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Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 15-6017650

Fred L Emerson Foundation Inc

A private foundation in Auburn, NY. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 70 grants and $7.9 million paid in grants.

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Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact person
On file
Phone
On file
Mailing address
On file
Form and materials
On file
Deadlines
Proposals are accepted and considered on an ongoing basis.
Restrictions
Fred l. Emerson foundation, inc. Does not make grants to individuals of for profit organization and does not sponsor fundraising or political activities. Proposals seeking support solely for recurring operating expenses of an organization are strongly discouraged. Grant recipients will be expected to provide the foundation with an evaluation report upon completion of the project for which the funding was provided.

Contact person, phone, mailing address and application materials on file. See them with a plan.

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Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $7,892,812

    Grants listed
    70
    Assets, end of year
    $94,524,517

  • Tax year 2024

    $2,496,660

    Grants listed
    87
    Assets, end of year
    $96,505,725

  • Tax year 2023

    $2,396,399

    Grants listed
    91
    Assets, end of year
    $95,505,606

  • Tax year 2022

    $2,835,815

    Grants listed
    84
    Assets, end of year
    $94,732,842

  • Tax year 2021

    $8,351,224

    Grants listed
    79
    Assets, end of year
    $96,702,662

  • Tax year 2020

    $3,514,094

    Grants listed
    99
    Assets, end of year
    $85,102,499

  • Tax year 2019

    $3,465,378

    Grants listed
    92
    Assets, end of year
    $73,898,476

  • Tax year 2018

    $3,337,165

    Grants listed
    95
    Assets, end of year
    $73,035,361

Grants paid in 2025

70 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Seward House MuseumAuburn, NY

    Toward endowment ($4.9m); capital restricted ($500k); seward carriage ($100k)

    $5,525,032
  2. Skidmore CollegeSaratoga SPGS, NY

    Mccaffery-wagman tennis and wellness center

    $450,000
  3. The Rev Theater CompanyAuburn, NY

    Programming ($175k); unrestricted ($175k); tribute band event ($10k)

    $360,000
  4. Causewave Community PartnersRochester, NY

    Capacity navigation with streamlined access to capacity building support

    $259,475
  5. Booker T Washington Community CenterAuburn, NY

    Toward before and after school feeding program, unrestricted

    $121,000
  6. Food Bank of Central New YorkSyracuse, NY

    Capacity expansion project ($50,000); support cayuga county food programs ($45,000); unrestricted ($15,000)

    $110,000
  7. Catalyst CayugaAuburn, NY

    Investing in peer-to-peer networking and learning in cayuga county

    $100,000
  8. Syracuse Area Landmark TheatreSyracuse, NY

    Toward the centennial capital campaign

    $75,000
  9. E John Gavras CenterAuburn, NY

    Preschool capacity building grant ($44,000); dolly parton imagination library sustainability project ($30,000)

    $74,000
  10. Friends of Emerson ParkAuburn, NY

    Toward development MGMT ($50k); unrestricted ($3k); easter 2025 event ($2.5k); sunday funday ($1k)

    $56,500
  11. Auburn Public TheaterAuburn, NY

    Toward 2025 gap support

    $50,000
  12. Hazard Library AssociationPoplar Ridge, NY

    Toward hazard library building project

    $50,000
  13. Seymour Public Library DistrictAuburn, NY

    Toward interior renovation and improvements

    $50,000
  14. Cayuga Co Emerson ParkAuburn, NY

    Emerson park programming support grant 2024-2026

    $38,255
  15. Cayuga Bombers Youth Baseball IncAuburn, NY

    Toward the outfield fence

    $25,000
  16. Cayuga County TreasurerAuburn, NY

    Toward ward o'hara museum - replacement of museum log cabin

    $25,000
  17. Ducks Unlimited IncMemphis, TN

    Toward wetland restoration at owasco flats inlet

    $25,000
  18. Saunders Finger Lakes MuseumBranchport, NY

    Saunders finger lakes museum's capital project

    $25,000
  19. Southern Cayuga Instant Aid IncPoplar Ridge, NY

    Toward scia building renovation and improvements project

    $25,000
  20. Union Springs Fire DepartmentUnion Springs, NY

    Toward 2025 neoteric hovercraft

    $25,000
  21. Sleep in Heavenly Peace-Ny AuburnTwin Falls, ID

    Toward no kid sleeps on the floor ($15,000); unrestricted ($7,500)

    $22,500
  22. First Presbyterian ChurchAuburn, NY

    Toward case mansion ballroom roof restoration

    $20,000
  23. Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY

    Toward the mary mclean evans '82 scholarship fund

    $20,000
  24. Musical Associates of CnySyracuse, NY

    Toward july 3 patriotic celebration in emerson park 2025

    $20,000
  25. University of RochesterRochester, NY

    Toward river campus libraries excellence fund

    $20,000
  26. Tyburn AcademyAuburn, NY

    Toward the science lab remodel

    $18,500
  27. City of AuburnAuburn, NY

    Toward city of auburn summer recreation program for kids

    $17,500
  28. Moravia Hope PantryMoravia, NY

    Toward backpack program ($10,000); toward general support ($5,000)

    $15,000
  29. Syracuse Model Neighborhood FacilitySyracuse, NY

    Toward syracuse community connections

    $15,000
  30. West Genoa Cemetery AssociationKing Ferry, NY

    Toward civil war soldier monument repair

    $15,000
  31. Powers Library AssociationMoravia, NY

    Unrestricted

    $14,000
  32. Finger Lakes SPCA of CnyAuburn, NY

    Toward laundry room needs ($8,500); unrestricted ($5,000)

    $13,500
  33. Matthew HouseAuburn, NY

    Unrestricted

    $12,500
  34. Greenwich Alliance for Education FoundationGreenwich, CT

    Toward strategic planning ($10,000); toward board retreat ($2,000)

    $12,000
  35. Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce FoundationAuburn, NY

    Specifically toward costs to create the strategic plan

    $11,500
  36. ABC Cayuga IncAuburn, NY

    Toward play space - in honor of meg o'connell

    $10,000
  37. Clear PATH for Veterans IncChittenango, NY

    Unrestricted, for use with the canine program

    $10,000
  38. Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY

    Toward cals annual fund

    $10,000
  39. Hope for HeatherLiverpool, NY

    Toward ovarian cancer research and awareness

    $10,000
  40. Indian Mound Cemetery AssocMoravia, NY

    For combatting community deterioration (public areas)

    $10,000
  41. Louise Wells Cameron Art MuseumWilmington, NC

    Unrestricted or for capital needs

    $10,000
  42. Sage UpstateSyracuse, NY

    Unrestricted

    $10,000
  43. St James Parish FoundationWilmington, NC

    Unrestricted

    $10,000
  44. The Frederick Gunn SchoolWashington, CT

    Unrestricted

    $10,000
  45. Community Action Programs CayugasenecaAuburn, NY

    Christmas elf

    $5,000
  46. Dress for Success PittsburghPittsburgh, PA

    Unrestricted

    $5,000
  47. Kids in CrisisCos Cob, CT

    Toward teen talk ($3,000); toward the text helpline ($2,000)

    $5,000
  48. Links Foundation IncWashington, DC

    (pittsburgh chapter) toward eastern area HBCU project

    $5,000
  49. Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga CountyAuburn, NY

    Toward student assessments - literacy classes

    $5,000
  50. Rescue Mission Alliance of SyracuseSyracuse, NY

    Toward needs at syracuse emergency shelter/crossroads

    $5,000
  51. St Frances Xavier Cabrini ParishRochester, NY

    Towards matthew's closet clothing storehouse

    $5,000
  52. St Mary's ChurchAuburn, NY

    Toward hvac repair/replacement at ST. Mary's church

    $5,000
  53. CandidNew York, NY

    General operating support for 2025

    $4,000
  54. National Center for Family PhilanthropyWashington, DC

    2025 programs and services

    $4,000
  55. Scipio Volunteer Fire CompanyScipio Center, NY

    Unrestricted

    $4,000
  56. NY Funders AllianceSyracuse, NY

    2025 programs and services

    $3,500
  57. Antique Boat MuseumClayton, NY

    Unrestricted

    $3,000
  58. Discalced Hermits of Our Lady of Mount CarmelHighlands Ranch, CO

    Toward the monastery in fairfield, pa

    $3,000
  59. Greenwich LibraryGreenwich, CT

    Toward children's programs and outreach

    $3,000
  60. Old Mentz Heritage CenterPort Byron, NY

    Toward restoration and preservation of historic erie canal mural.

    $3,000
  61. Riverside Cemetery AssociationWellesley Is, NY

    For combatting community deterioration (public areas)

    $3,000
  62. Cayuga Museum of History and ArtAuburn, NY

    In honor of kirsten gosch

    $2,500
  63. Harriet Tubman HomeAuburn, NY

    Unrestricted

    $2,500
  64. Schweinfurth Memorial Art CenterAuburn, NY

    In honor of donna lamb

    $2,500
  65. Auburn Ymca-WeiuAuburn, NY

    Unrestricted

    $2,000
  66. St Boniface ParishWilliamsport, PA

    In honor of mary a. Dawes and in memory of terry l. Dawes

    $2,000
  67. United Way of Cayuga CountyAuburn, NY

    Support for 2025 non-profit summit

    $1,500
  68. Transportation Project for Cayuga CoAuburn, NY

    Toward purchase of new printer/copier/fax machine

    $1,200
  69. Tomatofest of Central New YorkAuburn, NY

    Toward tomatofest signage

    $1,000
  70. Exponent PhilanthropyWashington, DC

    2025 membership dues

    $850

Approved for future payment

5 grants

Approved in 2025 and not yet paid.

  1. Causewave Community PartnersRochester, NY

    Capacity navigation with streamlined access to capacity building support

    $259,475
  2. Catalyst Cayuga (formerly Human Services Coalition)Auburn, NY

    Connecting for impact: investing in peer-to-peer networking & learning in cayuga county

    $200,000
  3. Friends of Emerson ParkAuburn, NY

    Development management and staffing

    $100,000
  4. Cayuga Co Emerson ParkAuburn, NY

    Emerson park programming support grant 2024-2026

    $55,000
  5. E John Gavras CenterAuburn, NY

    Dolly parton imagination library sustainability project

    $40,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture8 grants $5,671,03286% of the total
  2. Education8 grants $566,5009% of the total
  3. Food and agriculture3 grants $126,0002% of the total
  4. Community development1 grant $56,500<1% of the total
  5. Human services3 grants $30,000<1% of the total
  6. Sports and recreation1 grant $25,000<1% of the total
  7. 7 other causes13 grants $89,8501% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. New York56 grants $7,775,462
  2. Connecticut4 grants $30,000
  3. Tennessee1 grant $25,000
  4. Idaho1 grant $22,500
  5. North Carolina2 grants $20,000
  6. District of Columbia3 grants $9,850
  7. Pennsylvania2 grants $7,000
  8. Colorado1 grant $3,000

Officers, directors and trustees

12 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Daniel J FessendenEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 40Pay $257,994
  • Kristen E RubackaDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $15,450
  • W Gary EmersonDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $15,250
  • Lori E RobinsonPRESIDENT Hours 8Pay $19,950
  • Heather A EmersonTREASURER Hours 4Pay $17,800
  • Sally E WagnerSECRETARY Hours 4Pay $16,750
  • W Eric EmersonDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $15,150
  • Alex Kinal-WagnerVICE PRESIDENT Hours 6Pay $18,250
  • Katelyn M PerkinsDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $14,750
  • Mary McLean EvansDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $10,750
  • Ann M HustonDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $14,750
  • Darlene G MotleyDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $14,250

The return

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