The Stella Matutina Foundation concentrates its giving in the Rochester, NY area with a strong emphasis on supporting local Catholic and independent schools through tuition assistance and operating support, often prioritizing access for refugee and low‑income students. It also funds complementary community services that help newcomers integrate (resettlement services) and local workforce/social‑enterprise programs. Grants are typically mid‑sized and directed to organizations providing direct services or student access programs rather than large national institutions.
Stella Matutina Foundation’s giving is anchored in Rochester schools and refugee-serving organizations, with repeated support for tuition assistance, scholarship aid, and operating costs. Among the larger recent awards, Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services received $46,800 in 2023 and $35,000 in 2025 for building and facility improvements plus operating expenses, showing that the foundation backs both service delivery and the infrastructure behind it. The same pattern appears in school funding: Bishop Kearney High School received $35,000 for tuition assistance in 2025 and $33,000 in 2023 for tuition support for refugee students. The foundation also supports institutions that widen access to education and stability for students and families, including Hope Hall, Nazareth Elementary School, Nativity Preparatory Academy, and Bethany House. Its grants include direct support for people seeking secure permanent housing, emergency meals and shelter, and a local workforce-oriented woodshop. The mix points to a funder focused on practical support for local organizations serving students, newcomers, and residents facing immediate needs.
Education access is a central theme. Stella Matutina Foundation gave $30,000 to St John Fisher University for the Higher Education Opportunity Program in 2025, and $30,000 to St John Fisher College for the Higher Education Opportunity Program Summer Institute in 2023. In K–12 education, it provided $30,000 to Hope Hall for tuition assistance in both 2023 and 2025, along with $30,000 to Nazareth Elementary School for tuition assistance in 2025. The foundation also backs refugee and newcomer support. Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services received $35,000 in 2025 for building and facility improvements and operating expenses. On housing and emergency aid, Bethany House received $20,000 in 2025 for support for those seeking secure permanent housing, while The House of Mercy received $15,000 in 2023 for emergency assistance, meals and shelter support.
Typical grants cluster tightly around the middle: p25 is $17,500, the median is $30,000, and p75 is $30,000. The pattern is repeated support rather than isolated one-off gifts. Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Hope Hall, Nazareth Elementary School, Nativity Preparatory Academy, Bethany House, St Michael's Woodshop Inc, and the National Ms Society Upstate NY Chapter each appear in more than one year. The foundation is also a private foundation, and it makes grants to individuals as well as organizations. The grants shown do not indicate an open application process.
$305K
$3.4M
$520K
$373K
Most grants fall between $18K and $30K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$18K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, local giving with a small number of mid‑sized grants (~$30k–$47k); repeat focus on education-related operating and tuition support and occasional capacity/building grants for direct service providers.
Notable grantees: Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Bishop Kearney High School, St. John Fisher College, Nazareth Elementary School, St. Michael's Woodshop, Inc.
All of the recent grants shown go to recipients in New York, with 100% of grants landing in the HQ state. Rochester is the main recipient city, including grants to Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Hope Hall, Nazareth Elementary School, and Bethany House. The list also reaches Elmira through Notre Dame High School and Livonia through Camp Stella Maris. The geographic footprint is local rather than multi-state or international.
The foundation repeatedly funds Rochester-area Catholic and independent schools, refugee resettlement services, and local housing or emergency-assistance providers. Recent recipients include schools receiving tuition assistance, organizations serving newcomers, and groups supporting secure permanent housing or meals and shelter.
The grant-size distribution is tightly centered on $30,000. The 25th percentile is $17,500, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is also $30,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Rochester Refugee Resettlement Services, Hope Hall, Nazareth Elementary School, Nativity Preparatory Academy, Bethany House, St Michael's Woodshop Inc, and the National Ms Society Upstate NY Chapter.
No. Schools are a major part of the portfolio, but the foundation also funds refugee resettlement services, higher-education access programs, housing support, emergency meals and shelter, and a local woodshop with operating and salary support.
The recent grants shown are entirely in New York, and 100% of grants are in the HQ state. Rochester receives most of the awards, with additional grants to Elmira and Livonia.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ROCHESTER REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2025 | BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | ELMIRA, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM |
| NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT |
| HOPE HALL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| BETHANY HOUSE | ROCHESTER, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING |
| CAMP STELLA MARIS | LIVONIA, NY | $17,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR 2025 TEAM LEADERSHIP CAMP |
| OUR LADY OF MERCY | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCHESTER REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| HOPE HALL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM |
| ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | ELMIRA, NY | $30,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| BETHANY HOUSE | ROCHESTER, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING |
| ROBERTS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | ROCHESTER, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| OUR LADY OF MERCY | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,000 | 2024 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCHESTER REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES | ROCHESTER, NY | $46,800 | 2023 | BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| ROCHESTER REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $35,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $33,000 | 2023 | TUITION SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE STUDENTS |
| ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT |
| HOPE HALL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ST JOHN FISHER COLLEGE | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM SUMMER INSTITUTE |
| HOPE HALL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM |
| ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT |
| NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | ELMIRA, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY | ROCHESTER, NY | $30,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY | ROCHESTER, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| BETHANY HOUSE | ROCHESTER, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING |
| THE HOUSE OF MERCY | ROCHESTER, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, MEALS AND SHELTER SUPPORT |
| OUR LADY OF MERCY | ROCHESTER, NY | $12,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BETHANY HOUSE | ROCHESTER, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING |
BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL
$35,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY
$30,000HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$30,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC
$30,000OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT
BETHANY HOUSE
$20,000SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING
CAMP STELLA MARIS
$17,500SUPPORT FOR 2025 TEAM LEADERSHIP CAMP
OUR LADY OF MERCY
$12,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES
BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL
$35,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$30,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY
$30,000HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC
$30,000OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
BETHANY HOUSE
$20,000SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING
ROBERTS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
$15,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
OUR LADY OF MERCY
$12,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES
BUILDING/FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND OPERATING EXPENSES
BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL
$35,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
BISHOP KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL
$33,000TUITION SUPPORT FOR REFUGEE STUDENTS
ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC
$30,000OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT
ST JOHN FISHER COLLEGE
$30,000HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM SUMMER INSTITUTE
ST JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY
$30,000HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
ST MICHAEL'S WOODSHOP INC
$30,000OPERATING EXPENSES AND SALARY SUPPORT
NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$30,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NAZARETH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$30,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY
$30,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
NATIVITY PREPATORY ACADEMY
$25,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
BETHANY HOUSE
$20,000SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING
THE HOUSE OF MERCY
$15,000EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, MEALS AND SHELTER SUPPORT
OUR LADY OF MERCY
$12,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY UPSTATE NY CHAPTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BETHANY HOUSE
$5,000SUPPORT FOR THOSE SEEKING SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING