The Vincent & Harriet Palisano Foundation focuses its modest, locally concentrated giving on cancer research and nearby higher education. Most dollars go to Buffalo-area health institutions — notably repeated support for Roswell Park — with a smaller commitment to a local college. The foundation appears to prioritize impactful, place-based investments rather than broad national philanthropy.
The Vincent & Harriet Palisano Foundation’s giving is anchored by repeated support for cancer research at Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, including grants of $44,000 in 2024 and $40,000 in 2025. That pattern sits alongside a steady stream of local education and scholarship support across Buffalo-area schools and colleges, suggesting a foundation that funds both medical research and nearby student opportunity. Its recent grants show a concentrated relationship with Western New York institutions. Villa Maria College received $25,000 in 2025 for education, while Buffalo Philharmonic received $20,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for educational programming. The foundation also funded Niagara University for a language program and Kleinhans Music Hall for restoration, indicating an interest in civic, cultural, and academic institutions within the same local network. The giving pattern is modest in size but consistent. Many awards fall in the low-thousands, and several recipients appear in more than one year, especially in scholarship and institutional support. The foundation’s portfolio is tightly place-based and centered on organizations that serve Buffalo and nearby communities.
Cancer research is the clearest program area. The foundation gave $44,000 in 2024 and $40,000 in 2025 to Roswell Park Alliance Foundation for cancer research, making that relationship the largest theme in the recent record. Education funding appears in both institutional and student-facing forms. Villa Maria College received $25,000 in 2025 for education, while Mount Mercy Academy received $7,500 in both 2024 and 2025 for scholarships. The foundation also supports arts and campus-based programming. Buffalo Philharmonic received $20,000 in 2024 and $20,000 in 2025 for educational programming, and Niagara University received $12,000 in 2024 for a language program. Smaller scholarship grants to colleges and high schools show that student support is a recurring part of the portfolio.
The typical grant is small and tightly clustered: p25 is $3,750, median is $3,875, and p75 is $5,625. The recent record also shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, including annual or near-annual support for several schools, colleges, and cultural institutions. That points to recurring relationships rather than one-off grants. The foundation is a private family foundation by name, and it also funds individuals. Program-related investments are not part of the structure indicated in the data.
$158K
$1.9M
$133K
$196K
Most grants fall between $4K and $6K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Concentrated, small-scale giving: a few gifts per year with the majority of funds directed to a repeat grantee (Roswell Park Alliance Foundation) and one one-off education grant; funding is local and focused rather than widely distributed.
Notable grantees: Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Villa Maria College
Giving is entirely US-based and entirely in New York, with 46 grants and 100% of recipients in the HQ state. Buffalo is the most frequent city in the recent record, followed by nearby Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Hamburg, and Lewiston. The pattern is strongly local: recipients cluster in Buffalo and surrounding Western New York communities rather than spread across multiple states or countries.
Its recent grants go to cancer research organizations, colleges and high schools, a symphony orchestra, a music hall, and a university language program. The named recipients include Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, Villa Maria College, Buffalo Philharmonic, Niagara University, and Kleinhans Music Hall.
Yes. Several recipients appear in consecutive years, including Roswell Park Alliance Foundation in 2024 and 2025, Buffalo Philharmonic in 2024 and 2025, and multiple scholarship recipients such as Mount Mercy Academy, Trocaire College, and Canisius University across both years.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered around small awards: p25 is $3,750, median is $3,875, and p75 is $5,625. The recent grants list shows many awards in the $3,750 to $5,000 range, with a few larger institutional grants.
Its giving is local and entirely in New York. The recipient country distribution shows 46 grants, all in the US, and 100% of grants go to recipients in NY. Buffalo appears most often among recipient cities, with nearby Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Hamburg, and Lewiston also represented.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, and the recent grant record also shows scholarship support to students and educational institutions across Buffalo-area schools and colleges.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $44,000 | 2026 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM |
| BISON FUND | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY | BUFFALO, NY | $8,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | RESTORATION |
| CANISIUS UNIVERSITY | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| TROCAIRE COLLEGE | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY | BUFFALO, NY | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | LEWISTON, NY | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| HILBERT COLLEGE | HAMBURG, NY | $4,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL | HAMBURG, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | BATAVIA, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| VILLA MARIA COLLEGE | CHEEKTOWAGA, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE | KENMORE, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NARDIN ACADEMY | BUFFALO, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MOUNT ST MARY'S ACADEMY | KENMORE, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NICHOLS SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| BISHOP TIMON - ST JUDE HIGH SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL | TONAWANDA, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| BUFFALO ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART | AMHERST, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DAEMEN UNIVERSITY | AMHERST, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| VILLA MARIA COLLEGE | CHEEKTOWAGA, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM |
| MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY | BUFFALO, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CANISIUS UNIVERSITY | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| TROCAIRE COLLEGE | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | RESTORATION |
| NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | LEWISTON, NY | $4,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY | BUFFALO, NY | $4,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| HILBERT COLLEGE | HAMBURG, NY | $4,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| VILLA MARIA COLLEGE | CHEEKTOWAGA, NY | $4,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE | KENMORE, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| BISHOP TIMON - ST JUDE HIGH SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MOUNT ST MARY'S ACADEMY | KENMORE, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NICHOLS SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NARDIN ACADEMY | BUFFALO, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | BATAVIA, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL | TONAWANDA, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL | HAMBURG, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| BUFFALO ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART | AMHERST, NY | $3,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DAEMEN UNIVERSITY | AMHERST, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION | BUFFALO, NY | $44,000 | 2024 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM |
| NIAGARA UNIVERSITY | LEWISTON, NY | $12,000 | 2024 | LANGUAGE PROGRAM |
| BISON FUND | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | RESTORATION |
| MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY | BUFFALO, NY | $7,500 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC
$20,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
BISON FUND
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY
$8,000SCHOLARSHIP
SCHOLARSHIP
D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY
$4,500SCHOLARSHIP
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
$4,500SCHOLARSHIP
SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
NARDIN ACADEMY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
MOUNT ST MARY'S ACADEMY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
NICHOLS SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
BISHOP TIMON - ST JUDE HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
BUFFALO ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
VILLA MARIA COLLEGE
$25,000EDUCATION
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC
$20,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIP
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
$4,500SCHOLARSHIP
D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY
$4,500SCHOLARSHIP
ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
BISHOP TIMON - ST JUDE HIGH SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
MOUNT ST MARY'S ACADEMY
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
NICHOLS SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
NARDIN ACADEMY
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
CARDINAL O'HARA HIGH SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
SAINT FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
BUFFALO ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART
$3,750SCHOLARSHIP
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC
$20,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
$12,000LANGUAGE PROGRAM
BISON FUND
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIP