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A defining thread in Sands Family Supporting Foundation Inc’s grantmaking is large-scale support for Rochester institutions and regional education infrastructure. The foundation’s largest recent grant, $25 million to Pace University in 2025, funded the establishment of a new College of Performing Arts, showing that its support reaches major cultural and educational initiatives as well as local civic needs. In Rochester, the foundation backed the YMCA of Greater Rochester with $12 million in 2023 for construction of the new YMCA and later added $500,000 in 2025 for expansion deficit funding. It also made repeated, multi-million-dollar commitments to Education Success Foundation for the Success Learning Communities and Whole Child Initiative and for the SF2 Possibilities for Tomorrow Grant. Beyond those flagship awards, the foundation appears to support a mix of arts, youth development, community facilities, and place-based programs in New York. Its grantmaking patterns suggest a foundation oriented toward strengthening local institutions while also making select larger bets on education, culture, and community development.
Education and youth development are central to the foundation’s giving. It awarded $3,971,419 to Education Success Foundation in 2023 for Success Learning Communities, Whole Child Initiative, then followed with $3,339,360 in 2024 and $2,934,287 in 2025 for SF2 Possibilities for Tomorrow Grant. In community recreation and facilities, it gave $12 million to YMCA of Greater Rochester in 2023 for construction of the new YMCA, plus $500,000 in 2025 for expansion deficit funding. Arts and culture also appear across the portfolio: Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester received $300,000 in 2024 for general support, and Deep Arts received $60,000 in 2023 to create and enhance programming. The foundation’s environmental interests show up in a $35,000 grant to The Harley School for a climate curriculum sustainability project.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $40,000, with a lower quartile of $22,917 and an upper quartile of $225,000, though the portfolio also includes several much larger capital and initiative grants. The giving pattern shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Education Success Foundation, YMCA of Greater Rochester, Skidmore College, Pace University, and Stephen Gaynor School. Sands Family Supporting Foundation Inc is a supporting foundation, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The available grant records show both general support and restricted project funding, alongside capital and construction support.
$4.9M
$110.2M
$6.4M
$5.3M
Most grants fall between $23K and $225K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$23K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$225K
SIMEON BANISTER
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in New York, which accounts for 94% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Rochester appears most often in the recipient list, including YMCA of Greater Rochester, Education Success Foundation, Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester, and Measures for Justice Institute. Other New York cities and towns include Saratoga Springs, Canandaigua, Pittsford, Brooklyn, and New York City. Outside New York, the recent-grants list includes Boston, New Haven, and one recipient in Connecticut; the country distribution shows all grants went to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants show support for education and youth development, community facilities, arts and culture, and environmental education. Examples include $3,971,419 to Education Success Foundation for Whole Child Initiative work, $12 million to YMCA of Greater Rochester for construction, and $35,000 to The Harley School for a climate curriculum sustainability project.
Typical grants center on a median of $40,000, with a p25 of $22,917 and a p75 of $225,000. The list also includes much larger awards, such as $25 million to Pace University and $12 million to YMCA of Greater Rochester.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Education Success Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; YMCA of Greater Rochester in 2023 and 2025; Skidmore College in 2024 and 2025; Pace University in 2024 and 2025; and Stephen Gaynor School in 2023 and 2025.
Grantmaking is local and concentrated in New York, which receives 94% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Rochester is a frequent recipient location, alongside Saratoga Springs, Canandaigua, Pittsford, Brooklyn, and New York City.
The recent grants include general support, program and project support, capital and construction grants, scholarships and direct financial aid, and emergency or humanitarian relief. Examples in the data include construction funding for YMCA of Greater Rochester, general support for arts and educational organizations, and Ukraine-related relief through Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Sands Family Supporting Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations engaged in charitable activities within the eight-county service area are generally eligible. Public sector entities are also eligible. The foundation generally does not fund special events, fundraising campaigns, religious activities, endowments, buildings except historical assets, or debt retirement.
Deadline: No set deadlines; reviewed as received.
Who can apply: Organizations and projects that advance environmental justice and sustainability in the Foundation's region.
Deadline: Varies by opportunity; some related funds are rolling.
Who can apply: Listed as an active grant opportunity; detailed criteria not visible in the provided content.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDUCATION SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $3,297,139 | 2026 | SF2 POSSIBILITIES FOR TOMORROW GRANT |
| SKIDMORE COLLEGE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $1,073,275 | 2026 | SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
| ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SQUASH INC | PITTSFORD, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MEASURES OF JUSTICE INSTITUTE | ROCHESTER, NY | $183,333 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | STAMP OUT CANCER BROOKLYN |
| STEPHEN GAYNOR SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE BUSHWICK STARR | NEW YORK, NY | $16,667 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL UPSTATE NEW YORK INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PACE UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $25,000,000 | 2025 | ESTABLISH A NEW COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS |
| EDUCATION SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $2,934,287 | 2025 | SF2 POSSIBILITIES FOR TOMORROW GRANT |
| SKIDMORE COLLEGE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $1,366,725 | 2025 | SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
| YMCA OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION DEFICIT FUNDING |
| ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SQUASH INC | PITTSFORD, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MEASURES FOR JUSTICE INSTITUTE | ROCHESTER, NY | $183,333 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | STAMP OUT CANCER BROOKLYN |
| STEPHEN GAYNOR SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE BRUSHWICH STARR | NEW YORK, NY | $16,667 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL UPSTATE NEW YORK INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| EDUCATION SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $3,339,360 | 2024 | FOR SF2 POSSIBILITIES FOR TOMORROW GRANT |
| SKIDMORE COLLEGE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $2,605,000 | 2024 | SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP |
| MEMORIAL ART GALLERY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR PROGRAM "STAMP OUT CANCER BROOKLYN" |
| INTERVOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR INTERVOL INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT |
| THE BERKELEY CARROLL SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PACE UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP FUND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK KITCHEN | CANANDAIGUA, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR UKRAINE AND REFUGEES RELIEF EFFORT |
| ARTISANWORKS | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER ROCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | FOR THE SANDY PARKER SCHOLARSHIP |
| PIONEER WORKS ART FOUNDATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ISAIAH HOUSE INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $7,000 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,000,000 | 2023 | CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW YMCA |
| EDUCATION SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, NY | $3,971,419 | 2023 | SUCCESS LEARNING COMMUNITIES, WHOLE CHILD INITIATIVE |
| NEW YORK KITCHEN | CANANDAIGUA, NY | $175,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT & CONSTRUCTION OF THE SANDY PARKER TERRACE |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | 2022 OVERSEAS UKRAINE SUPPORT |
| DEEP ARTS | ROCHESTER, NY | $60,000 | 2023 | CREATE AND ENHANCE PROGRAMMING |
| CANANDAIGUA EMERGENCY SQUAD | CANANDAIGUA, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | NEW BUILDING |
| STEPHEN GAYNOR SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HARLEY SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | CLIMATE CURRICULUM SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT |
| THE BUSHWICK STARR | BROOKLYN, NY | $16,667 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL UPSTATE NEW YORK | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FINGER LAKES OPERA INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | FINGER LAKES OPERA 2022 SUMMER SEASON |
SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SQUASH INC
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PACE UNIVERSITY
$25,000,000ESTABLISH A NEW COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS
SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY SQUASH INC
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSES
SANDS FAMILY INITIATIVE FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MEMORIAL ART GALLERY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
$300,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
INTERVOL
$30,000FOR INTERVOL INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
FOR UKRAINE AND REFUGEES RELIEF EFFORT
ARTISANWORKS
$25,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER ROCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR THE SANDY PARKER SCHOLARSHIP
ISAIAH HOUSE INC
$10,000FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
SUCCESS LEARNING COMMUNITIES, WHOLE CHILD INITIATIVE
GENERAL SUPPORT & CONSTRUCTION OF THE SANDY PARKER TERRACE
DEEP ARTS
$60,000CREATE AND ENHANCE PROGRAMMING
CANANDAIGUA EMERGENCY SQUAD
$50,000NEW BUILDING
FINGER LAKES OPERA INC
$10,000FINGER LAKES OPERA 2022 SUMMER SEASON
