This listing of other regional funders is not exhaustive, it is meant to help serve as a resource to connect local organizations with other funding opportunities in our WNY region. It will be updated periodically and as needed. If you have any questions or another suggested funding opportunity to list please contact ejones@crcfonline.org or jan@rcsheldonfoundation.org
Arts Services Initiative of WNY
ASI provides tools and resources for individual artists and arts organizations in four main areas: professional development, opportunities, representation and equity. The organization provides funding through DEC Grants, Global Warming Art Project and Give for Greatness Initiative; these opportunities and others can be found on their funding page.
Chautauqua County, Occupancy Tax “Bed Tax” Tourism Grant
Chautauqua County established a 3% occupancy tax program to promote, develop and protect the area’s tourism industry. A portion of the tax is intended to provide grants for projects that will achieve or support:
- Deadline October 1
- Paper Application- view/download here
- Request Range: $2,500- $10,000
- Funding Priority: Event Development and Marketing Projects and Attraction/Destination Development and Enhancement Projects
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo administers several competitive grant processes (listed below) that are available to Chautauqua county nonprofits.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds
Two Cycles: Fall and Spring
- Care Givers
- Request: $10,000- $25,000
- Preference requests provide support to caregivers of older adults; increase opportunities for caregivers to take advantage of resources.
- Design and Access
- $10,000-$50,000
- Support enhancement of community access to spaces and programs that support healthy living; support pre-planning, development/ construction costs.
- Youth Sports
- $10,000-$50,000
- Provide opportunities for all children to be active through sports.
Garman Family Foundation Grants
- Two cycles per year: application opens August 17, 2020/ Deadline Sept. 14, 2020
- Request up to $50,000
- Priority: Mental Health, Physical Wellness and Education for Individuals with preference for women and children
Consolidated Funding Application, New York State
Four Interconnected Strategies: Placemaking; Workforce; Tradeable Sectors; Innovation.
Health Foundation of Western & Central NY
Grantmaking typically is funded through programs the Foundation designs; periodically also consider a limited number of unsolicited requests.
- Older Adults
- Young Children Impacted by Poverty
- Community Health Capacity: Fellows Action Network; Health Leadership Fellows
- Two Cycles: Oct 1 & May 1
- Requests: up to $5,000
- Priority: Implement humanities projects that encourage public audiences to reflect on values, explore new ideas, engage with others in community.
- Rolling
- Request up to $1,500
- Priority: Supports brainstorming, researching, and professional development for organizations working collaboratively to develop new ideas and strategies for public-facing humanities projects.
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation
LOI required; rolling basis.
Focus Areas:
- Active Lifestyles
- Caregivers
- Preparing for Success
- Entrepreneurship & Economic Development
- Nonprofit Support and Innovation
Other Initiatives:
- Built to Play Initiative
- Skatepark Grant
- Play Spaces- Place Everywhere Challenge
- Play Spaces- Unique Playground Builds
The WNY Foundation makes investments that improve nonprofit efficiencies and effectiveness. Capacity building is developing and refining skills, strategies, organizational systems and structures with the intent to build capable leaders, sound management and strong governance.
Western New York Foundation Small Grant Program
- Requests: $500- $10,000
- Priority: The Small Grant Program supports exploration of strategic partnerships and capacity building requests that lead to greater capacity and improved productivity. Funding is for specific activities or projects designed to strengthen an organization’s governance, leadership, technology, programmatic and administrative capacity.
Western New York Foundation Impact Capacity Assessment Program (iCAP)
- Support of a Consultant
- Priority: iCAP offers opportunity to nonprofits to engage in a process to assess its capacity needs in coordination with an organizational development consultant
Western New York Foundation Capacity Building Grant Program
- LOI required; two deadlines per year Nov. 30 & July 31
- Request: $15,000- $50,000
- Priority: The Capacity Building Program supports exploration of strategic partnerships and capacity building requests that lead to greater capacity and improved productivity. Funding is for specific activities or projects designed to strengthen an organization’s governance, leadership, technology, programmatic and administrative capacity (see rankings)
Specific Focus Areas
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Imagine Grant Program is a public grant opportunity for organizations using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. There is one annual deadline (September 30, 2020); organizations can request up to $10,000 in funding, promotion credit, training and support.
AWS Credit Program for Nonprofits provides access to $2,000 in AWS promotional credits to implement cloud-based solutions. In partnership with TechSoup.
Blue Fund, BlueCross BlueShield of WNY
Blue Fund is a grant program that makes investments to improve the health and sustainability for our community. Focused on key health areas: Behavioral Health, Cardiovascular Health, Health Care Workforce Development, Healthy Children.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation
Various literacy grant programs including Adult Literacy Grants, Family Literacy Grants, Summer Reading and Youth Literacy Grants. Deadlines for applications January 2021.
Sacred Spaces Assistance Program
SSAP provides technical assitance to religious and nonprofit organizations to pursue National Register listing as part of their work to preserve and rehabilitate their historic structures.
Wegmans accepts donation and community sponsorship requests within five giving priorities: feeding the hungry, helping young people suceed, encouraging healthy eating & activity, enriching store neighborhoods and supporting United Way initiatives. Requests can be submitted through the online donation request form.