Best Cattaraugus County Grants for Nonprofits in New York

The Great Lakes Fisheries Trust offers grants for ecological and biological research aimed at enhancing ecosystem health and sustainable fish populations. These grants support competitive fisheries research, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and stakeholder value. The next funding cycle will open with a request for proposals in late 2026 for the 2027 program year, promoting innovative research and capacity-building efforts within the fisheries sector.

The East Hill Foundation, a private family foundation, focuses on enhancing the quality of life in Western New York through grants to 501(c)(3) organizations. Established from the Greatbatch family's legacy, it supports projects addressing basic human needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. The foundation prioritizes community giving across eight counties including Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Erie, aiming to uplift those less fortunate in the region.

The Garman Family Foundation Grant, administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, focuses on enhancing mental health, physical wellness, and education, particularly for women and children. With two annual cycles, it supports organizations in Western New York that hold a 501(c)(3) status. Applications are limited to one grant per year, prioritizing impactful initiatives. However, certain funding areas, such as higher education scholarships and political activities, are excluded from consideration.

The Chesapeake Bay Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) Grant Program, funded by the EPA and Chesapeake Bay Trust, supports innovative green infrastructure projects enhancing community livability. With funding opportunities ranging from conceptual plans to full project implementation, this program aims to reduce stormwater runoff, improve urban green spaces, and boost local water health within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Eligible locations include parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as New York.

The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of community football fields. With grants up to $250,000, this initiative addresses the critical lack of safe recreation spaces in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring children and adults have access to well-maintained facilities for gathering and exercise, ultimately fostering community health and well-being.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds: Design and Access Grant aims to enhance community access to spaces and programs supporting healthy living in Western New York. Managed by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, this grant focuses on projects that improve walkability, bikeability, and the overall recreational landscape. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits can apply for funding to support pre-planning, development, or construction costs, fostering sustainable community enhancements.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

The Lenna Foundation provides grants to charitable organizations, primarily in the southwestern New York area. They focus on arts, education, healthcare, youth, economic development, and environmental initiatives. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation emphasizes program funding and capital project grants to support non-profit efforts that benefit the community, particularly in the greater Jamestown area.

The ARISE Grants, offered by the Appalachian Regional Commission, aim to drive regional economic transformation across 13 Appalachian states. With funding of up to $63.5 million for implementation grants and $10 million maximum awards, the initiative supports collaborative projects that enhance community capacity and economic growth. The program encourages innovative partnerships to strengthen local economies and achieve socioeconomic parity, benefiting over 26 million residents in the Appalachian Region.

The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative aims to revitalize communities impacted by coal industry transitions. This initiative provides funding for projects that diversify local economies, enhance job training, and create new employment opportunities. By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, the POWER Initiative supports strategic investments that align with regional economic development plans, ensuring a more resilient future for coal-affected areas.

The F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants are part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for Fiscal Year 2026. These grants, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support state-level management plans to combat aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Eligible applicants include Great Lakes states and their designees, with funding awarded through a competitive selection process.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works with partners to foster sustainable and impactful conservation solutions so that people and nature thrive together. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. Since its founding, NFWF has funded more than 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $12 billion.About Sustain Our Great Lakes Program

Sustain Our Great Lakes is a public–private partnership designed to sustain, restore and protect fish, wildlife and habitat in the basin by leveraging funding, building conservation capacity, and focusing partners and resources toward key ecological issues. The program achieves this mission, in part, by awarding grants for on-the-ground habitat restoration and enhancement.Funding priorities for this program include:

• Habitat Restoration to Conserve Species and Improve Water Quality
• Expand and Maintain Nature-Based Solutions in Great Lakes Communities
• Invasive Species Control to Protect and Enhance Restored Habitat
• Activate Restored Habitats and Natural Areas

Mental Health

Overview

Our vision for adults living with mental illnesses is that they are engaged and supported members of the community

We recognize advocacy at the state and federal levels is essential to achieving meaningful change, so we partner with organizations from across the United States to raise awareness of critical mental health issues and to press for increased public funding.

Our Goals

Through our investments and advocacy, we hope to accomplish the following:

• There is a strong, well-trained mental health workforce capable of meeting community need.
• Adults affected by serious mental illnesses have access to high-quality medical treatment and support services that enhance their quality of life.
• Mental health services are well funded by public and private investment.

The Lake Erie Environmental Justice Grant, awarded by the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, aims to support restoration projects in historically underserved communities within Ohio's Lake Erie watershed. Funded through the U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program, this initiative focuses on enhancing stormwater management, strengthening coastal resilience, and advancing environmental justice. With a significant grant of up to $750,000, OLEC collaborates with partners like Black Environmental Leaders and Rural Action to ensure equitable resource distribution and impactful outcomes.

Teams to Promote Aging in Place in OMH Supportive Housing (TPAP) 

Request for Proposals

The purpose of “Teams to Promote Aging in Place in OMH Supportive Housing or TPAP” Geriatric Demonstration Project is to facilitate supportive housing residents aging in place based on their priorities and preferences who are age 55 years and older, as well as residents younger than 55 years living with complex medical conditions that necessitate homecare. Older adults living in OMH supportive housing are at risk of losing community tenure due to emerging unmet care coordination, cross service system navigation, and homecare needs compounded by lack of connection to social determinants of health (SDOH) resources, and community and natural supports. Grant funding will support an enhanced home care rate, provision of at least one paid peer professional, and enhanced care coordination with the local office for aging and community partners that addresses social determinants of health and social engagement needs. OMH supportive housing residents identified as at risk for losing community tenure will be supported by an interdisciplinary care team of (1) an OMH supportive housing case manager, (2) a local office for aging case manager, (3) a homecare professional, and (4) at least one mental health or substance use/gambling peer professional who will collaborate with the residents to identify outstanding service and social needs. This will build a person-centered, holistic plan that is based on the older adult’s priorities and preferences for aging in place. A peer professional in this RFP is defined as a person certified, or provisionally certified, as a mental health Peer Specialist through the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board or a person certified, or provisionally certified, as a substance use/gambling Recovery Peer Advocate through the New York Certification Board. Grantees will also be required to collaborate with community-based organizations across service systems, including mental health, aging, substance use, and gambling harms, that also address social determinants of health and social engagement needs, such as, but not limited to, Social Care Networks, Rural Health Networks, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Older Adult Rural Support Program, Regional Economic Development Councils, or Downtown Revitalization Initiatives. This may include projects focused on community inclusion, the Dwyer Veterans Peer-to-Peer Support Program, club houses, OASAS and OMH recovery centers, older adult centers, faith-based, civic, arts, cultural organizations, etc. To foster sharing of best practices in meeting the holistic needs of OMH supportive housing residents, grantees and their partners will participate in virtual and in-person learning collaboratives that include crossdisciplinary training curriculum consisting of trainings chosen in consultation with the chosen grantees and the Geriatric Interagency Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Planning Council and the Master Plan for Aging advisory groups.

Wrap around funding will be available to provide services and goods not covered through existing reimbursement channels that support aging in place in OMH supportive housing. Examples include, but are not limited to, non-medical transportation, memberships to community groups and/or gyms, continuing education, supplies to support personal interests and hobbies, large print calendars, pill containers, and mobility aids. Wrap-around funding can also be used to provide technological support based on the residents’ needs and preferences. Examples include equipment (laptops, computers, personal devices, and/or internet access), online communities and devices to support engagement (Virtual Senior Centers, GetSetUp, Discover Live interactive virtual tours, animatronic pets, and online support through self-help and peer support groups), and technology literacy classes (for email, video chats with friends, children, grandchildren, etc., banking, patient portals, and education on fraud protection) are additional supports to help people use technology to age in place.

This RFP can be used to expand or enhance existing aging programs in OMH supportive housing or can be used to develop a new program that meets all the program requirements. OMH CR-SROs awarded the “Aging in Place Pilot” grant MH253015 may also apply for this grant for their supportive housing programs.

All types of proposals will be evaluated using the same criteria and applicants must identify the geographic designation they will serve, rural or non-rural. Rural counties in NYS are listed in the table below.

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in New York provides essential funding for nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks. It offers financial support for physical and cybersecurity enhancements, helping organizations located outside urban areas to strengthen their security measures. Prequalification in the New York Statewide Financial System is required for applicants. This initiative underscores the commitment of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to enhance community safety and resilience.

MH253024 - Aging in Place Pilot Western New York Region

The Office of Mental Health announces enhanced annual operating funding and up to $2 million in capital funding to develop one (1) Pilot Program for aging adults residing in the CR-SRO level of care.

The funding is for programs in OMH's Western New York Region.

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) announces the availability of enhanced annual operating funding and up to $2 million in capital funding to develop one (1) Pilot Program for adults who are aging and are currently, or could be with enhanced supports, residing in the CR-SRO level of care. This pilot program will be developed within an existing CR-SRO program already operated by the applicant. The expectation is for an agency to set aside 20-25 existing units within the CR-SRO program to support long-term care services for older adults and medically complex individuals. Agencies with multiple CR-SROs within 30 minutes travel time of each other may propose to utilize these enhanced services across multiple programs.

Capital funds up to $2 million for minor renovations and/or environmental modifications will also be available. It is OMH’s expectation that this pilot program will prioritize 20 to 25 older adults that require enhanced supports to avoid the need for transfer to a higher level of care such as hospitalization, assisted living residences, and/or nursing homes.

OMH intends to fund one (1) existing CR-SRO program, in OMH’s Western New York region, that can demonstrate an ability to provide appropriate need-based housing services for those aging in the community. Applicants also need to demonstrate their ability to undertake minor renovations and/or environmental modifications to eliminate physical barriers impeding aging and medically complex residents and allow them to remain in their current setting. The capital award will not exceed $2 million dollars. Project scope and budget will be developed by the selected applicant in conjunction with the OMH Bureau of Housing Development and Support after further analysis of the project. Capital and enhanced operating funding will be subject to approval by the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB).

The F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes, funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aim to support the development and implementation of Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans. Eligible Great Lakes tribes can apply for competitive grants to address invasive species issues within the Great Lakes Basin, including outreach and prevention efforts. This initiative focuses on early detection and control, significantly contributing to the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.