Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 22-2948675 · since 2014farashfoundation.org·Monroe County, Ontario County·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$13M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$2,500 to $190k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$27,500
Typical grant (median)
139 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • This Rochester, NY foundation focuses its giving on Monroe County and Ontario County, so grant writers should check their organisation sits within that priority area before applying.
  • Its stated funding areas are Jewish Life, Out-of-School Time, Creative arts and Community Response, so a good fit means work in one of those themes, such as innovative out-of-school-time programmes, small or mid-size creative arts organisations (especially those offering arts education), evolving Jewish Rochester initiatives, or community-driven responses to emerging needs.
  • On size of request, about 8 in 10 of its 464 grants fall between $2,500 and $190,000, with a median grant of $20,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant was around $2,150,000.
  • Applications are made through the Foundation's website grant-management software system, with no deadlines stated in its filing, so timing is flexible.
  • A large share of its grant dollars, 86%, went to organisations it had also funded in the prior two filings, suggesting it leans toward sustained relationships, so new applicants should present a clear, well-matched case for first-time funding.

Overview

Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Rochester, 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

The Foundation supports energetic organisations working to make its community a beacon of opportunity, connection and joy. Its stated areas are Jewish Life, Out-of-School Time, Arts and Community Response. In Jewish Life it seeks an evolving Jewish Rochester through innovation and collaboration, supporting institutions and new ideas. It backs innovative, high-quality out-of-school-time programmes for young people, helping increase equitable access and participation. Its arts work focuses on small and mid-size creative arts organisations, with special consideration for those offering arts education. Community Response addresses changing and unexpected needs through community-driven approaches. Across these areas it emphasises collaboration, innovation and solutions that strengthen community wellbeing.

Themes

  • Jewish Life
  • Out-of-School Time
  • Creative arts
  • Community response

Geographic Focus

Priority: Monroe County; Ontario County.

How to apply

Grant applications are accessed through the Foundation website’s grant-management software system.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 464 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The Foundation encourages collaboration and innovation in its Jewish Life work.
  • It gives special consideration to organisations offering arts education as part of their programming.
  • It seeks to expand equitable access and participation in high-quality out-of-school-time programmes.
  • For Community Response, it works with organisations and community members who best understand emerging needs and the innovations required.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New York96%
California2%
Massachusetts1%
Indiana<1%
New Jersey<1%
Pennsylvania<1%

5 other states: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 15% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

139 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $27,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 139 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k6%
$2.5k–$5k8%
$5k–$10k11%
$10k–$25k22%
$25k–$50k14%
$50k–$100k16%
$100k–$250k14%
$250k–$500k6%
$500k–$1M3%
$1M and over1%

Median $27,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester · Charitable purpose
    $2,156,0002024 tax year
  • Center for Youth Services · Charitable purpose
    $952,5002024 tax year
  • Jewish Family Services of Rochester · Charitable purpose
    $544,2032024 tax year
  • Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester · Charitable purpose
    $536,5002024 tax year
  • Talmudical Institute of Upstate New York · Charitable purpose
    $513,7502024 tax year
  • Community Place of Greater Rochester · Charitable purpose
    $453,5922024 tax year
  • Jewish Home Foundation · Charitable purpose
    $408,4902024 tax year
  • Temple Beth El · Charitable purpose
    $371,5002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Jennie Schaff — Chief Executive Officer
  • Douglas Bennett — Trustee
  • Theresa Mazzullo — Trustee & Committee Chair
  • Patricia Loveland — Trustee & Committee Chair
  • Nathan J Robfogel Esq — Trustee
  • Matthew Aroesty — Trustee & Committee Chair
  • Kenneth D Bell — Trustee & Treasurer
  • Joy Ryen Plotnik — Trustee & Committee Chair
  • Hoffman Moka Lantum MD PhD — Trustee & Secretary
  • Gregory Wolcott — Trustee
  • Edward Hourihan Jr — Trustee
  • Daan Braveman — Trustee & Board Chair

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$20,039,017$11,833,528$307,139,731Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$29,082,246$12,255,269$326,670,285Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$24,403,631$13,034,097$341,907,880Filing 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

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