
FFRPL is a 501(c)(3) charity that expands the Rochester Public Library’s community impact through fundraising, marketing, and programming, and manages restricted funds that provide financial and supplemental materials support to eligible libraries in the region.
Rochester Public Library’s most recent grant of $2,724,418 was directed to the City of Rochester for maintenance of the library for the direct benefit of the public. That single award captures how the foundation operates: it supports the public library as a civic institution while also channeling endowed funds into programs, staff support, and materials tied to education, access, and community history. The foundation’s active funds show a clear emphasis on library services in Rochester and Monroe County. Some funds support secular educational resources and programming for LGBTQIA people and allied populations, while others preserve and present Rochester’s LGBTQIA+ history through archival collections and public programming. Another set of bequest and endowment funds underwrites programs, special projects, supplemental materials, and equipment for the library system. The foundation also maintains a literary awards program for Monroe County high school students, linking library philanthropy to youth writing and recognition. Across these efforts, Rochester Public Library functions as both a steward of endowed support and a direct funder of the library’s operational and public mission.
One major theme is LGBTQIA+ education and history. Through the Equality Fund for Humanity & Enlightenment, the foundation supports library resources, programs, and materials that promote education and equality of opportunity for LGBTQIA people and allied populations. Through the Evelyn Bailey 'Shoulders to Stand On' Endowed Fund, it also provides staff and resources at Central Library to preserve and share Rochester’s LGBTQIA+ community history through archival collections and programming. A second theme is library operations and special projects. The Bequest and Endowment Funds (FFRPL - Programs & Special Projects) support programs and services, special projects, supplemental materials, and equipment for the Rochester Public Library, with examples that include branch libraries, youth services, patent and trademark services, and librarian training. Youth literacy appears in the Sokol High School Literary Awards, an annual creative writing contest for Monroe County students in prose, poetry, and performance.
The latest 990 shows annual grants of $2,724,418, and the typical grant size is the same at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, indicating a concentrated distribution around one grant level. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its giving is local and entirely in New York, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grant record shows a direct public-library maintenance award to the City of Rochester, while the active fund list shows both restricted endowed support and at least one unsolicited program with fixed prize amounts for students.
$2.7M
$13.7M
$21.9M
$23.5M
Most grants fall between $2.7M and $2.7M, with a median of $2.7M.
25th Percentile
$2.7M
Median
$2.7M
75th Percentile
$2.7M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Rochester and Monroe County, with the recipient state entirely New York. The strongest geographic thread is local: Rochester, NY appears repeatedly in fund purposes and recipient locations, including Central Library and Rochester/Monroe County program support. Monroe County also appears as the geography for the Sokol High School Literary Awards. The active funds are tied to Rochester Public Library branches, Central Library, and the Rochester Regional Library Council five-county region, but the grant recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.
The foundation supports library operations, special projects, supplemental materials and equipment, professional development for librarians, LGBTQIA+ education and history, and youth literary programming. Active funds include support for public programs and services, archival preservation, and a Monroe County high school writing contest.
No. The grant recipient country distribution is 100% U.S., and the top state by grant count is New York. The location data provided shows all grants landing in the HQ state.
The reported grant-size distribution is highly concentrated: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are all $2,724,418. The latest listed grant is also exactly $2,724,418.
Some active funds accept unsolicited requests and some do not. The Bequest and Endowment Funds for Programs & Special Projects accept unsolicited requests, while the Equality Fund for Humanity & Enlightenment, the Evelyn Bailey 'Shoulders to Stand On' Endowed Fund, and the Harold Hacker Fund for the Advancement of Libraries do not.
The stated beneficiary types are the general public, local community members, and library patrons. The active fund descriptions also point to librarians and library staff through professional development support, and to Monroe County high school students through the Sokol High School Literary Awards.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, NY | $2,724,418 | 2023 | MAINTENANCE OF THE LIBRARY FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. |
CITY OF ROCHESTER
$2,724,418MAINTENANCE OF THE LIBRARY FOR THE DIRECT BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.