The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation concentrates on large, place-based investments in Western New York (especially Buffalo/Rochester) and Southeast Michigan (Detroit), funding capital projects and public spaces (parks, riverfronts, trails), regional community foundations and capacity-building (Project Play initiatives), and economic development/entrepreneurship and workforce efforts. Grants are frequently multi-year, capital- or program-focused, and made as repeat awards or matching/trustee grants to a small set of core regional partners. The foundation also supports environmental conservation and resiliency studies and selective cultural institutions as complementary priorities.
Large, multi-year and repeat grants focused on capital projects and capacity-building; many high-dollar gifts to a limited set of regional partners and community foundations, often including matching or trustee-designated components
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation’s largest recent grants center on building public spaces in Buffalo and Detroit, with $11,000,000 to Budc for the expanded first phase of Ralph Wilson Park in Buffalo and $7,500,000 to the Southeast Michigan Foundation for Public Spaces for the Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund. Those awards show a pattern of funding major civic infrastructure rather than short-term program support. The foundation also backs place-based arts and culture work at scale, including repeat $7,500,000 grants to community foundations in Greater Buffalo and Southeast Michigan to sustain the arts and culture sector in both regions. Its recent portfolio includes shoreline restoration, trail projects, museum expansion, and park-related construction, often through capital grants and multi-year commitments. The grantees in its recent list include public-space intermediaries, community foundations, riverfront and waterway organizations, and cultural institutions in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. Several awards are structured around named funds or phased construction packages, indicating long-horizon investments in anchor projects and regional partnerships.
A major theme is park, trail, and shoreline development. The foundation gave $5,250,000 to Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc. for the shoreline restoration of Ralph Wilson Park, and $4,220,000 to Natural Heritage Trust for three major trail projects in Western New York. It also supported the capital costs for the expansion of the Strong National Museum of Play with $2,000,000, showing that built-environment work and cultural capital projects sit alongside each other in the portfolio. In Detroit, it gave $2,000,000 to Motown Museum for capital costs to expand the museum, and $2,000,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan to scale youth sports and recreation programs across Southeast Michigan. These grants point to a mix of recreation, culture, and neighborhood-serving infrastructure.
Typical grant size is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $187,950 at the 75th percentile, with many awards far above the median. The recent list shows repeated support to the same regional partners across 2023 and 2025, including community foundations, Budc, and Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc., which suggests multi-year, relationship-based funding rather than one-off grants. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it makes grants to individuals as well as organizations. Recent awards also include capital support, capacity-building, and named funds, indicating a mix of project, operating, and strategic investment styles.
$140.8M
$896.5M
$75.8M
$160.1M
Most grants fall between $2K and $188K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$188K
About 46% of grants go to recipients in MI.
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Notable grantees: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, BUDC (Buffalo Urban Development/park projects), Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Most grants land in Michigan, which accounts for 46% of grants given in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Buffalo, Detroit, Rochester, Albany, Boston, Americus, and Farmington Hills. The strongest concentration appears in Buffalo and Detroit, with repeated awards to organizations in both cities and nearby regions such as Rochester and Farmington Hills. All grants in the provided country distribution go to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show strong support for parks, trails, shoreline work, arts and culture capital projects, and youth sports and recreation. Examples include $11,000,000 for Ralph Wilson Park construction in Buffalo, $7,500,000 for the Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund, and $2,000,000 for the Motown Museum expansion.
Yes. The recent grant list includes repeated awards to the same partners across 2023 and 2025, such as Budc, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The pattern includes phased construction support, named funds, and follow-on grants for the same regional initiatives.
The grant-size distribution is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $187,950 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes much larger capital and initiative grants, such as $11,000,000 and $7,500,000 awards.
Michigan is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Detroit, Farmington Hills, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany, showing a strong concentration in Southeast Michigan and Western New York.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, alongside organizational grants. The recent grant list, however, is dominated by awards to nonprofits, community foundations, and public-space partners.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $10,000,000 | 2025 | City Within a Park Fund |
| Southeast Michigan Foundation for Public Spaces | Detroit, MI | $7,500,000 | 2025 | Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund |
| Detroit Riverfront Conservancy | Detroit, MI | $6,532,800 | 2025 | Construction Support - Ralph Wilson Park |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $5,000,000 | 2025 | RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan | Detroit, MI | $5,000,000 | 2025 | RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative |
| BUDC | Buffalo, NY | $4,000,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park: Phase 1 GMP Package 2 |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $3,750,000 | 2025 | Support for the Arts and Culture Sector in WNY |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan | Detroit, MI | $3,750,000 | 2025 | To sustain the Arts and Culture Sector |
| Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc | Buffalo, NY | $2,625,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park/ Shoreline Implementation & Capacity |
| BUDC | Buffalo, NY | $2,500,000 | 2025 | Phase 1 Expansion/ Ralph Wilson Park |
| The Boston Foundation Inc (dba The Philanthropic Initiative) | Boston, MA | $2,402,463 | 2025 | Exhale, The Family Caregiver Initiative- Southeast Michigan Expansion |
| BUDC | Buffalo, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park: Play Garden + Phase 2 GMP Advance |
| Invest Detroit Foundation | Detroit, MI | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Strategic Neighborhood Fund 3 |
| Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation (ROC2025 Fund) | Rochester, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Regional Revitalization Partnership's West Main Commercial Corridor Program |
| Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy | Buffalo, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy: Organizational Capacity & Future Sustainability |
| PEDALS Michigan | Detroit, MI | $1,639,270 | 2025 | PEDALS Michigan Expansion |
| TechTown Detroit | Detroit, MI | $1,589,630 | 2025 | Co.act Detroit: Accelerating Collaborative Action |
| Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance | Lansing, MI | $1,566,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Loop Trail on Belle Isle - Phase 2 |
| BUDC | Buffalo, NY | $1,260,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park Capacity Grant |
| Natural Heritage Trust | Albany, NY | $1,250,000 | 2025 | WNY Southern Tier and Artpark State Park Trail Projects |
| Macomb Community College Foundation | Warren, MI | $1,236,000 | 2025 | D3C3 implementation Phase I |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills, MI | $1,145,000 | 2025 | D3C3 Implementation Phase I |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan | Detroit, MI | $1,130,935 | 2025 | Phase Two of Project Play: Southeast Michigan |
| Buffalo State College Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $1,000,500 | 2025 | Great Lakes Center & Dart Street Study |
| Friends of the Detroit River | TAYLOR, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | DOWNRIVER LINKED GREENWAYS SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS |
| Central Terminal Restoration Corp | Buffalo, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Central Terminal Restoration: Programming and Capacity |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan | Detroit, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | BGCSM Sports Ecosystem |
| Economic Development Group DBA the Northland Workforce Training Center | Buffalo, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | WNY Advanced Manufacturing & Tech Coalition: Clean Tech Training |
| Rochester Area Community Foundation | Rochester, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Medina High Wall |
| Monroe County Community College | Monroe, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | D3C3 Implementation Phase I |
| BUDC | Buffalo, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Ralph Wilson Park/ Phase 1 Construction Cost Increase |
| Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation | Detroit, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation general operations support. |
| Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative | Chelsea, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Iron Belle Trail Expansion in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties |
| Detroit Economic Growth Association | Detroit, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | City of Detroit - Parks Lighting |
| TechTown Detroit | Detroit, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Driving Small Business Growth Via Equitable Economic Development in Detroit |
| Launch NY | Buffalo, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Ensuring a Mature, Sustainable Venture Development Organization |
| Friends of the Rouge | Plymouth, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Connecting the Rouge: Rouge Gateway Trail Connectors |
| Invest Detroit Foundation | Detroit, MI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | Advancing Inclusive High-Growth Entrepreneurship |
| Causewave Community Partners | Rochester, NY | $985,347 | 2025 | NextWave Mission Accelerator |
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | $982,780 | 2025 | Project Play Western New York |
| Jamestown Community College Foundation | Jamestown, NY | $950,000 | 2025 | WNY Advanced Manufacturing & Tech Coalition: Advanced Manufacturing Technician Training |
| The Boston Foundation Inc (dba The Philanthropic Initiative) | Boston, MA | $900,000 | 2025 | WNY Respite Program |
| Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan | Detroit, MI | $850,000 | 2025 | Programming, Capital, and Capacity Support for Detroit's Regional Parks |
| The Western New York Foundation | Buffalo, NY | $845,175 | 2025 | iCAP Expansion |
| Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission | Buffalo, NY | $800,000 | 2025 | Michigan Street AAHC: Capacity & Program Support |
| Enterprise Community Partners | Detroit, MI | $750,000 | 2025 | Enterprise Detroit CDO Fund Phase 2 |
| Niagara Arts and Cultural Center | Niagara Falls, NY | $750,000 | 2025 | NACC Theater Renovation |
| Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI | $750,000 | 2025 | Growing the Accelerator's Capacity to Support Advanced Manufacturing |
| Henry Ford Community College Foundation | Dearborn, MI | $750,000 | 2025 | D3C3 Implementation Phase I |
| Fair Food Network | Detroit, MI | $750,000 | 2025 | Michigan Good Food Fund-Southeast Michigan Regional Food Network |
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
$10,000,000City Within a Park Fund
Southeast Michigan Foundation for Public Spaces
$7,500,000Detroit Riverfront Finishline Fund
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
$6,532,800Construction Support - Ralph Wilson Park
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
$5,000,000RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
$5,000,000RCWJRF Inclusive Arts & Culture Initiative
BUDC
$4,000,000Ralph Wilson Park: Phase 1 GMP Package 2
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
$3,750,000Support for the Arts and Culture Sector in WNY
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
$3,750,000To sustain the Arts and Culture Sector
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Inc
$2,625,000Ralph Wilson Park/ Shoreline Implementation & Capacity
BUDC
$2,500,000Phase 1 Expansion/ Ralph Wilson Park
The Boston Foundation Inc (dba The Philanthropic Initiative)
$2,402,463Exhale, The Family Caregiver Initiative- Southeast Michigan Expansion
BUDC
$2,000,000Ralph Wilson Park: Play Garden + Phase 2 GMP Advance
Invest Detroit Foundation
$2,000,000Strategic Neighborhood Fund 3
Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation (ROC2025 Fund)
$2,000,000Regional Revitalization Partnership's West Main Commercial Corridor Program
Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy
$2,000,000Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy: Organizational Capacity & Future Sustainability
PEDALS Michigan
$1,639,270PEDALS Michigan Expansion
TechTown Detroit
$1,589,630Co.act Detroit: Accelerating Collaborative Action
Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance
$1,566,000Ralph Wilson Loop Trail on Belle Isle - Phase 2
BUDC
$1,260,000Ralph Wilson Park Capacity Grant
Natural Heritage Trust
$1,250,000WNY Southern Tier and Artpark State Park Trail Projects
Macomb Community College Foundation
$1,236,000D3C3 implementation Phase I
Oakland Community College
$1,145,000D3C3 Implementation Phase I
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
$1,130,935Phase Two of Project Play: Southeast Michigan
Buffalo State College Foundation
$1,000,500Great Lakes Center & Dart Street Study
Friends of the Detroit River
$1,000,000DOWNRIVER LINKED GREENWAYS SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Central Terminal Restoration Corp
$1,000,000Central Terminal Restoration: Programming and Capacity
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
$1,000,000BGCSM Sports Ecosystem
Economic Development Group DBA the Northland Workforce Training Center
$1,000,000WNY Advanced Manufacturing & Tech Coalition: Clean Tech Training
Rochester Area Community Foundation
$1,000,000Medina High Wall
Monroe County Community College
$1,000,000D3C3 Implementation Phase I
BUDC
$1,000,000Ralph Wilson Park/ Phase 1 Construction Cost Increase
Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation
$1,000,000Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation general operations support.
Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative
$1,000,000Iron Belle Trail Expansion in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties
Detroit Economic Growth Association
$1,000,000City of Detroit - Parks Lighting
TechTown Detroit
$1,000,000Driving Small Business Growth Via Equitable Economic Development in Detroit
Launch NY
$1,000,000Ensuring a Mature, Sustainable Venture Development Organization
Friends of the Rouge
$1,000,000Connecting the Rouge: Rouge Gateway Trail Connectors
Invest Detroit Foundation
$1,000,000Advancing Inclusive High-Growth Entrepreneurship
Causewave Community Partners
$985,347NextWave Mission Accelerator
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
$982,780Project Play Western New York
Jamestown Community College Foundation
$950,000WNY Advanced Manufacturing & Tech Coalition: Advanced Manufacturing Technician Training
The Boston Foundation Inc (dba The Philanthropic Initiative)
$900,000WNY Respite Program
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
$850,000Programming, Capital, and Capacity Support for Detroit's Regional Parks
The Western New York Foundation
$845,175iCAP Expansion
Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission
$800,000Michigan Street AAHC: Capacity & Program Support
Enterprise Community Partners
$750,000Enterprise Detroit CDO Fund Phase 2
Niagara Arts and Cultural Center
$750,000NACC Theater Renovation
Lawrence Technological University
$750,000Growing the Accelerator's Capacity to Support Advanced Manufacturing
Henry Ford Community College Foundation
$750,000D3C3 Implementation Phase I
Fair Food Network
$750,000Michigan Good Food Fund-Southeast Michigan Regional Food Network
Current and upcoming funding from Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations serving the Foundation’s target regions and aligned with active living, youth sports, recreation, parks, trails, or green design priorities.
Deadline: Year-round applications.
Who can apply: Organizations in the Foundation’s target regions advancing entrepreneurship, economic development, business support, and related inclusive growth strategies.
Deadline: Year-round applications.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations impacting the counties in Western New York or Southeast Michigan and strategically working within one of the foundation’s focus areas. The foundation does not make grants to individuals, fundraising social events, conferences, or exhibits.
Deadline: Year-round intake; LOIs accepted ongoing.
Who can apply: Projects should be regionally significant trails or direct connections to regional trails, connect communities and anchor assets, have significant community support, demonstrate capacity for operation and maintenance post-construction, and garner leverage investment near 2/3 of total project costs. Geographic eligibility limited to Foundation-defined counties in Southeast Michigan and Western New York.
Deadline: Requests currently being accepted; specific project deadlines vary by solicitation. Some trail opportunities may be posted as RFPs or special opportunities on the Foundation website when available.
Who can apply: Organizations serving caregivers in the Foundation’s geographic regions, especially efforts supporting older adults and direct care workers.
Deadline: Year-round applications.
Who can apply: Arts and cultural nonprofits in the Foundation’s two regions. Specific eligibility and priorities are detailed by the partner community foundations overseeing the grants.
Deadline: Annual; details and timing announced by administering community foundations.
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