The Saunders Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of large, place-based capital and endowment gifts that support higher education and regional cultural institutions in the Rochester/Finger Lakes area. Its largest commitments are equity donations to established institutions (notably the University of Rochester) and major capital support for museums and cultural facilities, reflecting a focus on long-term institutional sustainability and local cultural infrastructure.
A single stock gift to the University of Rochester dominates Saunders Foundation’s recent record: in 2025, it recorded a $5,356,057 grant described as the value of donated stocks to UofR. That kind of large, asset-based support helps explain the foundation’s profile as a local funder with a strong preference for major institutional commitments rather than many small awards. The next-largest recent grant, a $997,611 stock donation to Saunders Museum in Branchport, points to a similar pattern of concentrated support for a small number of organizations tied to the Rochester/Finger Lakes area. Beyond those high-value gifts, the foundation also supports nearby schools, cultural institutions, and community-serving nonprofits with grants that are often tied to specific projects or named funds. Hope Hall School, St John Fisher College, Finger Lakes Museum, and The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt all appear in the recent record, alongside program support for local education and health-related efforts. The pattern suggests a funder that mixes extraordinary capital-scale commitments with recurring place-based giving across the Rochester region and surrounding Finger Lakes communities.
In higher education, Saunders Foundation backed St John Fisher College with a $50,000 White Coat Scholarship grant for the School of Pharmacy in 2025, and it also supported Monroe Community College Foundation with a $10,000 annual fund grant in the same year. The foundation’s education support is not limited to colleges: it gave $55,000 to Hope Hall School in both 2024 and 2025 for program funding tied to the Dolce Method. Its cultural and capital giving is equally visible. The Finger Lakes Museum received $500,000 in 2024 for a new building and campus, while Saunders Museum received a $997,611 stock gift in 2025. In health and community services, The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt received $50,000 in 2025 for startup cash flow and building costs, and the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester received $10,000 in 2025 for program funding.
Typical grant size is small compared with the foundation’s largest commitments: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. The recent record also shows a highly skewed distribution, with a few very large stock-based gifts alongside many grants at or near the median. Several recipients recur across years, including Hope Hall School, St John Fisher College, Education Success Foundation, The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt, FLACE-Inclusion In Motion, Ossian Center Cemetery, and Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. Saunders Foundation also funds individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
$6.8M
$5.9M
$5.4M
$6.8M
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants, often in the form of donated stock, focused on repeat/anchor investments in a few longstanding local institutions rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: University of Rochester, Finger Lakes Museum, Saunders Museum
Saunders Foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly local: 98% of grants go to recipients in New York, and the recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based. Rochester appears repeatedly as a recipient city, but the foundation also reaches nearby Finger Lakes communities and other upstate locations such as Branchport, Saranac Lake, Canandaigua, Victor, Dansville, Wayland, and Avon. The geography of the grants reflects a regional pattern centered on Rochester and the surrounding western New York corridor.
The recent grants show a mix of higher education, cultural institutions, and community nonprofits. Examples include the University of Rochester, Saunders Museum, Finger Lakes Museum, Hope Hall School, The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt, and local civic or historical organizations such as Ossian Center Cemetery and St Peter's Episcopal Church.
The typical gift is modest: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. That pattern sits alongside a small number of very large stock donations, including grants above $500,000.
Yes. Ninety-eight percent of grants go to recipients in New York, and the geography is described as local. Recent recipients include Rochester organizations as well as nearby communities such as Branchport, Saranac Lake, Canandaigua, Victor, Dansville, Wayland, and Avon.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Hope Hall School, St John Fisher College, Education Success Foundation, The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt, FLACE-Inclusion In Motion, Ossian Center Cemetery, and Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. That suggests repeated support rather than one-time only giving.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $5,356,057 | 2025 | value of donated stocks to UofR |
| Saunders Museum | Branchport, NY | $997,611 | 2025 | value of donated stocks to Saunders Museum |
| Hope Hall School | Rochester, NY | $55,000 | 2025 | program funding-Dolce Method |
| Education Success Foundation | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | annual program funding |
| Saranac Lake Civic Center | Saranac Lake, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | roof recondition |
| The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | startup cash flow and building costs |
| St John Fisher College | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | White Coat Scholarship-School of Pharmacy |
| monroe community college foundation | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | STAR Power Scholarship annual |
| Youth for Christ | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Girls on the Run of Greater Rochester | Victor, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Nativity Preparatory Academy of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | fund continuation of academic programs |
| Bivona Child Advocacy Center | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Adirondack Health Foundation | Saranac Lake, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | Cornerstone Campaign medication room |
| Town of Ossian Historical Society | Dansville, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | rebuild & repair historical Ossian School House |
| Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Kiwanis Club of York-Leicester Foundation | Avon, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| United Way of Greater Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | annual giving-direct to Livingston County |
| monroe community college foundation | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | annual fund |
| Our Lady of Mercy School | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Avon Central Schools | Avon, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | program funding for The "Closet" |
| McQuaid Jesuit | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Genesee Country Village & Museum | Mumford, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | program funding |
| Friends of Livonia | Livonia, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | new Livonia Bulldog Mascot suit |
| Al Sigl Community of Agencies | Rochester, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | Just One Campaign annual |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust | Trumbul, CT | $2,500 | 2025 | Hope Sponsor NY Fall Festival 2024 |
| Town of Ossian Historical Society | Dansville, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | rebuild historical Ossian School House |
| Five Rivers Council--BSA | Elmira, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | annual giving-Dansville Troop in ThunderBird District of Five Rivers Council |
| Rochester Museum & Science Center | Rochester, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | for Cumming Nature Center |
| American Legion Post 87 | Dansville, NY | $500 | 2025 | Project Christmas annual |
| American Cancer Society | Atlanta, GA | $200 | 2025 | program funding-breast cancer walk Sheri L |
| Footin' It For Family | Cohocton, NY | $200 | 2025 | program sponsor |
| Finger Lakes Museum | Branchport, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | new building and campus |
| Finger Lakes Museum | Branchport, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | new building and campus |
| Hope Hall School | Rochester, NY | $55,000 | 2024 | program funding-Dolce Method accepted grant |
| RIT College of Liberal Arts | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | Saunders College Transformation Fund (Tessoni Business Center Naming) |
| The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | startup cash flow and building costs |
| St John Fisher College | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | White Coat Scholarship-School of Pharmacy pymt 2of5 |
| Education Success Foundation | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | annual program funding |
| FLACE-Inclusion In Motion | Canandaigua, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | open air pavilion construction |
| Youth for Christ | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | program funding |
| United Way of Greater Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | annual giving |
| Nativity Preparatory Academy of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | fund continuation of academic programs |
| Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | program funding |
| Ossian Center Cemetery | Dansville, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | new roadway in back section of cemetery |
| St Peter's Episcopal Church | Dansville, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | Clara Barton Statue per EPS |
| monroe community college foundation | Rochester, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | STAR Power Scholarship |
| Temple Hill Cemetery Association | Geneseo, NY | $6,000 | 2024 | new zero turn lawnmower |
| AS Academy Inc | Livonia, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | program funding per accepted grant application |
| The Spot | Canandaigua, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | program funding |
| Our Lady of Mercy School | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | program funding |
University of Rochester
$5,356,057value of donated stocks to UofR
Saunders Museum
$997,611value of donated stocks to Saunders Museum
The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt
startup cash flow and building costs
St John Fisher College
$50,000White Coat Scholarship-School of Pharmacy
Youth for Christ
$10,000program funding
Girls on the Run of Greater Rochester
$10,000program funding
Nativity Preparatory Academy of Rochester
$10,000fund continuation of academic programs
Adirondack Health Foundation
$10,000Cornerstone Campaign medication room
Town of Ossian Historical Society
$10,000rebuild & repair historical Ossian School House
Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
$10,000program funding
Kiwanis Club of York-Leicester Foundation
$10,000program funding
United Way of Greater Rochester
$10,000annual giving-direct to Livingston County
Our Lady of Mercy School
$5,000program funding
Avon Central Schools
$5,000program funding for The "Closet"
McQuaid Jesuit
$5,000program funding
Genesee Country Village & Museum
$5,000program funding
Friends of Livonia
$3,000new Livonia Bulldog Mascot suit
Al Sigl Community of Agencies
$2,500Just One Campaign annual
Town of Ossian Historical Society
$1,500rebuild historical Ossian School House
Five Rivers Council--BSA
$1,000annual giving-Dansville Troop in ThunderBird District of Five Rivers Council
American Legion Post 87
$500Project Christmas annual
American Cancer Society
$200program funding-breast cancer walk Sheri L
Footin' It For Family
$200program sponsor
RIT College of Liberal Arts
$50,000Saunders College Transformation Fund (Tessoni Business Center Naming)
The Healing Connection Residential Trtmt
$50,000startup cash flow and building costs
St John Fisher College
$50,000White Coat Scholarship-School of Pharmacy pymt 2of5
FLACE-Inclusion In Motion
$15,000open air pavilion construction
Youth for Christ
$10,000program funding
United Way of Greater Rochester
$10,000annual giving
Nativity Preparatory Academy of Rochester
$10,000fund continuation of academic programs
Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester
$10,000program funding
Ossian Center Cemetery
$10,000new roadway in back section of cemetery
St Peter's Episcopal Church
$10,000Clara Barton Statue per EPS
Temple Hill Cemetery Association
$6,000new zero turn lawnmower
AS Academy Inc
$5,000program funding per accepted grant application
The Spot
$5,000program funding
Our Lady of Mercy School
$5,000program funding