Search Through Grants for 501(c)(3) in Buffalo, New York in the U.S.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

Since 1919, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has been committed to helping individuals, families and organizations make their charitable goals a reality. Today, we work with more than 400 active clients and are carrying on the legacies of an additional 500 clients. In total, we have over $940 million in charitable assets.

WNY Forward Fund

The WNY Forward Fund is a collaborative effort of 12 Western New York funders united to support our community and nonprofits that provide essential programs and services in the face of major shifts in federal funding and priorities since early 2025. The philanthropic community’s goal in working together is to help protect and strengthen the community, while encouraging innovation and reimagining how to best use community resources for long-term resilience.

The WNY Forward Fund is intended to be a multi-year effort through select grantmaking and support of priority initiatives across three focus areas. These priorities include: Strategic Alliances & Nonprofit Resiliency, Civic Health & Building Common Ground, Impact Data & Storytelling.

Strategic Alliances & Nonprofit Resiliency Grant

Our first action is to support grant proposals from local nonprofits pursuing partnerships, shared services, mergers, or other collaborations to help organizations adapt to the evolving environment, and remain resilient and responsive to community needs.

Grants between $2,500 and $25,000 are available and are intended to spur reimaging of service delivery and innovation within the nonprofit sector.

Grant Opportunities

Although there are many forms of strategic realignment and collaboration, the following explorations will be considered as part of this funder initiative.

I. Strategic Realignment and Organizational Integration

• Strategic and/or Structural Alliance: A partnership between organizations pursuing a common goal while maintaining independence, often involving aligned programs, administrative functions, or complementary strategies.
• Administrative Consolidation: Restructuring to share, exchange, or contract administrative functions (e.g., accounting, HR) to increase operational efficiencies.
• Merger: A more formal process that combines two or more nonprofit entities into one, or forms affiliates/subsidiaries.
• Resource Partnerships: Involve collaborating to share resources like office space, equipment, staff, or technology.
• Strategic Restructure: Structuring into multiple LLCs to diversify operations, manage liability exposure, or distinct strategic goals requiring legal and financial separation. 

II. Dissolution Planning

• Dissolution Planning is the process of voluntarily winding up operations of a nonprofit corporation and adhering to IRS and Treasury Regulations applicable to liquidation, dissolution, termination, or substantial contraction.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

Niagara Power Project Relicensing

Over the course of the 50 year license in support of its operating license for the Niagara Power Project, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will provide more than $1 billion worth of benefits to Western New York. These benefits include monetary payments to settlement partners consisting of local municipalities, state agencies, an Indian nation, school districts, and committees supporting the development of the Niagara River Greenway. The amount also includes payments by NYPA for the construction of recreational projects and ecological enhancements related to the License. In addition to monetary benefits, 32 MW of low-cost hydropower has been allocated to several settlement partners saving the recipients as much as 75% of the cost of energy.

Greenway Ecological Standing Committee

The Greenway Ecological Standing Committee (GESC) is funded since the issuance of the new FERC license via an annual NYPA contribution to a Greenway Ecological Fund of $1 million until 2057 (i.e., until the end of the new license). It is responsible for the review of ecological projects that are proposed by stakeholders for funding through the Greenway Ecological Fund (GEF), with two submittal and review cycles each year. In order to be considered for GEF funding, all projects must receive a determination of “consistency” with the Niagara River Greenway Plan from the Niagara River Greenway Commission (i.e., Commission review for consistency occurs prior to submittal to the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee.

Funding will be for projects that create and support ecological enhancements within the Niagara Greenway. Projects should support at least one of the following: land acquisition and conservation; habitat research; aquatic and terrestrial land restoration for habitat and species benefits and/or ecosystem services; ecological stewardship activities and education.

Proposals must provide written documentation of consistency with the Niagara River Greenway Plan, as determined by the Niagara River Greenway Commission any time prior to submission to the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee for funding. Other factors to be addressed include engineering and maintenance feasibility, operation, biological effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.

The Greenway Ecological Standing Committee includes the New York Power Authority, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tuscarora Nation, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Niagara Relicensing Environmental Coalition. The Committee has one million dollars per year through 2057 available from the Greenway Ecological Fund.

At more than 100 years old, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is committed to making grants that maximize impact on the eight counties of Western New York within four Community Goals. 

Community Goals and the Solutions

The Community Foundation’s competitive grants will align with one or more of the four following Community Goals and the Solutions detailed below:

Special consideration will be given to requests that fit a Solution AND advance the racial equity work of the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Taskforce.

Achieve racial/ethnic equity. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

Solutions:

• Increase interaction and bridge racial/ethnic divides between residents and organizations throughout WNY.
• Promote civic engagement and leadership in communities of color.

Promote economic mobility through educational achievement for residents living in low-income households. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

Solutions:

• Improve the school readiness of children (ages 5 and under) living in communities of poverty.
• Improve the academic achievement and postsecondary completion of students living in low-income households with a preference for systems change.

Steward significant environmental resources. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

Solutions:

• Protect and restore the region’s waterways.
• Strengthen individual environmental organizations and support a more racially inclusive and collaborative environmental community.

Promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts, and culture. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

Solutions:

• Increase access to long term arts instruction for children and youth living in low-income households.
• Strengthen race equity through the arts.
• Restore and leverage significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks, with a preference for sites that promote cultural tourism. (Defining historic as official recognition by State/National Register of Historic Places or local preservation ordinance.)

Special funding available to support the following:

• Programs that serve the visual, speech or hearing impaired (~$5,000)

Preference for this special funding will be given to requests that also align with one or more of the four Community Goals.

Addressing Mental Health, Physical Wellness, and Education

The Garman Family Foundation is administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. The Garman Family Foundation offers two cycles per year with a focus on organizations addressing mental health, physical wellness, and education of individuals with a preference for women and children.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

The Marks Family Foundation supports organizations that provide programs in education, arts, environmental sustainability, or health for youth and under-represented populations.

New York business leader Randolph Marks founded the Marks Family Foundation in Buffalo in 1991 as a way to give back to the community that supported him and his family throughout his business career.

Although the Foundation gives preference to requests from western New York and Vermont, where members of the Marks family reside, the organization does occasionally make grant awards for causes that individual members are passionate about, regardless of location.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support organizations that provide access, opportunity, and education to under-represented, minority, and low-income populations. We provide funding for organizations that offer programs in education, arts, or health for youth and under-represented populations. Our primary focus is local to western New York, with secondary consideration given to Vermont.

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Trails Maintenance Fund for Western New York

In 2018, as part of the 100th anniversary of Ralph Wilson, Jr.’s birth and celebration of his legacy and community devotion, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced a $100 million Parks & Trails Initiative in Western New York. This commitment included allocating $10 million towards the sustainability of regional trails in Western New York.

In 2022, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation fulfilled this commitment by establishing an endowment fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide support for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects that benefit Western New York trails and greenways.

Awards from this fund will address circumstances where intervention is required to ensure that the trail or greenway can continue to function effectively and provide users with the recreation experience and community connectivity that was envisioned when the trail or greenway was developed.

Selection criteria will include:

• Leverage: The availability of matching funds at a minimum of $1 from a grantee’s own resources or other resources for every $1 of Trails Maintenance Grant dollars is an important consideration.
• Indication of public support for the project
• The importance of the project in the restoration of that component of the regional greenways system
• Its connectivity to the regional system
• Status of land control of the proposed project
• Evidence that the project will be on noncontaminated land and/or remediated land, or on land that can definitely be utilized by the public
• The timetable for the funded project and the likelihood of its completion in a timely manner
• A plan for, and the necessary commitment to, long-term maintenance of the project once completed
• The ability of the partners to successfully complete the project
• Appropriate public access to the proposed project
• Evidence that a grant would play an important role in the success of the project

Project Play Western New York

Project Play Western New York is driven and funded by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s Youth Sports & Recreation focus area in partnership with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program.

Our Mission

Project Play Western New York envisions a community in which all children have the opportunity to be active through sports regardless of zip code.

Every child—regardless of location, income or ability—should have access to fun and fulfilling physical activities that build confidence and set them on a path for lifelong success. A quality youth sports experience can build happier children, healthier families and stronger communities.

Project Play WNY Summer Free Play Series Grant

This grant is specifically for joining the Project Play WNY Summer Free Play Series. The goal for the series is providing youth in all 8 counties of Western New York opportunities to play, have fun, and enjoy Free Play!

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Centene Charitable Foundation

Successful corporate citizenship happens when companies invest in the local organizations that know their communities best. The Centene Foundation works with our local partners on initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person and community development.

Vision

Centene’s purpose is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. The Centene Foundation is an essential part of how we pursue this purpose. We achieve measurable impact for the communities we serve through partnerships and philanthropy efforts that invest in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling barriers to health.

Areas of Focus

Reflecting Centene’s commitment to the needs of those who rely on government-sponsored health care and to addressing social determinants of health and health equity, preference will be given to initiatives in three distinct areas of focus.

• Healthcare Access
• Social Services
• Education

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Arts & Culture Initiative

In 2021, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy.

Since the inception of the Arts & Culture Initiative, the Community Foundation has prioritized community feedback in the creation of this annual funding opportunity. 

The result of this work are three funding opportunities for 2025:

Why We Exist

Kelly for Kids is committed to serving disadvantaged and disabled youth in Western New York through the distribution of grant money raised throughout the year.

About The Foundation

After his retirement, former quarterback of the Buffalo Bills and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly decided to make Buffalo, NY his permanent home. When he arrived in 1986, he was not only focused on building a winning football team; he was determined to make a difference in the community. He did so by establishing the Kelly for Kids Foundation.

Kelly for Kids is committed to serving disadvantaged and disabled youth in Western New York through the distribution of grant money raised throughout the year. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed nearly 5 million dollars to many local children’s charities.

Kelly For Kids Foundation’s Areas Of Focus

• Innovative programs that directly assist Western New York children in need.
• Equipment and physical improvements for organizations dedicated to programs for disadvantaged children and teens.
• The Foundation gives priority to organizations that can demonstrate definitively how the funds will be used.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Background

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide annual support for programs and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of Mr. Wilson. These areas of support are: Caregivers; Community Assets; Design and Access; and Youth Sports.

The grants made from these Legacy Funds held at the Community Foundation are distinct from the grants made by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation directly. In most cases, the grants made from these Funds at the Community Foundation serve to support very localized projects across the WNY region for which a smaller grant can make all the difference. In some cases, it may also provide an opportunity to test out ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.

About the Foundation

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. believed effective change should make an impact from the start, yet carry long into the future. To do both, he earmarked a portion of his estate and the eventual sale of his beloved Buffalo Bills to fund his namesake foundation. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation began operations in 2015 to continue his legacy-one of generosity and innovation, healthy risk taking and collaboration and an unshakeable community focus.

And today, his hand-picked Life Trustees have determined to focus the efforts of the foundation on Mr. Wilson’s home and adopted home regions of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

Caregivers 

Support caregivers – whether paid, voluntary or family – of persons who are unable to fully care for themselves and are part of an underserved community. 

Requests must address the following objective:

• Increase opportunities for caregivers to take advantage of resources.
  • Examples of such resources include, but are not limited to, the following:
    • transportation assistance,
    • support for volunteers, and
    • training opportunities.

Background

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide annual support for programs and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of Mr. Wilson. These areas of support are: Caregivers; Community Assets; Design and Access; and Youth Sports.

The grants made from these Legacy Funds held at the Community Foundation are distinct from the grants made by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation directly. In most cases, the grants made from these Funds at the Community Foundation serve to support very localized projects across the WNY region for which a smaller grant can make all the difference. In some cases, it may also provide an opportunity to test out ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.

About the Foundation

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. believed effective change should make an impact from the start, yet carry long into the future. To do both, he earmarked a portion of his estate and the eventual sale of his beloved Buffalo Bills to fund his namesake foundation. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation began operations in 2015 to continue his legacy-one of generosity and innovation, healthy risk taking and collaboration and an unshakeable community focus.

And today, his hand-picked Life Trustees have determined to focus the efforts of the foundation on Mr. Wilson’s home and adopted home regions of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

Community Assets

Community Assets – Support significant cultural and historic assets and/or increase access to long-term arts instruction for youth. Requests must address one of the following objectives:

• Increase access to long-term arts instruction for children and youth living in under-resourced communities.
• Restore and leverage significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks, with a preference for sites that promote cultural tourism.

Background

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide annual support for programs and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of Mr. Wilson. These areas of support are: Caregivers; Community Assets; Design and Access; and Youth Sports.

The grants made from these Legacy Funds held at the Community Foundation are distinct from the grants made by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation directly. In most cases, the grants made from these Funds at the Community Foundation serve to support very localized projects across the WNY region for which a smaller grant can make all the difference. In some cases, it may also provide an opportunity to test out ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.

About the Foundation

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. believed effective change should make an impact from the start, yet carry long into the future. To do both, he earmarked a portion of his estate and the eventual sale of his beloved Buffalo Bills to fund his namesake foundation. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation began operations in 2015 to continue his legacy-one of generosity and innovation, healthy risk taking and collaboration and an unshakeable community focus.

And today, his hand-picked Life Trustees have determined to focus the efforts of the foundation on Mr. Wilson’s home and adopted home regions of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

Design and Access

Design and Access – Support enhancement of community access to spaces and programs that support healthy living. Requests must address the following objective:

• Support for pre-planning, development and/or construction costs. This may include projects related to increasing the walkability and bikeability of local communities, and improving waterways, greenways and recreation corridors.

Background

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide annual support for programs and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of Mr. Wilson. These areas of support are: Caregivers; Community Assets; Design and Access; and Youth Sports.

The grants made from these Legacy Funds held at the Community Foundation are distinct from the grants made by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation directly. In most cases, the grants made from these Funds at the Community Foundation serve to support very localized projects across the WNY region for which a smaller grant can make all the difference. In some cases, it may also provide an opportunity to test out ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.

About the Foundation

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. believed effective change should make an impact from the start, yet carry long into the future. To do both, he earmarked a portion of his estate and the eventual sale of his beloved Buffalo Bills to fund his namesake foundation. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation began operations in 2015 to continue his legacy-one of generosity and innovation, healthy risk taking and collaboration and an unshakeable community focus.

And today, his hand-picked Life Trustees have determined to focus the efforts of the foundation on Mr. Wilson’s home and adopted home regions of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

Youth Sports 

Provide opportunities for all children to be active through sport. Requests must address one of the following objectives: 

• Ask kids what they want.
• Reintroduce free play.
• Encourage sport sampling.
• Revitalize in-town leagues.
• Think small.
• Design for development.
• Train all coaches.
• Emphasize prevention.