Foundations that fund organizations in Amherst, New York

Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.

Funding landscape for Amherst nonprofits

115 private foundations gave $4.6M to Amherst organizations in their latest filings; 40 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.

137 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Amherst around $5,000. 56 of these funders are based in New York; the rest give here from elsewhere.

Foundations giving here
115
Accept applications
40
of 100 that state a policy
Dollars to Amherst
$4.6M
latest filings
Grants
137
Typical median grant
$5,000
Based in NY
56%
of funders listed

Funders, by dollars given to Amherst organizations

FoundationBased inGrants hereDollars hereMedianAccepts applicationsTypical purposes
Freedom Together FoundationNew York, NY1$1.1M$1.1MPreselected onlyA collaboratory for a regenerative economy (core): molecule…
Scott Bieler Foundation IncOrchard Park, NY2$386K$193KPreselected onlyLab equipment and lighting; Building fund for the buffalo house
Paul a Saffrin Foundation C/O Catherine B EberlBuffalo, NY2$275K$138KPreselected onlyGeneral
Harry Dent Family Foundation IncBuffalo, NY1$268K$268KYesMedical research
Foundation 214 IncWilliamsville, NY1$256K$256KPreselected onlyCharitable
Gates FoundationSeattle, WA1$250K$250KYesGlobal health and development public awareness and analysis
Risen Son Foundation IncAmherst, NY1$220K$220KPreselected onlyGeneral fund
Johnson James Hervey Char Ed TrustSan Diego, CA1$180K$180KPreselected onlyGeneral Purposes
The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower FoundationGetzville, NY4$168K$39KYesCharitable
Rosenau Family Research FoundationWaseca, MN1$125K$125KYesModulating Oligodendroglial NFkB as a Therapeutic Strategy…
The Ralph C Wilson Jr FoundationDetroit, MI1$112K$112KYesCenter for Allied and Unified Sport and Exercise (CAUSE)
Bernard & Estelle Siegel FoundationWilliamsville, NY1$108K$108KPreselected onlyUnrestricted
The John R Oishei FoundationBuffalo, NY1$100K$100KYesInstitute for mobility innovation & technology
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation IncNew York, NY1$88K$88KYesExpand training on how to include students with special nee…
Charles Pankow FoundationPasadena, CA1$69K$69KPreselected onlyCpf research grant
James H Cummings Foundation IncBuffalo, NY1$60K$60KYesInstitute for mobility innovation and technology
Patrick P Lee FoundationWilliamsville, NY1$50K$50KYesMental health scholarship program
The Spencer FoundationChicago, IL1$47K$47KYesExamining the impact of anti-lgbtq+ education bills
Health Foundation for Western & Central New YorkBuffalo, NY1$42K$42KYesMovers and makers expansion
Pcg Family Philanthropic Foundation IncWilliamsville, NY1$38K$38KPreselected onlyTo support the performing arts
Dew FoundationTyler, TX1$36K$36KPreselected onlyCfi west - feed your brain speaker series for 2025
The Leonard & Robert Weintraub Family Foundation IncNew York, NY1$36K$36KPreselected onlyto further the organization's activities.
Reginald a & Elizabeth S Lenna Fdn Inc Dba Lenna FoundationLakewood, NY1$30K$30KYesOperational support
Cullen Foundation of Western New York IncBuffalo, NY2$29K$15KYesTuition support for butf 2024 fellows (cohort 2); Capacity building: support of staff positions
Noteman-Jones Family Charitable FoundationHockessin, DE1$27K$27KPreselected onlyFoster a secular society
Chur Family FoundationWilliamsville, NY2$26K$13KPreselected onlyCharitable
The Margaret L Wendt FoundationBuffalo, NY1$25K$25KYesAvailable upon request
The Sheila Dave & Sherry Gold Foundation Co Jeff GoldStudio City, CA1$25K$25KPreselected onlySupport of Scientific Literacy
The Paul J Koessler Foundation IncWilliamsville, NY1$25K$25KYesCharitable
Ann & Gordon Getty FoundationSan Francisco, CA1$25K$25KPreselected onlyTo carry out specific charitable, educational, and cultural…
Wells Fargo FoundationMinneapolis, MN1$25K$25KPreselected onlyJunior Achievement Financial Literacy Pathway Program
Stiefel Freethought FoundationWilmington, DE1$20K$20KPreselected onlyGeneral & Unrestricted
The Percy FundBlue Bell, PA1$20K$20KPreselected onlyTo support the operating budget of the recipient
Ralph C Sheldon Foundation IncJamestown, NY1$20K$20KYesPrograms in so. chautauqua co.
The Denker Foundation Co Turtle Creek Trust CompanyDallas, TX1$15K$15KPreselected onlyUnrestricted
Travelers FoundationSt Paul, MN1$15K$15KPreselected onlyProgram support for JA in a Day for students at Buffalo Pub…
Northwest Charitable FoundationWarren, PA2$13K$6,250Preselected onlyYouth development
Grigg-Lewis Foundation IncLockport, NY1$12K$12KYesEducation
North Pond FoundationWilmington, DE1$10K$10KPreselected onlyCouncil for secular
Macdonald-Peterson FoundationHouston, TX1$10K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral fund
Tower Family Fund IncBuffalo, NY1$10K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral support
The Vera B Arrison FoundationNorth Tonawanda, NY1$10K$10KPreselected onlyCollege transition program
The Levmar Foundation IncMcLean, VA1$10K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral support
Harry S Fredenburgh Scholarship Fund TrChicago, IL3$8,650$3,050Preselected onlyScholarship
The Vincent & Harriet Palisano FoundationBuffalo, NY2$7,000$3,500YesScholarship
Jjr Foundation IncBuffalo, NY1$6,000$6,000Preselected onlyGeneral purpose
The Nathan & Lena Seiler Family Fdn C/O Jay Gelbein CpaStaten Island, NY1$6,000$6,000Preselected onlyTax exempt purpose
The Christos Foundation IncOrchard Park, NY2$6,000$3,000Preselected onlyCharitable
Nfada Charitable FoundationWilliamsville, NY2$6,000$3,000Preselected onlyGeneral; Medical
Charles Engasser Memorial Foundation IncChanhassen, MN1$5,800$5,800Preselected onlyAnnual scholarship
Buffalo Bills Foundation IncOrchard Park, NY2$5,295$2,647Yes50/50 charitable proceeds; Coach of the week
The Baird FoundationBuffalo, NY1$5,000$5,000YesUnrestricted
Mosey Family FoundationBuffalo, NY1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyChiritable
The Allstate FoundationNorthbrook, IL1$5,000$5,000YesHelping hands group grants
The Helen Dent Lenahan Foundation IncBuffalo, NY1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyScholarship fund
The Frank & Jean Iacovangelo Family Foundation IncWilmington, DE1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyCharitable Event
The Frank G Raichle FoundationWilliamsville, NY1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyGeneral purpose
Henry and Norma Gong Family FoundationLafayette, CA1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyEducation
Guenther Scholarship Fund the 003307Hornell, NY1$4,000$4,000YesScholarships
The Carol J Adragna Family FoundationDepew, NY1$4,000$4,000YesGeneral - unrestricted
Marion Park Lewis Foundation for the ArtsWinchester, VA1$4,000$4,000YesTo promote education for the arts
Edward & Verna Gerbic Family FoundationWest Hartford, CT1$4,000$4,000Preselected onlyCurrent Use for General Charitable Purposes
Captain James E Turner Jr Usnr Scholarship TrOneonta, NY2$3,700$1,850YesScholarships
Naugle FoundationClarence, NY1$3,596$3,596Yesphyscial repairs to school facilities
Cutco Foundation IncOlean, NY2$3,500$1,750YesAnnual gift
Woldenberg FoundationMetairie, LA1$3,000$3,000YesScholarships
Moulton Harold E Scholarship Fund 18362340Ithaca, NY1$3,000$3,000YesScholarship
Children's Foundation of Erie County IncKenmore, NY1$3,000$3,000YesProgramming
Buffalo Rehab Group Foundation IncNorth Tonawanda, NY1$3,000$3,000Preselected onlyCharitable
Donald Macdavid Charitable Tr PfBuffalo, NY1$2,899$2,899Preselected onlyScholarship
Jb PhilanthropiesSan Clemente, CA1$2,801$2,801Preselected onlyVeteran assistance
Florence E Eckhardt ScholarshipSt Louis, MO1$2,715$2,715YesScholarship
Gladstein Family Foundation IncScarsdale, NY1$2,500$2,500Preselected onlyFurther organizations goals
Better Future FoundationWilmington, DE1$2,500$2,500Preselected onlyGeneral & Unrestricted
Julia M Cullen FoundationBuffalo, NY1$2,500$2,500YesRequest for donation/education
Anspar FoundationVenice, CA1$2,368$2,368Preselected onlyCharity
Gavin Scholarship Tuw Bernard Gavin 003054Olean, NY1$2,345$2,345Preselected onlyScholarships
Citizens Charitable FoundationJohnston, RI1$2,243$2,243Preselected onlyMatching gifts
Tr UW J a Burns Scholarship FundNorwich, NY1$2,217$2,217Preselected onlyScholarship
Hebrew Benevolent Loan AssociationGetzville, NY1$2,156$2,156YesLoan forgiveness
Elster Foundation AgtAtlanta, GA1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyCharitable
Buffalo Sabres Alumni AssociationAmherst, NY1$2,000$2,000YesScholarship payment to the college on behalf of a scholarsh…
Tw Ha Richmond-Teachers Rel FundNorwich, NY1$1,912$1,912Preselected onlyRichmond teachers relief
Shell USA Company FoundationHouston, TX2$1,750$875Preselected only1450; 300
Dreamcatcher Foundation IncIslamorada, FL1$1,500$1,500YesGeneral donation
The Zausner Foundation IncNew York, NY1$1,500$1,500Preselected onlyGeneral support
Eastman FoundationBuffalo, NY1$1,500$1,500Preselected onlyGeneral donation
Emanuel and Judith a Klein Family FdnSarasota, FL1$1,350$1,350Preselected onlyProgram support
Wny Furtastic Adopt a Thon IncWilliamsville, NY2$1,050$525Preselected onlyAnimal adoption
National Center to Encourage JudaismKensington, MD1$1,000$1,000YesGeneral
Gouverneur FoundationGouverneur, NY1$1,000$1,000YesEducation
Ferguson Electric FoundationBuffalo, NY2$1,000$500YesCharitable
Pat Boone Foundation IncLos Angeles, CA1$700$700Preselected onlyAssistance to families in need
Goff Family FoundationPhoenix, AZ2$600$300Preselected onlyProgram support
Frank and Frances Revoir Foundation C/O Fred S MartyMarcellus, NY1$550$550YesCharitable purpose
The Forst FoundationFort Washington, PA1$523$523Preselected onlyOperating support
Dan Cameron Family Foundation IncWilmington, NC1$500$500YesGeneral Operating Fund
Herbert & Rosalie Goldberg Family Foundation IncWallingford, PA1$500$500Preselected onlyUnrestricted
The Jane and Rabbi Abraham Krantz Family FoundationSarasota, FL1$500$500Preselected onlyGeneral support
McKinstry Charitable FoundationSeattle, WA1$500$500Preselected onlyEducation & STEM

Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.

Common questions

Which foundations give to nonprofits in Amherst, New York?

Freedom Together Foundation, Scott Bieler Foundation Inc, Paul a Saffrin Foundation C/O Catherine B Eberl, Harry Dent Family Foundation Inc, Foundation 214 Inc and 95 others reported grants to Amherst organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.

How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?

A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.

Is this list complete?

No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Amherst. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.

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