Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $19,060,201 (2023)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,800,000
Median Grant: $13,000
Average Community Response Grant: $17,000
Geographic Focus: Monroe and Ontario Counties, NY (secular grants); Local and global (Jewish initiatives)
Total Assets: $326.7 million

Contact Details

Address: 255 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604

Phone: (585) 218-9855

Website: www.farashfoundation.org

Programme Officers:

Jewish Life: Michael Zimmerman, (585) 479-4468, mzimmerman@farashfoundation.org
Out-of-School Time: Todd Waite (contact via website)
Community Response: Marcus Bliss, (585) 479-4470, mbliss@farashfoundation.org

General Contact:

Hollis S. Budd, Executive Director: hbudd@farashfoundation.org, (585) 479-4461
Megan Bell, Director of Grants and Programmes: mbell@farashfoundation.org, (585) 479-4462

Overview

The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation was established in 1988 by Max and Marian Farash with a clear mandate: half of the foundation's annual grants should support secular causes in Monroe and Ontario Counties, and half should support Jewish initiatives both locally and globally. With assets of approximately $326.7 million and annual giving exceeding $19 million, the foundation is committed to supporting energetic organisations working to turn the community into "a beacon of opportunity, connection, and joy." The foundation focuses on partnering with big thinkers and visionary organisations of all sizes to provide resources and take risks on bold new initiatives. In recent years, the foundation has undergone strategic evolution, launching Jennie Schaff, Ph.D. as CEO in January 2022 and introducing focused strategies in Jewish Life (2023) and Out-of-School Time programmes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Jewish Life Grant Programme (50% of annual giving)

Focus: Supporting an evolving Jewish community through the "4 I's"—Innovation, Institutions, Individuals, and Israel
Application: Rolling basis, no deadlines
Grant Types: Mix of one-time, annual, and multi-year grants
Notable Initiative: Project Campfire—offering free camperships to Jewish children to attend Camp Seneca Lake

Out-of-School Time Programmes (primary secular focus)

Focus: Innovative, high-quality programmes during after-school, summer, and year-round timeframes
Approach: Building organisational capacity through longer grant cycles and general operating support
First Round: Nearly $1.5 million awarded to eight Rochester-area organisations for expanding OST opportunities
Application: Mix of rolling applications and targeted RFPs

Creative Arts Grant Programme

Focus: Small to mid-size organisations (operating budgets of $2 million or less) with visual, literary, and performing arts at their centre
Grant Type: Unrestricted operating grants for up to three years
Priorities: Accessible arts programming and arts education as part of regular operations
Geographic: Monroe and Ontario Counties

Community Response Grants

Focus: Urgent needs, emerging opportunities, and innovative approaches
Average Grant: $17,000
Application: Contact Programme Officer to discuss, then submit via Fluxx grants portal
Flexibility: Organisations of any financial size; data not required for emerging issues

Priority Areas

Jewish Life:

Innovation: Bold ideas that reimagine community support, reduce redundant services, combat antisemitism
Institutions: Operating support and business infrastructure (finance, technology, facilities, development)
Individuals: Understanding diverse community needs
Israel: Travel opportunities, cultural initiatives, and educational programmes

Out-of-School Time:

Creating more OST opportunities beyond traditional school hours
Removing barriers to participation for underserved youth
Strong leadership and meaningful youth relationships
Safe, intentional learning environments
Programmes incorporating feedback from parents, caregivers, and youth

Creative Arts:

Readily accessible opportunities to experience creative arts
Arts education programming
Support for diverse communities
Visual, literary, and performing arts (music, theatre, dance, spoken/written word, film)

What They Don't Fund

All Programmes:

Research
Grants or scholarships for individuals
Lobbying or attempts to influence legislation
Organisations classified as private foundations or Type III supporting organisations
Projects that don't benefit residents of Monroe or Ontario Counties (for secular grants)

Community Response Programme:

Capital projects
Event sponsorships

Out-of-School Time Programme:

Field trips as the sole focus
Transportation grants as the sole focus (though interested in addressing transportation barriers creatively)

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Jennie Schaff, Ph.D. (joined January 2022) - Previously president and CEO of Jewish Family Services. Dr. Schaff works to ensure operational efficiency, evolve the foundation's philanthropic approach, elevate impact measurement, and deepen community partnerships.

Board Chair: Daan Braveman (also serves as President of Nazareth College and Interim JCC Leader)

Leadership Team:

Hollis S. Budd, Executive Director
Megan Bell, Director of Grants and Programmes
Susan Rosenbloom, Director of Finance and Administration
Trisha Butera, Controller

Board of Trustees:

Thomas H. Jackson, Chair - Distinguished University Professor and President Emeritus, University of Rochester
Matthew Aroesty - President and CEO, Maxum Properties, Inc.
Theresa Mazzullo - Chief Executive Officer, Excell Partners
Kenneth D. Bell - Executive Vice President (retired), HSBC Bank

Key Leadership Quotes:

Jennie Schaff on the foundation's approach: "We identify ways in which the Foundation can use its dollars in impactful and meaningful ways — in ways in which we trust, empower, and engage those different grantees."

On education challenges: "One challenge that really stands out to me is education in Rochester and what we're going to do to help address the inequities that we see on a day to day basis."

On Jewish camping: "When I think about Jewish camping, I think about the energy — the ruach – the spirit — that comes alive in a space where kids can proudly embrace their Jewish identity."

On collaboration: "To really make change we all need to work together."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a mixed application approach depending on the programme:

Rolling Applications (Jewish Life, some OST and Creative Arts)

Submit applications at any time
No specific deadlines for Jewish Life grants
Contact appropriate Programme Officer to discuss fit before applying

Targeted RFPs (Out-of-School Time and other strategic initiatives)

Foundation issues specific Requests for Proposals for targeted investments
Information webinars and technical assistance workshops typically offered

Invited Requests

Some grants awarded through invitation only
Build relationships with foundation staff to understand opportunities

Application Portal: Fluxx grants management system (accessed via website)

Pre-Application Guidance: The foundation strongly encourages reaching out to discuss ideas before applying: "If you have an idea for a grant, reach out to us to understand the best course of action for an application."

Grant Amounts: No minimum or maximum amounts required. Grant amounts determined based on request scope, organisational budget, foundation budget, and intended impact.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must benefit residents of Monroe or Ontario Counties (for secular grants)
Must be tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3)
Cannot be classified as private foundations or Type III supporting organisations
Organisations without 501(c)(3) status may apply through established fiscal sponsors
Faith-based organisations accepted

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation reviews Jewish Life grants on a rolling basis. For RFP-based programmes, timelines vary by initiative.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions on reapplication are documented. The rolling application process for Jewish Life suggests organisations can reapply as appropriate.

Application Success Factors

Innovation Over Novelty: The foundation explicitly states: "Innovative ideas do not need to be new ideas—they need to help ignite change. If your organisation has been doing innovative programmes or approaches but needs to expand or try new ideas, they're here to help."

Focus on Transformation: The foundation "places its highest priority on endeavours designed to transform the lives of individuals and the work of organisations." Applications should clearly articulate transformational impact.

Strong Quality Standards for OST Programmes: The foundation's basic quality standards involve:

Strong leadership
Fostering meaningful and healthy relationships with youth
Safe, intentional learning environments

Collaborative Spirit: The foundation values collaboration and innovation as "core to how they bring to life new possibilities for the region." Applications demonstrating partnership and collaborative approaches align well with foundation values.

Unrestricted Operating Support: For Creative Arts grants, the foundation offers unrestricted operating grants that can be used in any capacity—organisations aren't required to designate funds to specific programmes or budget items.

Risk-Taking and Bold Vision: The foundation explicitly partners with "big thinkers and visionary organisations of all sizes to provide resources and to take risks on bold new initiatives."

Multi-Year Thinking: The foundation awards "a mix of one-time grants, annual grants, and multi-year grants," indicating openness to sustained partnerships. Creative Arts grants can be up to three years.

Examples of Recent Funded Initiatives:

Project Campfire: Groundbreaking initiative offering free camperships to Jewish children
OST Programme Expansion: Eight Rochester-area organisations received nearly $1.5 million for expanding out-of-school time opportunities
Major Jewish Organisations: Jewish Community Federation ($1.8M in 2022), Jewish Senior Life ($1.1M), JCC of Greater Rochester ($753K)
Educational Institutions: University of Rochester for Jewish life initiatives

Contact Programme Officers Early: The foundation encourages direct conversation before applying. This relationship-building approach suggests that successful applicants likely engage in dialogue to ensure alignment before formal submission.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Understand the 50/50 mandate: Half of all grants support secular causes in Monroe and Ontario Counties; half support Jewish initiatives locally and globally. Ensure your proposal fits the appropriate category.
Innovation doesn't mean new: The foundation values transformational change over novelty. If you have proven programmes that need expansion or new approaches, emphasise the innovative aspects of scaling or adaptation.
Engage before applying: With rolling applications and mixed RFP/invited approaches, contact the appropriate Programme Officer to discuss fit. This relationship-building is clearly valued and increases alignment.
Think multi-year and unrestricted: The foundation offers unrestricted operating support and multi-year commitments, suggesting they value sustained partnerships over one-off projects. Frame requests accordingly.
Demonstrate bold vision: The foundation explicitly seeks "big thinkers" willing to take risks. Conservative, incremental proposals may not align as well as transformational initiatives.
Quality over data for emerging needs: For Community Response grants, "data is not required for emerging issues with limited existing evidence," indicating the foundation values responsive, innovative solutions to new problems.
Size isn't a barrier: With grants ranging from $1,000 to $1.8 million and explicit welcome to organisations of "any financial size," both small and large organisations can find opportunities.

References

All references accessed December 2024.

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trial Learn More

Max And Marian Farash Charitable Foundation