The Paychex Charitable Foundation focuses on strengthening community wellbeing and economic opportunity by providing sizable operating support to a small set of repeat national and local nonprofit partners. Their grants concentrate on basic needs (hunger relief), mental health services, workforce and youth financial readiness, and community economic development—with a noticeable emphasis on sustaining United Ways and large, recognizable national organizations while also supporting Rochester-area institutions.
Concentrated giving: relatively few, large operating support grants distributed to repeat national and regional partners. Mix of multi-year or multiple awards to the same organizations, with strong emphasis on established intermediaries (United Ways, Feeding America, national advocacy groups) and significant local support in the Rochester area.
Paychex Charitable Foundation Inc’s recent giving is defined by large operating grants to a small group of repeat nonprofit partners, especially United Way affiliates in Rochester and beyond. The single largest grant in the recent record was $450,000 to United Way of Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes for operating support, followed by $350,000 grants to United Way of Greater Cincinnati and United Way of Greater Rochester. That pattern shows a funder that uses substantial, flexible support to keep local and national intermediaries funded over time. The foundation also backs nationally recognized nonprofits tied to basic needs, mental health, youth financial readiness, and racial economic equity. Feeding America, Mental Health America, Junior Achievement USA, and National Urban League each received recurring operating support in the $250,000 range across multiple years. In Rochester, the foundation has also supported organizations such as Rochester Industries Educational Fund Inc, Golisano Autism Center, The Strong, and Nazareth College. The overall portfolio points to community wellbeing and economic opportunity, with operating support as the main tool.
Basic needs is a clear thread in the portfolio. Feeding America received $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for operating support, showing repeated support for food-bank infrastructure rather than project-specific funding. Mental health is another recurring area. Mental Health America received $250,000 in 2023 and 2024, and Mental Health America Inc received $250,000 in 2025, all as operating support. The foundation also gave $50,000 to Golisano Autism Center in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Youth workforce readiness and financial literacy appear through Junior Achievement USA, which received $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for operating support. Community economic development is reflected in $200,000 to Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation in 2025 for operating support, alongside support for Rochester Industries Educational Fund Inc.
Typical grants cluster tightly around core operating support: the p25 is $2,000, the median is $3,500, and the p75 is $5,000. The recent record also includes a small set of much larger operating grants, which suggests a mixed portfolio of broad community support and larger commitments to repeat partners. This is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list shows clear repeat relationships across multiple years, including several organizations that appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The support pattern is strongly unrestricted or core-general operating support, aligned with organizational sustainability.
$2.6M
$18.3M
$971K
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $2K and $5K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Notable grantees: Junior Achievement USA, Feeding America, Mental Health America, National Urban League, United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in New York: 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and NY is also the top state by grant count. Rochester is the clearest hub, with multiple grants to organizations there including United Way of Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes, Rochester Industries Educational Fund Inc, Golisano Autism Center, The Strong, and Nazareth College. Outside New York, the recent record includes Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Alexandria, and Chicago. All listed recipient grants are in the United States, with 353 grants going to US recipients.
Its recent grants center on operating support for United Way affiliates, food assistance networks, mental health organizations, youth workforce and financial literacy groups, and Rochester-area institutions. Named recipients include United Way of Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes, Feeding America, Mental Health America, Junior Achievement USA, and National Urban League.
Typical grant sizes are modest for many awards, with a p25 of $2,000, a median of $3,500, and a p75 of $5,000. The recent grant list also includes much larger operating grants, including $450,000 and several $350,000 awards.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years in the recent grant list. Feeding America, Mental Health America, Junior Achievement USA, and Golisano Autism Center each received repeated operating support, and Rochester Industries Educational Fund Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Giving is concentrated in New York. 73% of grants go to recipients in NY, and Rochester appears frequently in the recent record. Outside New York, recent recipients include organizations in Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Alexandria, and Chicago.
Operating support is the dominant pattern in the recent grants list. The named awards are repeatedly labeled operating support or operations support, indicating flexible funding for organizational continuity rather than project-restricted grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $350,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| United Way of Greater Rochester | Rochester, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| National Urban League | New York, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Mental Health America Inc | Alexandria, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Junior Achievement USA | Colorado Springs, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation | Rochester, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Junior Achievement | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Golisano Autism Center | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Hillside Work Scholarship Connection | Rochester, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Supporting |
| American Red Cross | Buffalo, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Habitat for Humanity | Americus, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Imagination Playground Inc | Rochester, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| American Red Cross - Western New York Region | West Henrietta, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Golisano Children's Hospital | Rochester, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Amercian Red Cross | Boone, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| American Foundation for Suicide Prevention | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Junior Achievement | Rochester, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| United Way of Greater Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| The American Red Cross | Buffalo, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Coffee Connection | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Thurgood Marshall College Fund | Washington DC, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Girl Scouts | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| American Red Cross - Western New York Chapter | West Henrietta, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Children's Institute | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Asian Counseling and Referral Service | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Mercy Flight Central | Canandaigua, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Penfield HOPE | Penfield, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| The Center of Youth | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Goodwill Vision Enterprises | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Junior Acheivement of Central Upstate New York | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| CHADD | Lanham, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Gary Sinise Foundation | Nashville, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| National Black Child Development Institute | Silver Spring, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Veterans Outreach Center Inc | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| First Nations Development Institute | Longmont, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| St John's Home Foundation | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Generations United | Washington DC, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Reach Out & Read | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Homesteads for Hope | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Hillside Family of Agencies | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| MANA A National Latina Organization | Washington DC, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| True Colors United | New York, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| Disability EmpowerHer Network | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| SPIRIT NYS | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| International Rescue Committee | Albert Lea, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester | Rochester, NY | $4,500 | 2025 | Operating Support |
| The Community Place of Greater Rochester | Rochester, NY | $3,500 | 2025 | Operating Support |
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
$350,000Operating Support
United Way of Greater Rochester
$350,000Operating Support
National Urban League
$250,000Operating Support
Mental Health America Inc
$250,000Operating Support
Junior Achievement USA
$250,000Operating Support
Feeding America
$250,000Operating Support
Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation
$200,000Operating Support
Junior Achievement
$50,000Operating Support
Golisano Autism Center
$50,000Operating Support
Hillside Work Scholarship Connection
$25,000Operating Supporting
American Red Cross
$25,000Operating Support
Habitat for Humanity
$25,000Operating Support
Imagination Playground Inc
$25,000Operating Support
American Red Cross - Western New York Region
$25,000Operating Support
Golisano Children's Hospital
$25,000Operating Support
Amercian Red Cross
$25,000Operating Support
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
$20,000Operating Support
Junior Achievement
$15,000Operating Support
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester
$15,000Operating Support
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
$12,500Operating Support
The American Red Cross
$12,500Operating Support
True North Rochester Preparatory Charter School
$10,000Operating Support
Coffee Connection
$10,000Operating Support
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
$10,000Operating Support
Girl Scouts
$10,000Operating Support
American Red Cross - Western New York Chapter
$10,000Operating Support
Children's Institute
$10,000Operating Support
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
$10,000Operating Support
Mercy Flight Central
$7,500Operating Support
Penfield HOPE
$5,000Operating Support
The Center of Youth
$5,000Operating Support
Goodwill Vision Enterprises
$5,000Operating Support
Junior Acheivement of Central Upstate New York
$5,000Operating Support
CHADD
$5,000Operating Support
Gary Sinise Foundation
$5,000Operating Support
National Black Child Development Institute
$5,000Operating Support
Veterans Outreach Center Inc
$5,000Operating Support
First Nations Development Institute
$5,000Operating Support
St John's Home Foundation
$5,000Operating Support
Generations United
$5,000Operating Support
Reach Out & Read
$5,000Operating Support
Homesteads for Hope
$5,000Operating Support
Hillside Family of Agencies
$5,000Operating Support
MANA A National Latina Organization
$5,000Operating Support
True Colors United
$5,000Operating Support
Disability EmpowerHer Network
$5,000Operating Support
SPIRIT NYS
$5,000Operating Support
International Rescue Committee
$5,000Operating Support
The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester
$4,500Operating Support
The Community Place of Greater Rochester
$3,500Operating Support