, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| GENESEE LAND TRUST | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| INTERFAITH WORKS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK | SYRACUSE, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| PRIDE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION | ALBANY, NY | $6,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| LEGAL CLINIC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| UNITED FOR A FAIR ECONOMY | BOSTON, MA | $4,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| UKRANIAN CULTURAL CENTER | SYRACUSE, NY | $3,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| SDA CHARITY PREVIEW | SYRACUSE, NY | $3,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| AUTISM UP | ROCHESTER, NY | $3,000 | 2023 | OPERATING NEEDS |
| THE ARTS GUILD OLD FORGE | OLD FORGE, NY | $3,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| STEPPING STONES SHELTER INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $2,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| LIVE HOPE LAUGH ALEXIS ROSS ORGANIZATION | WESTMINSTER, MD | $2,000 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC | SYRACUSE, NY | $1,800 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND | KENT, OH | $500 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
| DUCK LAKE ASSOCIATION | PORT BYRON, NY | $500 | 2023 | ONGOING NEEDS |
ALL SAINTS CHURCH
$22,000EFWA WINTER DRIVE
ST CHARLES OF BORROMEO HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY
$15,000TO SUPPORT TROOPS IN UKRAINE
JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC
$10,000WHERE NEEDED MOST
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER
$5,000WHERE NEEDED MOST
WHERE NEEDED MOST
SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ONONDAGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
$486STANDS FOR DONATED SIGN LANGUAGE TABLETS
SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER
$10,000ONGOING NEEDS
JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC
$7,000ONGOING NEEDS
OSWEGO COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES
$2,500VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE HOTLINE
ONONDAGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
$1,981DONATED SIGN LANGUAGE TABLETS
SAINT LUCY'S CHURCH
$1,027BREAD FOR LIFE
SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, RON KELLY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
THE VOICE FOUNDATION
$10,000ONGOING NEEDS
STILLPOINT RETREATS
$10,000ONGOING NEEDS
JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC
$5,750ONGOING NEEDS
ROCHESTER ECOLOGY PARTNERS
$5,000ONGOING NEEDS
SDA CHARITY PREVIEW
$3,000NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER
MAKE-A-WISH CENTRAL NEW YORK
$2,500ONGOING NEEDS
HOUSING VISIONS UNLIMITED
$1,000ONGOING NEEDS
EASTERN FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION
$500ONGOING NEEDS
THE MCALISTER FOUNDATION
$500ONGOING NEEDS
NORTHSIDE LEARNING CENTER
$15,000ONGOING NEEDS
PRIDE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION
$6,000ONGOING NEEDS
LEGAL CLINIC
$5,000ONGOING NEEDS
UKRANIAN CULTURAL CENTER
$3,000ONGOING NEEDS
SDA CHARITY PREVIEW
$3,000ONGOING NEEDS
AUTISM UP
$3,000OPERATING NEEDS
THE ARTS GUILD OLD FORGE
$3,000ONGOING NEEDS
LIVE HOPE LAUGH ALEXIS ROSS ORGANIZATION
$2,000ONGOING NEEDS
JUBILEE HOMES OF SYRACUSE INC
$1,800ONGOING NEEDS
DUCK LAKE ASSOCIATION
$500ONGOING NEEDS