William & Sheila Konar Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The William & Sheila Konar Foundation gives priority to organisations in Monroe County, and its stated fields cover education, cultural and civic organisations, health-care services, cultural understanding and tolerance, and the Jewish community, so check your work fits one of these before applying.
- Most grants are modest: half of its 294 grants across its recent filings were $25,000 or less, and first-time applicants are not typically awarded above $25,000, so a first request should sit at or below that level, even though typical grants range from $2,500 to $125,000 and the largest grant was about $1,250,000.
- Apply through the online Grant Portal, reviewing the Timeline first, and submit one month before the quarterly trustee meetings, as the fixed deadlines require.
- The Foundation favours long-term partnerships, and 66% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in its two prior filings, so be ready to build a relationship over several years, with continued support depending on the quality of your final report.
- Make your case against similar proposals, address any overlap with organisations doing similar work, show willingness to collaborate, and keep the requested budget appropriate to the project, as these are the factors it explicitly weighs.
Overview
William & Sheila Konar Foundation is a US private foundation based in W Henrietta, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Guided by the founders’ philanthropic goals and their commitment to opportunity, the William & Sheila Konar Foundation supports programs, institutions and organisations in Rochester, New York, and elsewhere. Its stated fields include education; cultural and civic organisations; improvements to health-care services; promoting ethnic, religious and cultural understanding and tolerance; and benefits to the Jewish community. Applications are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations, with first priority generally given to organisations in or near Monroe County, New York. Its approach seeks measurable community benefits and recognises giving as a way to strengthen a community’s collective capacity to improve quality of life. It values long-term partnerships with organisations sharing its vision and goals, and says many grants reflect demonstrated impact over multiple years.
Themes
- Education
- Cultural and civic organisations
- Health-care services
- Cultural understanding and tolerance
- Jewish community
Geographic Focus
Priority: Monroe County.
How to apply
Applicants submit through the online Grant Portal and are encouraged to review the Timeline before beginning the application process.
Deadlines: One month before the quarterly trustee meetings.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 66% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 294 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation values long-term partnerships with organisations that share its vision and goals.
- Many grants reflect funding support and demonstrated impact over multiple years.
- Requests should make a strong case against similar proposals and address overlap with organisations doing similar work.
- The Foundation encourages collaboration whenever possible.
- The requested budget should be appropriate for the project.
- First-time applicants are not typically awarded grants above $25,000.
- Repeat or additional funding depends on the quality of the grantee’s final report.
- Grant approvals outline monitoring and reporting expectations, and project directors may be asked to attend meetings or provide written reports.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to organisations William & Sheila Konar Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 100 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Alzheimer's Association · Health Services Research Initiative$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester · Support Program Services$500,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Family Services · Services for Jewish families, pencils & paper program, mental wellness, future preparedness$257,5002024 tax year
- Greater Rochester Housing Project · Regional Revitalization Partnership Award$250,0002024 tax year
- US Holocaust Museum · Denial & Antisemitism Initiative$200,0002024 tax year
- University of Rochester East EPO · Annual Donation - Step to College$200,0002024 tax year
- Common Ground Foundation · Millcreek citizen assembly$175,0002024 tax year
- Greater Rochester Enterprise Foundation · Economic Gardening Program & general program support$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jeremy Konar — Trustee, Hours - As Required
- Lawrence Fine — Trustee, Hours - As Required
- Donald Nowill — Trustee, Hours - As Required
- Rachael Guttenberg — Trustee, Hours - As Required
- Howard Konar — Trustee, Hours - As Required
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,772,998 | $6,629,936 | $130,990,650 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,798,232 | $6,730,874 | $144,774,444 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,843,230 | $5,882,293 | $153,849,395 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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Applying to William & Sheila Konar Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required