The Hooper Legacy Foundation is a locally-focused funder in the Buffalo/Hamburg, NY area that concentrates on health and human services, especially elder care and end-of-life services. Their grants are typically general operating support to community nonprofits addressing Alzheimer’s/dementia care, hospice and palliative services, mental health, and basic social supports. They also make smaller, occasional gifts to local cultural/historic organizations. The foundation shows a preference for repeat funding to established community organizations rather than one-off project grants.
A defining feature of Hooper Legacy Foundation’s recent giving is its steady support for elder care and end-of-life services in Western New York. The foundation has made repeated general grants to organizations working in Alzheimer’s and dementia support, hospice, palliative care, and related community health needs, alongside smaller gifts to local cultural and therapeutic programs. Across recent years, that pattern shows up in grants to the Alzheimer's Association in Williamsville, Hospice Foundation in Buffalo, and The Salvation Army in Buffalo, each receiving multiple awards. The foundation also backs organizations that serve children and families through music, therapy, and enrichment. Recent grants include support for Community Music School’s music therapy program, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra children’s programming, and Red Barn Nature's Way Foundation’s occupational therapy and hippotherapy work. Local cultural institutions also appear in the record, including Graycliff and the Museum of Science. Taken together, the grant record suggests a community-minded funder that favors established nonprofits and practical support over narrowly defined project experiments. The same organizations often appear more than once, usually with general operating support, and the grant sizes cluster around modest-to-mid-sized awards rather than large capital gifts.
Health and human services are central to the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $20,000 to the Alzheimer's Association in Williamsville for general support in 2024 and again in 2025, and $15,000 to Hospice Foundation in Buffalo for general support in both 2024 and 2025. Mental health is another recurring area. The foundation awarded $12,500 to Mental Health Association of WNY in Buffalo in 2025, following $10,000 grants in 2023 and 2024. The record also includes support for children’s arts and therapy. In 2025, Hooper Legacy Foundation gave $10,000 to Community Music School for a music therapy program and $5,000 to Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for children’s programming. A separate $4,000 grant went to Red Barn Nature's Way Foundation for an OT/hippotherapy program. Community-based basic needs and local development organizations also receive support, including Seneca Street CDC in Buffalo and The Salvation Army in Buffalo.
$100K
$1.7M
$110K
$130K
Most grants fall between $2K and $15K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, local giving with multiple repeat, mid-sized general operating grants; favors established community nonprofits and funding flexibility rather than many small one-off program-specific awards.
Notable grantees: Alzheimer's Association / Alzheimer's Association of WNY, Hospice Foundation / Hospic, The Salvation Army (local corps), Mental Health Association of WNY, Bison Fund
Hooper Legacy Foundation’s grant sizes are concentrated in a modest range: the 25th percentile is $2,200, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent record shows a mix of $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000 awards, with repeated support for the same organizations over multiple years. Most grants are listed as general support, and the foundation does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The pattern points to a locally focused institutional grantmaker that uses recurring awards rather than one-time-only gifts.
The foundation gives overwhelmingly in New York: 98% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the recipient-country data shows all recent grants stayed in the United States. Buffalo appears frequently as a recipient city, along with Williamsville, Derby, Orchard Park, East Aurora, and Hamburg. That local concentration fits a grant pattern centered on the Buffalo/Hamburg area rather than a broad regional or national footprint.
Its recent grants center on health and human services, especially Alzheimer’s and dementia support, hospice and palliative care, mental health, and basic community support. The record also includes smaller gifts for children’s music, therapy, and local cultural institutions.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including the Alzheimer's Association in Williamsville, Hospice Foundation in Buffalo, The Salvation Army in Buffalo, and Mental Health Association of WNY in Buffalo. The pattern suggests ongoing support rather than isolated one-time gifts.
The typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $2,200, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. Recent awards also include $20,000 grants at the upper end of the range.
Very local. Ninety-eight percent of grants go to recipients in New York, and the recent grant list is entirely U.S.-based. Recipients cluster around Buffalo, Williamsville, Derby, Orchard Park, East Aurora, and Hamburg.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF WNY | WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HOSPICE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| RED BARN NATURES WAY | ORCHARD PARK, NY | $7,200 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GRAYCLIFF | DERBY, NY | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ORCHARD PARK SYMONPHY | ORCHARD PARK, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOSPICE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | MUSICTHERAPYPROGRAM |
| MUSEUM OF SCINECE | HAMBURG, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | SUMMERPROGRAM |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHSTRA | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | CHILDRENSPROGRAM |
| SENECA ST CDC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RED BARN NATURE'S WAY FOUNDATION INC | ORCHARD PARK, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | OT/HIPPOTRHERAPYPROGRAM |
| GRAYCLIFF | DERBY, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ONE RED THREAD WQUINE COMMECTION | ORCHARD PARK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | EQUINE HEALING& EDUCATION |
| UPWARD DESIGN FOR LIFE | BUFFALO, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HUMMANGO | HAMBURG, NY | $500 | 2025 | SUPPORT OFGOLF TOURNAMENT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BISON FUND | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HOSPICE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| LOTHLORIEN THERAPUDIC RIDING CENTER | EAS ARUORA, NY | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SENECA STREET CDC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GRAYCLIFF | DERBY, NY | $2,750 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ORCHARD PARK SYMONPHY | ORCHARD PARK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHSTRA | BUFFALO, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HAMBURT UNITED METHODIST CHURCVH | HAMBURG, NY | $500 | 2024 | ORGAN |
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| Bison Fund | Buffalo, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | General |
| Alzheimer's Assiciation of WNY | Williamsville, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | General |
| Salvation Army | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | General |
| Hospic | Buffalo, NY | $15,000 | 2023 | General |
| Graycliff | Derby, NY | $12,500 | 2023 | General |
| Mental Health Association of WNY | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | General |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | Children'sPrograms |
| Seneca Street CDC | Buffalo, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | General |
| Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center | East Aurora, NY | $7,000 | 2023 | General |
| Buffalo Museum of Scince | Buffalo, NY | $5,000 | 2023 | General |
| Orchard Park Symonphy | Orchard Park, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | General |
| Hamburg United Methodist Church | Hamburg, NY | $2,200 | 2023 | Child Chior |
| Allegheny College | Meadville, PA | $1,200 | 2023 | Music LessonsGrant |
| Portageville Chapel | Portageville, NY | $1,000 | 2023 | General |
| Roswell Park Alliance Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $500 | 2023 | General |
| Hamburg United Methodist Church | Hamburg, NY | $500 | 2023 | General |
HOSPICE FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL
COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY
$15,000GENERAL
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY
$10,000GENERAL
BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY
$10,000GENERAL
RED BARN NATURES WAY
$7,200GENERAL
GRAYCLIFF
$6,000GENERAL
ORCHARD PARK SYMONPHY
$1,500GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY
$15,000GENERAL
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY
$12,500GENERAL
COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
$10,000MUSICTHERAPYPROGRAM
MUSEUM OF SCINECE
$5,000SUMMERPROGRAM
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHSTRA
$5,000CHILDRENSPROGRAM
SENECA ST CDC
$5,000GENERAL
RED BARN NATURE'S WAY FOUNDATION INC
$4,000OT/HIPPOTRHERAPYPROGRAM
GRAYCLIFF
$3,000GENERAL
ONE RED THREAD WQUINE COMMECTION
$2,000EQUINE HEALING& EDUCATION
UPWARD DESIGN FOR LIFE
$1,000GENERAL
HUMMANGO
$500SUPPORT OFGOLF TOURNAMENT
BISON FUND
$15,000GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY
$15,000GENERAL
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF WNY
$10,000GENERAL
LOTHLORIEN THERAPUDIC RIDING CENTER
$8,000GENERAL
GRAYCLIFF
$2,750GENERAL
ORCHARD PARK SYMONPHY
$2,500GENERAL
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHSTRA
$1,000GENERAL
HAMBURT UNITED METHODIST CHURCVH
$500ORGAN
Bison Fund
$20,000General
Alzheimer's Assiciation of WNY
$15,000General
Salvation Army
$15,000General
Hospic
$15,000General
Graycliff
$12,500General
Mental Health Association of WNY
$10,000General
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
$10,000Children'sPrograms
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center
$7,000General
Buffalo Museum of Scince
$5,000General
Orchard Park Symonphy
$2,500General
Hamburg United Methodist Church
$2,200Child Chior
Allegheny College
$1,200Music LessonsGrant
Portageville Chapel
$1,000General
Hamburg United Methodist Church
$500General