What kinds of organizations does the foundation fund most often?

Recent grants show support for scholarship organizations, universities, arts institutions, environmental groups, and local community organizations. Examples include awards to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc, the Research Foundation for the SUNY on Behalf of the University at Buffalo, Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, and The Nature Conservancy.

What are the foundation’s main focus areas?

The stated focus areas are education from pre-K through postsecondary, racial and ethnic equity, environmental protection and climate resilience, arts and culture, caregivers, youth sports, and community assets and access. Recent grants also show work in workforce development, scholarships, park infrastructure, and health research.

How large are typical grants?

Typical grants are in the middle range: the p25 is $11,647, the median is $24,702, and the p75 is $51,944. The recent grants list also includes substantially larger awards, including several in the hundreds of thousands and some above $1 million.

Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Some programs do. The Community Foundation Competitive Grant Process, Community Foundation Scholarships, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds competitive process, Project Play Western New York grant programs, the Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts, and the Trails Maintenance Fund all accept unsolicited applications. The Peter C. Cornell Trust does not.

Where does the foundation give most often?

Giving is concentrated in New York, which accounts for 86% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Buffalo appears frequently in the recent grants list, along with Orchard Park and Salamanca, while a smaller share of awards goes to recipients outside New York.

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Name: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo — subvenciones, estados financieros 990 y datos de financiamiento
Creator: Kindora

ActivoPhilanthropy & Voluntarism

BUFFALO, NYSitio web7168522857

About Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York.

Focus Areas

educationracial equityenvironmentarts and culturescholarships

Who They Fund

children and youth (including high school students)families experiencing homelessness or housing instabilityboys and men of color / racial equity cohortsseniors (program outreach)local neighborhood residents (East Side and West Side community beneficiaries)students/young people engaged in workforce pathways and digital programs

Funding Style

About Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc directs most of its giving toward Western New York, with a clear pattern of funding large, multi-purpose organizations alongside targeted program support. In the recent grants list, Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc received the largest award at $1,790,661, reflecting the foundation’s long-running role in education access and scholarship support. Another major grant went to the Research Foundation for the SUNY on Behalf of the University at Buffalo at $1,315,021 for implementation, project management, and research support tied to the East Side and to heart and cancer work aligned with the foundation’s focus areas. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society also appears among the largest awards, showing sustained support for arts institutions that combine general operations with youth education and outreach. Other recent grants point to additional priorities such as workforce pathways, neighborhood access, environmental work, and community infrastructure. The foundation’s grantmaking is shaped by both unrestricted support and more specific project funding, with awards reaching universities, cultural organizations, scholarship programs, and local community groups across the region.

What Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Funds

Education and economic mobility are central to the foundation’s work. It gave $711,964 to Buffalo Prep for high school preparation, scholarship awards, student success, and youth equity programming, and $1,200,525 to Bryant & Stratton College for charitable support. Arts and culture is another major theme: Buffalo Fine Arts Academy received $1,169,553 for charitable support, while the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society received $981,559 for unrestricted use, education department support, outreach programs for children, and music education programming. Environmental and conservation work also appears in the record. The Nature Conservancy received $635,234 for surveying and restoring reeds in Lake Erie, and the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences received $787,654 for Tifft Nature Preserve inclusive wayfinding and environmental education programming. Community assets and recreation show up as well, including $930,000 to The Skatepark Project for skateparks in Sweden, Ellicottville, and Lockport.

How Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Gives

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$33.4M

Total Assets

$944M

Total Revenue

$48.7M

Total Expenses

$46.6M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $12K and $52K, with a median of $25K.

25th Percentile

$12K

Median

$25K

75th Percentile

$52K

Geographic Reach

Local35 states funded

Intensidad de financiamiento

Baja

Alta

Sede

Leadership

ELIZABETH CONSTANTINE

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Recipient	Location	Amount	Year	Purpose
SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP INC	BUFFALO, NY	$1,790,661	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE SUNY ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO	BUFFALO, NY	$993,396	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SOCIETY	BUFFALO, NY	$946,103	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
OPEN BUFFALO INC	BUFFALO, NY	$737,000	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OF WESTERN NEW YORK	BUFFALO, NY	$621,177	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
RALPH WILSON PARK CONSERVANCY	BUFFALO, NY	$590,500	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO FINE ARTS ACADEMY	BUFFALO, NY	$589,264	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BRYANT & STRATTON COLLEGE	ORCHARD PARK, NY	$560,850	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES	BUFFALO, NY	$541,625	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
MARGARET WOODBURY STRONG MUSEUM (DBA THE STRONG)	ROCHESTER, NY	$500,000	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY	ARLINGTON, VA	$472,748	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
THE SALVATION ARMY OF BUFFALO NY	BUFFALO, NY	$392,149	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE	NEW LONDON, CT	$349,644	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO	BUFFALO, NY	$330,680	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
PUSH BUFFALO INC	BUFFALO, NY	$323,250	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
MICHIGAN STREET AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION	BUFFALO, NY	$312,500	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY	BUFFALO, NY	$298,250	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION	BUFFALO, NY	$294,747	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
CANISIUS UNIVERSITY	BUFFALO, NY	$291,728	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
KLEINHANS MUSIC HALL MANAGEMENT INC	BUFFALO, NY	$290,800	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
FEEDMORE FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK	BUFFALO, NY	$279,772	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
UNITED WAY OF BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY	BUFFALO, NY	$276,763	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ARTS FOR LEARNING WNY	BUFFALO, NY	$265,719	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA	WASHINGTON, DC	$265,483	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER	MONTGOMERY, AL	$264,533	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
GEORGE SCHOOL	NEWTOWN, PA	$262,233	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC	BUFFALO, NY	$256,535	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD	BUFFALO, NY	$250,592	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER	JAMESTOWN, NY	$250,000	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
GATEWAY-LONGVIEW FOUNDATION	WILLIAMSVILLE, NY	$246,823	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
MOUNT ST MARY ACADEMY	KENMORE, NY	$236,623	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
EXPLORE & MORE - THE RALPH C WILSON JR CHILDREN'S MUSEUM	BUFFALO, NY	$225,956	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO PREP	BUFFALO, NY	$220,517	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO NIAGARA WATERKEEPER	BUFFALO, NY	$201,959	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST	WASHINGTON, DC	$200,000	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ERIE COUNTY SPCA	WEST SENECA, NY	$192,975	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO NEW YORK	BUFFALO, NY	$187,198	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
NARDIN ACADEMY	BUFFALO, NY	$187,183	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY	BUFFALO, NY	$185,754	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION	NEW YORK, NY	$177,422	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC	BUFFALO, NY	$176,574	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND	NEW YORK, NY	$175,222	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE	PHILADELPHIA, PA	$175,222	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
NIAGARA LUTHERAN HOME AND REHABILITATION CTR	LANCASTER, NY	$173,014	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT INAUGURAL SITE FOUNDATION	BUFFALO, NY	$156,050	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BURCHFIELD PENNEY ART CENTER	BUFFALO, NY	$153,522	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
HOME HEADQUARTERS	SYRACUSE, NY	$152,308	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
CORNELL UNIVERSITY	ITHACA, NY	$151,372	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
HOSPICE FOUNDATION OF WNY INC	BUFFALO, NY	$150,096	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION	BUFFALO, NY	$141,342	2025	CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.

Recipient

Location

Amount

Year

Purpose

SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP INC

BUFFALO, NY

$1,790,661

2025