About First Niagara Foundation
The First Niagara Foundation concentrates its giving on strengthening local healthcare and community development in the Buffalo/Western New York region, prioritizing major investments in hospitals and university-affiliated research that serve community needs. Grants are large and targeted, suggesting emphasis on capital projects or sizable program support that bolster regional medical and community infrastructure.
Focus Areas
Children's hospital support in Buffalo (Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo)University-affiliated community health research and partnerships (SUNY Research Foundation)Regional hospital infrastructure and services (Mount St. Marys Hospital Foundation)
Who They Fund
local communities / neighborhoodsjob seekers and unemployed adultslow-income or economically vulnerable residentssmall business owners and entrepreneurs
Giving Approach
Very concentrated: a small number of large grants (three grants totaling $2.625M) focused locally on healthcare and community development; appears to favor institution-level, likely capital or major program support rather than many small grants.
About First Niagara Foundation
A $1.5 million grant to The Women and Childrens Hospital of Buffalo Foundation anchors the First Niagara Foundation’s recent giving and points to a clear pattern: large, place-based investments in Buffalo and Western New York institutions that serve community needs. The foundation’s support extends across health care, education, workforce development, and neighborhood-focused community development, with most grants landing in New York and many going to Buffalo-based organizations. Health-related grants appear alongside investments in regional assets such as the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc, Mount St Marys Hospital Foundation Inc, and the Research Foundation of State University of New York. The foundation also supports organizations tied to local mobility and services, including City Year Inc, Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc, and the Young Mens Christian Association Buffalo Niagara. In the community development space, recipients include Gerard Place Housing Development Fund Company Inc and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Inc. The result is a grant portfolio built around organizations with deep roots in the region rather than broad national coverage. Its recent awards show a preference for sizable, targeted grants that support hospitals, education pathways, workforce programs, and local community infrastructure.
What First Niagara Foundation Funds
Health care is a major theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $500,000 to Mount St Marys Hospital Foundation Inc for community development, and $200,000 to Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc for community development, reflecting support for regional medical infrastructure and related partnerships. Education and youth-serving organizations also appear frequently. The foundation awarded $250,000 to City Year Inc for education and $100,000 to Buffalo Prep Inc for education, indicating investment in organizations tied to learning and student support. Workforce development is another recurring area. Grants include $250,000 to The Economic Development Group for workforce development and $200,000 to Providence Farm Collective Corp for workforce development. It also backed The Foundry with $100,000 for workforce development, showing interest in training and job pathways tied to local organizations. Community development grants reach neighborhood-serving groups as well, including $250,000 to Gerard Place Housing Development Fund Company Inc and $150,000 to Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Inc.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7.4M
Total Assets
$1M
Total Revenue
$24K
Total Expenses
$5.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
About 96% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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