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
Regional Funders
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.
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
- Letter of Intent- May 17, 2021
- Full Application (by invitation) August 2, 2021
- Eligibility: 501 (c) (3) organizations located in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
- Focus Area: projects that serve basic human needs (Erie and Niagara counties).
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: April 1, 2021 (for projects starting July 1 or later)
- 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.
- Eligible programs, services and operations primarily located in Erie and Niagara Counties; however, requests will be considered from other WNY counties including Chautauqua.
- Five focus areas: Strengthen the P-20 education continuum, enhance options for self-sufficiency, build livable, stable neighborhoods, promote health and improve systems of care, expand the role of arts, culture and heritage in regional development.
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
- LOI required
- Focus Areas: Organizations serving low-income individuals, families and communities in NY State.
- Three Grant Programs: Statewide, Regional, Special Initiatives
- *See specific eligibility “What We Fund” and “What We Do Not Fund”
- LOI required- deadline June 4, 2021
- Grant range: $75,000- $1,000,000
- Priorities: young children, pregnant women, new moms; low-income individuals and families; youth and young adults; older adults; persons with special needs; immigrants and migrant workers; veterans; formerly incarcerated individuals.
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
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Generator Z
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation’s newest initiative built to support teens and afterschool providers to reimagine afterschool in ways that matter to them. Generator Z is set to move $3 million to afterschool providers through a simple, transparent application process.
- Deadline: February 22
- Register for an information session
- Grant range $10,000 to $100,000
- Ten identified themes: Mental, Social & Emotional Health; Identity & Acceptance; Growth & Wellness; Friends & Community; Excellence in Learning; Jobs & Careers; Creative Arts & Culture; Fun & Games; Play & Sports; Life Skills & Balance.
The NY State Council on the Arts initiates funding partnerships with regional arts councils, to be able to reach all 62 state counties. Tri-County Arts Council administers the Statewide Community Regrant (SCR) program (formerly Decentralization (DEC)) for Allegheny, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua county to support individual artists, community arts and arts education.
- Deadline: December 3 (*see intent to apply step)
- Grant Range: $500- $5,000
- Eligibility: Nonprofits, municipalities, sponsored individual artists and organizations in partnership with qualifying organizations.
- Community Arts grants may include: exhibitions, workshop, series, performances, festivals, screenings or readings, arts programming that is community based and open to the general public.
- Organizations can not apply for NYSCA and SCR support in the same year.
- Deadline: April 15
- Grant Range: $500
- Eligibility: nonprofits, schools, churches, municipalities or fraternal organizations. (a separate grant form is also available to individual artists)
- Focus Area: project that is artistic in nature.
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.
COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program
- Deadline June 30 (additional monthly deadline dates offered based on financial capacity)
- Grant Range: $5,000-$25,000
- Seven counties of WNY (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Wyoming)
- Prioritize organizations with budgets between ($250,000- $6,000,000)
- Priority: Funding is for specific activities or projects designed to rebuild nonprofit capacity or to support new needs that have resulted from the debilitating effects of COVID-19. For example, enhanced HR consulting, technology to meet transitions into virtual programming and services, management or staff burnout, scenario planning, fundraising supports, and other varying needs.
Western New York Foundation Impact Capacity Assessment Program (iCAP)
- Accepting applications on a rolling basis
- 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
Young Audiences of Western New York, Arts Partners for Learning
- Program funding for school calendar year
- Priority: Goal is to expand access to arts education for children in WNY, improve the capacity of cultural organizations to provide creative learning programs.
Federal, State, County Funding Opportunities
Appalachian Regional Commission
ARC uses Congressionally appropriated funds to invest in economic and community development grants. ARC grants must align with the investment priorities outlined in the current Strategic Plan and reflect state plans and strategies. ARC also issues specific RFPs for research and evaluation contracts on topics directly impacting economic development. View the New York 2020 Strategy Statement.
Southern Tier West is the region’s ARC local development district for Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua county. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, municipalities and other public entities. Funds must be matched at least dollar per dollar with cash and/or in-kind goods or services. Funds must be used for new activities/programs, or for an expansion of activities/programs. Eligible proposals must be aligned with ARC’s investment goals:
- Goal 1: Economic Opportunities
- Goal 2: Ready Workforce
- Goal 3: Critical Infrastructure
- Goal 4: Natural & Cultural Assets
- Goal 5: Leadership & Community Capacity
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
Consolidated Funding Application, New York State
Four Interconnected Strategies: Placemaking; Workforce; Tradeable Sectors; Innovation.
2021 Resources Announced– Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). There are over 30 programs available through 9 state agencies; REDC will focus on the implementation of each region’s strategic plan, and continue to identify and invest in significant economic development projects.
Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY), Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Governor Cuomo announced a new funding opportunity in partnership with the Andrew Mellon Foundation. This fund will help support dozens of small-to-midsized community arts organizations and more than 1,000 individual artists over the next two-years. More details to be announced.
- Read the Transcript from the Governor’s State of the State Address
- Questions can be directed to: creativesrebuildNY@mellon.org
NY State Aid for Library Construction
An appropriation in State capital funds for public library construction has been included in the State Budget. Public library systems as well as individual public libraries can apply for aid; all individual public libraries must work with their appropriate library system to develop and submit online applications. State funding through the State Aid for Library Construction can be provide for up to 75% of the total construction project costs.
NYSCA FY2022 funding will be offered in 4 rounds. The opportunity guidelines for rounds 1-3 are now available.
- Round 1: Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grants
- Round 2: Expanded Access to Funding
- Round 3: Organizational and Individual Artist Recovery
- Round 4: NYSCA Capital Funding
Full: NYSCA Application Manual
View FY2022 Overview and Summary page
Statewide Community Regrant program (formerly Decentralization (DEC)) see Tri-County Arts Council (above).
Regrants program partners with other agencies to administer NYSCA funding to serve a variety of individual artists, media arts practitioners, small theatres, museum collections, literary organizations, historic sites and museums.
NY State Historic Preservation Office
NYSHOP administers a variety of programs, the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit, state historic preservation grants program, state and federal environmental review, and a wide range of technical assistance.
- Deadline: April 12
- Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations and municipalities that own or have a long-term lease on buildings that house historic sites, museums, arts facilities, and other important institutions that serve an arts or cultural purpose and are open to the public.
- Focus: Historic structure reports, building condition reports, cultural landscape reports and culture resource surveys. (no capital requests, please see NYSCA www.arts.ny.gov)
- See 2021 Guidelines here
- Deadline:
- Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations and municipalities that own or have a long-term lease on buildings that house historic sites, museums, arts facilities, and other important institutions that serve an arts or cultural purpose and are open to the public.
- Range: up to $4,000 with a required 20% match
- Contact grants@preservenys.org
Sacred Spaces Assistance Program
SSAP provides technical assistance to religious and nonprofit organizations to pursue National Register listing as part of their work to preserve and rehabilitate their historic structures.
Other Funding Opportunities (Local/Regional Businesses)
Blue Fund, BlueCross BlueShield of WNY
(*Regional) 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.
CVS Health Foundation Community Grants
(*National) Corporate grants are focused in three key areas: access to health care, youth tobacco prevention and prescription drug abuse prevention. The application for a Community Grant is by invitation only; contact corporategiving@cvshealth.com. Additionally, the Gift card program offers community-based organizations the opportunity to apply for a CVS gift card up to $50.
Univera Healthcare Community Support
(*Regional) In addition to providing health care insurance coverage for thousands of Western New Yorkers, Univera helps to improve the overall quality of life for people who reside in our communities. See the company’s most recent support during the pandemic: food banks, food pantries, and helping frontline staff and businesses with support for PPE supplies.
(*Local/Regional) The Cummins Foundation grants to nonprofit partners to support communities in which employees live and work. The Community Development Grants
Five Star Bank- Community Involvement
(*Regional) Five Star Community Involvement through volunteer activities, charitable investments and need-based product offerings. Through S.T.A.R. Volunteers Program employees have the option to work one day, fully-paid, volunteering in the community. Community grant guidelines must be within the Bank’s focus areas: affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, community services targeted to low-moderate income individuals. (also accepts sponsorship and donation requests).
(*National) KeyBank Foundation accepts grant requests on a rolling basis, reviewing them quarterly in states the company has retail operations. Prior to applying, preliminary grant inquiries should be made by phone or email. Charitable sponsorship requests are also considered on a rolling basis.
Lake Shore Savings Bank Community Grants
(*Local) Bi-annual grant process (June and December). Priority given to community development and investment projects serving the needs of low to moderate income populations or geographies. Grant awards range from $2,500.00 to smaller amounts.
(*Regional) The M&T Charitable Foundation works in partnership with non-profit organizations that focus on improving the quality of life for our customers, employees and neighbors. Our decisions are made locally, by the people who know their communities best. View charitable giving guidelines and regional contacts.
TOPS Friendly Markets, Neighbors Helping Neighbors
(*Regional) TOPS Markets works with community partners such as the United Way, The Salvation Army and Regional Food Banks. Additionally, they have several opportunities for support focused on eradicating hunger and improving the quality of life for children. Cash for Causes program a fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations to purchase TOPS gift cards at a 5% discount (min. order $500) and resell the gift cards. Community Donation requests can be made from nonprofit organizations; requests up to $50 can be made to the local Store Manager, larger requests can be sent to the Buffalo office on letterhead.
Walmart Foundation Local Community Grants
(*National/Local) Nonprofit organizations, government entity for public purposes, school districts or churches for a project that benefits the community at large. Open application process (rolling deadline), funding is provided by organization’s local Walmart facility. Grants range from $250 to $5,000.
(*Regional) 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.
Other National Funding Opportunities
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS Credit Program for Nonprofits provides access to $2,000 in AWS promotional credits to implement cloud-based solutions. In partnership with TechSoup.
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.
Dollar General Literacy Foundation
(*National) Various literacy grant programs including Adult Literacy Grants, Family Literacy Grants, Summer Reading and Youth Literacy Grants. Deadlines for applications January 2021.
Dunkin’ Donuts- Dunkin‘ Joy in Childhood Foundation Hunger Relief Grants
(*National) New Round of grant funding accepted on a rolling basis for hunger and food security needs. Eligible programs: food banks, food pantries, emergency food programs, grocery delivery programs, community gardens, food rescue initiatives, backpack programs and school-based programs.