FRED L EMERSON FOUNDATION INC

Supporting OrganizationIRS data 2021–2024

AUBURN, NYEIN 156017650 Website

Annual Giving

$2.5M+4% YoY

Grants

Median Grant

$7K

Organizations Funded

112

Is this foundation right for you?

SciRise maps the network of who funds whom to surface your next funders. Enter your nonprofit to check your fit.

Foundation Overview

Mission

Continue Fred L. Emerson's legacy as vigilant investors in select organizations where critical and significant difference can be made, focusing on Auburn and surrounding central New York area with responsive grantmaking for compelling, impactful, sustainable opportunities

Focus Areas

higher educationarts and museumshistoric preservationpublic parks and recreationyouth and after-school programscommunity development and capacity buildingchild and adolescent mental healthanimal welfare and shelters

Grant Types

capital campaignoperating supportendowment giftscapital projects and facility renovationscholarships and internshipsprogrammatic grantsin-kind donationsequipment and infrastructure purchases

Funded Initiatives

$155+ million granted over 90+ years. $2.4M in grants in 2023. Focus on Auburn NY community, innovative projects with replicable outcomes, private higher education initiatives directly impacting Auburn community, projects involving other funders

How to Apply

All proposals must be completed through Foundation's Online Application portal. Proposals accepted on ongoing basis. Organizations must review Grant Guidelines before applying. Contact: Daniel J. Fessenden, Executive Director (315-253-9621). Address: 5654 South Street Road, P.O. Box 276, Auburn, NY 13021.

Does Not Fund

Does not make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations, does not sponsor fundraising events or political activities

Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.

Giving History

2024+4%

$2.5M

Grants

Median

$7K

States

2023-15%

$2.4M

Grants

Median

$10K

States

2022

$2.8M

Grants

Median

$8K

States

Grant Size Distribution

$7K

Typical Grant (Median)

$250

Smallest

$4K

25th Pctile

$25K

75th Pctile

$421K

Largest

Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $4K and $25K.

Largest Recent Grants

$421K

2024

SCHWEINFURTH MEMORIAL ART CENTER

NY · TOWARD WEST END ARTS CAMPUS

$225K

2024

SEWARD HOUSE MUSEUM

NY · TOWARD PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND

$201K

2024

CAYUGA CO EMERSON PARK

NY · EMERSON PARK: CONCERT VENUE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

$150K

2024

THE REV THEATRE COMPANY

NY · 2024 SUPPORT

$150K

2024

BEREA COLLEGE

KY · TOWARD THE CAMPAIGN FOR TWO NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN BUILDINGS

Geographic Focus

$2.3M72 grants

$150K1 grants

$20K5 grants

$13K3 grants

$10K2 grants

Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.

Financial Overview

YearTotal AssetsGrants Paid

2024

$96.5M

$2.5M(2.6%)

2023

$95.5M

$2.4M(2.5%)

2022

$94.7M

$2.8M(3.0%)

2021

$96.7M

$8.4M(8.6%)

Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets

Network Intelligence

Funding follows networks, not keywords

SciRise maps 4.8M+ grants across 16,000+ foundations to identify which ones are most likely to fund organizations like yours — based on who they already fund, not just what they say they fund.

Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.