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Erie Canalway Grants (General Grant Application)
canal heritage interpretationcommunity revitalizationvisitor engagement+1 more
About Erie Canalway Heritage Fund
Provide leadership, funding, and collaboration to preserve Erie Canal heritage, promote tourism and recreation, support stewardship and accessibility of waterways and trails, and foster vibrant communities through education and grantmaking.
Focus Areas
Historic preservationHeritage tourismOutdoor recreationWater trail stewardshipEducation (K-12 field trips, Junior Ranger)Community events and festivalsAccessibility initiatives
Who They Fund
recreational cyclistsresidents and visitors of Erie Canal communitieslocal tourism businesses and community organizations
Funding Style
mission support
About Erie Canalway Heritage Fund
A $79,232 program grant to 39 Grants 5000 in Waterford anchors Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Inc.’s recent giving and shows how closely the funder ties support to the canal corridor itself. The foundation backs projects that preserve Erie Canal heritage, promote tourism and recreation, improve stewardship and accessibility of waterways and trails, and support education and community life along the corridor. Recent awards include $24,000 to the Town of Macedon for amenities and $20,015 to the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse for mission support. Other grants reach local public agencies, museums, parks, and community groups working on canal-related interpretation, visitor engagement, and place-based programming. The pattern is practical and place-specific: event support, heritage projects, and infrastructure that helps people experience the canal landscape. Grants are made only in New York, and the recipient list is concentrated in communities along the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Leadership is listed under Robert Radliff, and the organization operates with annual grants of $558,154 and assets of $1,335,651.
What Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Funds
Historic preservation is a central theme in the funder’s recent awards. Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Inc. gave $20,000 to the Village of Watkins Glen for mission support and $12,000 to the National Abolition Hall of Fame in Peterboro for program work, both tied to heritage interpretation and place-based history. Tourism and visitor amenities are another clear emphasis: $24,000 went to the Town of Manlius for amenities, while $18,500 supported the Buffalo Maritime Center for amenities work. Recreation also appears in the portfolio. Parks & Trails New York received $15,000 for Cycle the Erie Canal, and Hudson Crossing Park was awarded $11,500 for amenities. The foundation also supports community programming through event-related grants, including $7,500 to the Canal Society of Nys for events.
How Erie Canalway Heritage Fund Gives
Typical grants cluster tightly around the middle of five figures: the 25th percentile is $10,125, median grant size is $12,000, and the 75th percentile is $16,696. That profile matches a funder that uses many mid-sized awards rather than a few very large ones. The recent grants list shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Buffalo Maritime Center and the Canal Society of Nys. The foundation’s active programs include a general grant application, Heritage Awards, event sponsorship grants, and tourism infrastructure support. Event sponsorship is application-based, and Heritage Awards are available through a public application or nomination process.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$231K
Total Assets
$1.5M
Total Revenue
$2.9M
Total Expenses
$2.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $17K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$17K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ROBERT RADLIFF
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