Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc
Auburn, NY · EIN 15-6017650. Reported 410 grants totalling $24.0M to 233 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $9,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $3,500 and $25,000; the smallest was $250 and the largest $5,525,032. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seward House Museum | Auburn, NY | $11.6M | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Rev Theatre Company | Auburn, NY | $599,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center | Auburn, NY | $557,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Union College | Schenectady, NY | $525,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $491,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | $450,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wells College | Aurora, NY | $418,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| City of Auburn | Auburn, NY | $363,114 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Rev Theater Company | Auburn, NY | $360,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton, NY | $340,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cayuga Co Emerson Park | Auburn, NY | $324,255 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Alfred University | Alfred, NY | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Berea College | Berea, KY | $300,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| St John Fisher College | Rochester, NY | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Rochester, NY | $300,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Booker T Washington Community Center | Auburn, NY | $286,279 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Geneva, NY | $286,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Upstate Foundation | Syracuse, NY | $265,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Causewave Community Partners | Rochester, NY | $259,475 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton, NY | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Way of Cayuga County | Auburn, NY | $203,565 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cayuga Museum of History and Art | Auburn, NY | $197,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Abc Cayuga Inc | Auburn, NY | $185,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Auburn Public Theater | Auburn, NY | $178,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Elmira College | Elmira, NY | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park Inc | Syracuse, NY | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Excelsior University | Albany, NY | $140,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| E John Gavras Center | Auburn, NY | $138,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Finger Lakes SPCA of Cny | Auburn, NY | $132,500 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Food Bank of Central New York | Syracuse, NY | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Auburn YMCA-Weiu | Auburn, NY | $128,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Matthew House Inc | Auburn, NY | $127,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta, NY | $120,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Catalyst Cayuga | Auburn, NY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Chapel House Inc | Auburn, NY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Utica University | Utica, NY | $90,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Indian Mound Cemetery Association | Moravia, NY | $88,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $80,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Syracuse Area Landmark Theatre | Syracuse, NY | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Transportation Project for Cayuga County Inc | Auburn, NY | $68,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nick's Ride 4 Friends Inc | Auburn, NY | $61,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| American Red Cross Greater Rochester Chapter | West Henrietta, NY | $56,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of Emerson Park | Auburn, NY | $56,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Caring Coalition of Cny (formerly Hospice of Central New York) | Liverpool, NY | $51,698 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Aurora Volunteer Fire Department | Aurora, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Geneva Inc | Geneva, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Canal Society of New York State | Stuyvesant, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cayuga County Treasurer | Auburn, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hazard Library Association | Poplar Ridge, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Homesteads for Hope Inc | Rochester, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Owasco Watershed Lake Association | Auburn, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Seymour Public Library District | Auburn, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Sato Project | Brooklyn, NY | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Union Springs Fire Department | Union Springs, NY | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| West Lake Art Conservation Center | Skaneateles, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Unity House of Cayuga County Inc | Auburn, NY | $48,700 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Howland Stone Store Museum | Aurora, NY | $46,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hope for Heather | Liverpool, NY | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pfi Housing Company of Auburn Inc | Auburn, NY | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cayuga County - Emerson Park | Auburn, NY | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oswego Health Foundation | Oswego, NY | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Rochester Area Community Foundation | Rochester, NY | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Aurora of Cny Inc | Syracuse, NY | $38,400 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kids in Crisis Inc | Cos Cob, CT | $36,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Ministry of Aurora | Aurora, NY | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Center for the Arts of Homer Inc | Homer, NY | $34,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| David's Refuge Inc | Manlius, NY | $30,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Madison County Children's Camp | Oneida, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southern Cayuga Instant Aid Inc | Poplar Ridge, NY | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York Inc (dba Wcny) | Syracuse, NY | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| East Hill Family Medical Inc Dba East Hill Medical Center | Auburn, NY | $27,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tyburn Academy | Auburn, NY | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Inc | Twin Falls, ID | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Frederick Gunn School | Washington, CT | $25,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council | Auburn, NY | $25,117 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Auburn United Methodist Church | Auburn, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cayuga Bombers Youth Baseball Inc | Auburn, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Inc | Aurora, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cortland County Family YMCA | Cortland, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ducks Unlimited Inc | Memphis, TN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum (dba the Strong) | Rochester, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Saints Mary & Martha Parish | Auburn, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Saunders Finger Lakes Museum | Branchport, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Smith Center for the Arts | Geneva, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace-Ny Auburn | Twin Falls, ID | $22,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| 1ST Amendment-1ST Vote Inc | Auburn, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cayuga Community College Foundation | Auburn, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Church of Saints Peter and John | Auburn, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| First Presbyterian Church | Auburn, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum | Wilmington, NC | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Moravia Hope Pantry Inc | Moravia, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Musical Associates of Central New York | Syracuse, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Musical Associates of Central New York (symphoria) | Syracuse, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Musical Associates of Cny | Syracuse, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Musical Associates of Cny (dba Symphoria) | Syracuse, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Musical Associates of Cny (the Syracuse Orchestra) | Syracuse, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Powers Library Association | Moravia, NY | $20,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Samaritan Counseling Center of the Southern Tier | Endwell, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ny Funders Alliance | Syracuse, NY | $19,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Center for Family Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $19,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| First Presbyterian Church of King Ferry | King Ferry, NY | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Ny-Auburn | Auburn, NY | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pathway Home of the Finger Lakes | Seneca Falls, NY | $17,124 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greenwich Alliance for Education Foundation | Greenwich, CT | $17,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| National Humanities Center | Research Triangle Park, NC | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Greenwich Library | Greenwich, CT | $15,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Acr Health | Syracuse, NY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse | Syracuse, NY | $15,000 | 3 | 2 | 2025 |
| Sage-Upstate | Syracuse, NY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Skaneateles Library Association | Skaneateles, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St James Parish Foundation Inc | Wilmington, NC | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Syracuse Model Neighborhood Facility | Syracuse, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| West Genoa Cemetery Association | King Ferry, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Caring Coalition of Central New York Dba Hospice of Central New York An | Liverpool, NY | $14,962 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Antique Boat Museum | Clayton, NY | $14,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County Inc | Auburn, NY | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Owasco Fire Department | Auburn, NY | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Presbyterian Seniorcare | Oakmont, PA | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army of Auburn | Syracuse, NY | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Auburn, NY | $11,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Community Science Institute | Ithaca, NY | $11,300 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| First Tee Syracuse | Jamesville, NY | $10,559 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry Inc | Seneca Falls, NY | $10,200 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ann Harris Initiative for Emergency Veterinary Care Inc | Fayetteville, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation Inc | Baldwinsville, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Clear Path for Veterans Inc | Chittenango, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fayetteville-Manlius Abc Program Inc | Manlius, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Finger Lakes Health Foundation Inc | Geneva, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Fleming Fire Department CO#2 | Auburn, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fulton Wrestling Club | Oswego, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Heroin Epidemic Action League Inc Cayuga County | Auburn, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Indian Mound Cemetery Assoc | Moravia, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mozaic | Waterloo, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Operation Warm | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bruce Museum Inc | Greenwich, CT | $9,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Mary's Church | Auburn, NY | $9,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Brooklyn Public Library | Brooklyn, NY | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American Association of Teachers of French | Marion, IL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Candid | New York, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Candid (formerly Foundation Center) | New York, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Champions for Life Inc | Auburn, NY | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fayetteville-Manlius Community Outreach Inc | Manlius, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Perform 4 Purpose | Auburn, NY | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fame Fund for Advancement of Minorities Through Education | Pittsburgh, PA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Helping Hounds Dog Rescue | North Syracuse, NY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seneca Falls Library | Seneca Falls, NY | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Abilis | Greenwich, CT | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder Association | Malone, NY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| YMCA-Weiu of Auburn Ny | Auburn, NY | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Inc Dba National Warplane Museum | Geneseo, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Auburn Community Hospital | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Aurora Free Library | Aurora, NY | $5,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Catalyst Cayuga (formerly Human Services Coalition) | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cayugaseneca Community Action Agency Dba Community Action Programs Cayugas | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for the Arts at Ithaca | Ithaca, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Coffee for Good Inc | Greenwich, CT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Action Programs Cayugaseneca | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Dress for Success Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fort Hill Cemetery Association | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Good Shepherd Ministeries of Wilmington | Wimington, NC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Good Shepherd Ministries of Wilmington Inc | Wilmington, NC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Harriet Tubman Home | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hope Hall School | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Links Foundation Inc | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Longhouse Council Boy Scouts of America | Syracuse, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Madison Square Boys & Girls Club Foundation | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Manlius Pebble Hill School | Syracuse, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mercy Flight Central Inc | Canandaigua, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ministro Ministries Inc | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Riverside Cemetery Association | Wellesley Island, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival Inc | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Second Baptist Church of Auburn | Auburn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Skaneateles Early Childhood Center | Skaneateles, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish | Rochester, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St James Parish Wardens and Vestry | Wilmington, NC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Hanover Nh | Hanover, NH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Vibrant Emotional Health | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Toomey Residential | Syracuse, NY | $4,450 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Exponent Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $4,070 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc | Hagerstown, MD | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Greenwich Alliance for Educationfoundation Inc | Greenwich, CT | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Scipio Volunteer Fire Company | Scipio Center, NY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Foundation Center | New York, NY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| YWCA of Greenwich Ct | Greenwich, CT | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sew What Cny | Auburn, NY | $3,010 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Association of Teachers of German | Cherry Hill, NJ | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Coalition of Women in German | Granger, IN | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Discalced Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Highlands Ranch, CO | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Old Mentz Heritage Center | Port Byron, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| University of the People | Pasadena, CA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Auburn Beautification Commission | Auburn, NY | $2,954 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Auburn Chamber Orchestra Inc | Auburn, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Carmel of Jesus Mary Joseph Fairfield Inc | Fairfield, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Discalced Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Fairfield, PA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Frontenac Historical Society and Museum | Union Springs, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mary's Place Refugee Outreach | Rochester, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Warplane Museum | Geneseo, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seneca Falls Historical Society | Seneca Falls, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Special Olympics Connecticut Inc | Hamden, CT | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| King Ferry Food Pantry | King Ferry, NY | $2,450 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Catholic Charities of Onondaga County | Syracuse, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cazcares Inc | Cazenovia, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Geneva Music Festival | Geneva, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Scipio Volunteer Fire Department | Scipio Center, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seymour Library | Auburn, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Boniface Parish | Williamsport, PA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Joseph Cemetery Association | Auburn, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Syracuse Shakespeare in the Park | Syracuse, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Transportation Project for Cayuga Co | Auburn, NY | $1,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Caspar Gregory Camp Inc | Aurora, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Central New York Community Foundation | Syracuse, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Confidential Help for Alcohol & Drugs Inc | Auburn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County | Auburn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Finger Lakes Land Trust | Ithaca, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York | Auburn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| George Eastman Museum | Rochester, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Healing H'arts | Union Springs, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Healing Harts Equestrian Center Inc | Union Springs, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Homes for Our Troops | Taunton, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hunter College | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pittsburgh Opera Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project Incorporated | Aurora, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Mary Mother of Jesus Parish | Brooklyn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Compassionate Friends - Pittsburgh | Jensen Beach, FL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tomatofest of Central New York | Auburn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Little League Baseball of Auburn | Auburn, NY | $425 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Auburn Little League | Auburn, NY | $350 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
82 of 233 (35%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 43%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Seward House Museum
TOWARD ENDOWMENT ($4.9M); CAPITAL RESTRICTED ($500K); SEWARD CARRIAGE ($100K) - Skidmore College
MCCAFFERY-WAGMAN TENNIS AND WELLNESS CENTER - Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center
TOWARD WEST END ARTS CAMPUS - The Rev Theater Company
PROGRAMMING ($175K); UNRESTRICTED ($175K); TRIBUTE BAND EVENT ($10K) - Wells College
LAUNCHING A HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT WELLS COLLEGE, WELLS ANNUAL FUND - St John Fisher College
DEPETERS FAMILY CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND TEACHING EXCELLENCE: INNOVATIVE LEARNING CLASSROOMS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 233 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 78 | $8,376,224 | $5,500 |
| 2022 | 84 | $2,835,815 | $7,500 |
| 2023 | 91 | $2,396,399 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 87 | $2,496,660 | $6,500 |
| 2025 | 70 | $7,892,812 | $10,750 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc has 29 of them, worth $4,912,475. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | $450,000 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | $450,000 |
| Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center | Auburn, NY | $421,000 |
| Wells College | Aurora, NY | $400,000 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton, NY | $300,000 |
| Causewave Community Partners | Rochester, NY | $259,475 |
| Union College | Schenectady, NY | $250,000 |
| Cayuga Co Emerson Park | Auburn, NY | $201,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Rochester, NY | $200,000 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | $200,000 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton, NY | $200,000 |
| Catalyst Cayuga (formerly Human Services Coalition) | Auburn, NY | $200,000 |
| Berea College | Berea, KY | $150,000 |
| Cayuga Museum of History and Art | Auburn, NY | $129,000 |
| The Upstate Foundation | Syracuse, NY | $125,000 |
Where its money goes
97% of its giving went to organizations in New York. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $9,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New York.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 5654 South Street Road, Auburn, NY, 13021. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 15-6017650 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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