Foundations that fund organizations in Buffalo, New York
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Buffalo nonprofits
678 private foundations gave $142M to Buffalo organizations in their latest filings; 37 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
2,931 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Buffalo around $40K. 76 of these funders are based in New York; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 678
- Accept applications
- 37
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Buffalo
- $142M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 2,931
- Typical median grant
- $40K
- Based in NY
- 76%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Buffalo organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation | Detroit, MI | 75 | $49M | $123K | Yes | Trustee Matching Grant; Employee Matching Grant; Trustee Designated Grant |
| Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 40 | $12M | $238K | Yes | Provide tuition assistance to eligible low-income students…; Support construction arts skill-building and job readiness…; Expand youth development program to provide mentoring and j… |
| The John R Oishei Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 116 | $8.0M | $20K | Yes | Basic human needs 2024-2025; Jro transition fund; 2024 capacity building micro grant |
| Cullen Foundation of Western New York Inc | Buffalo, NY | 83 | $3.3M | $30K | Yes | Early literacy tutoring cohort sy24-25; Program funds for supplemental academic program; Early literacy tutoring cohort spring 2024 pilot |
| Foundation 214 Inc | Williamsville, NY | 23 | $3.0M | $50K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Tower Family Fund Inc | Buffalo, NY | 17 | $2.9M | $10K | Preselected only | General support; General support - installment 1 of 4; The buffalo together fund |
| The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation | Getzville, NY | 51 | $2.9M | $50K | Yes | Charitable |
| The Margaret L Wendt Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 33 | $2.6M | $50K | Yes | Available upon request |
| Flock Inc | Boston, MA | 8 | $2.2M | $75K | Preselected only | General operations; Program/project support; General operations & program/project support |
| Weiss Family Foundation | Miami Beach, FL | 1 | $2.1M | $2.1M | Preselected only | To support programs that promote post-secondary education f… |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 3 | $1.9M | $500K | Yes | To support organizational and programmatic development, arc…; To support a community-engaged study of healthcare in the u…; To support a call for concepts research project |
| Scott Bieler Foundation Inc | Orchard Park, NY | 16 | $1.7M | $20K | Preselected only | General donation; Building fund for the child advocacy center; Classroom building project |
| Angle Foundation of New York Inc | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $1.5M | $1.5M | Preselected only | Charitable |
| James H Cummings Foundation Inc | Buffalo, NY | 40 | $1.4M | $30K | Yes | Roof replacement; Relocation of safe space dropin center; Providing building security upgrades for safety & protection |
| Rich Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 59 | $1.4M | $10K | Yes | General Donation; Annual Donation; Corporate Sponsorship |
| The Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 42 | $1.3M | $10K | Preselected only | General operating support; Funding for the buffalo hive, an online calendar for arts o…; General operating support and education programs |
| The Prentice Family Foundation | Jacksonville, FL | 2 | $1.2M | $617K | Preselected only | Administration of the scholarship program and scholarship a… |
| Buffalo Bills Foundation Inc | Orchard Park, NY | 84 | $1.2M | $5,000 | Yes | 50/50 charitable proceeds; Blizzard response; 50-50 charitable proceeds |
| Health Foundation for Western & Central New York | Buffalo, NY | 59 | $1.2M | $7,500 | Yes | Trustee discretionary fund; Age friendly go local 2.0; Imagine nonviolence close the gap |
| Davis Family Foundation | Naples, FL | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | Education |
| Freedom Together Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $1.0M | $500K | Preselected only | Revitalize: community ownership for a just transition; Base building to organize against authoritarianism and towa… |
| The Western New York Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 65 | $985K | $5,000 | Yes | Operations; Social Justice and Equity; Give 716 Match |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 10 | $905K | $467 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support); In support of neighborhood revitalization |
| The Knobloch Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $885K | $885K | Preselected only | McIntyre Ranch Conservation Easement Alberta, Canada |
| Margaret D and Jeremy M Jacobs Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 2 | $883K | $442K | Preselected only | Medical community and patients in need in Buffalo; Children's scholarship fund |
| J F & W S Schoellkopf Fdn Bank of America | Dallas, TX | 1 | $843K | $843K | Preselected only | To support the buffalo fdn |
| Marjorie and John Buyers Foundation | Orchard Park, NY | 20 | $832K | $4,500 | Preselected only | Current operations unrestricted; Current operations-unrestricted; Current operations - unrestricted |
| Charter Fund Inc D/B/A Charter School Growth Fund | Broomfield, CO | 4 | $813K | $138K | Yes | Charter school growth; Impact and innovation |
| Patrick P Lee Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 15 | $772K | $38K | Yes | Mental health workforce initiative; Discretionary grant; Mental health scholarship program |
| Wk Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek, MI | 2 | $750K | $375K | Yes | Promise of an Equitable Future |
| The Walter E Schmid Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 5 | $683K | $68K | Preselected only | General; Program support |
| Zemsky Family Foundation C/O Taurus Partners | Buffalo, NY | 27 | $660K | $2,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| New Era Cap Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 11 | $634K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Rowboat Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 8 | $625K | $80K | Preselected only | Charitable; Educational |
| Herbert and Dolly Ladds Family Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $586K | $586K | Yes | General |
| Bernard & Estelle Siegel Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 12 | $563K | $38K | Preselected only | Unrestricted; Goodskills career builder progr; Academic advancement supp prog |
| The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | 6 | $552K | $75K | Yes | General support; Matching gift |
| The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust | New York, NY | 2 | $538K | $269K | Preselected only | Financial viability of telehealth services for underserved… |
| Wh Greene Foundation | East Aurora, NY | 14 | $538K | $25K | Yes | General |
| The Simons Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 3 | $517K | $8,400 | Preselected only | Development of therapeutics for foxg1 syndrome using patien…; Mapping class groups and geometric group theory; New advances in quantum topology and its applications |
| Philip & Amy Mickelson Charitable Foundation | Melville, NY | 2 | $500K | $250K | Preselected only | Unrestricted use by donee |
| Deroy Testamentary Foundation | West Bloomfield, MI | 1 | $467K | $467K | Yes | Charitable |
| The Joseph and Anna Gartner Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 1 | $400K | $400K | Preselected only | Operations/special proj./endowments |
| The Osc Charitable Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 20 | $399K | $2,750 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc | Kenmore, NY | 65 | $388K | $5,000 | Yes | Scholarships; Programming; After school program |
| Russell J Salvatore Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 8 | $386K | $33K | Yes | General; Hospital construction project; Religious |
| Gisel Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $358K | $358K | Preselected only | General |
| East Hill Foundation | North Tonawanda, NY | 12 | $346K | $19K | Yes | Mattresses and appliances for homeless families; Metal lockers for shelter; Food pantry staples and supplies |
| The Baird Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 59 | $335K | $3,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| Centene Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $333K | $333K | Preselected only | Support construction |
| Lakeridge Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 13 | $326K | $10K | Preselected only | To support their mission |
| Zeron Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 18 | $309K | $5,000 | Yes | General operations; Summer 2025 high school and college internships; Homeless street feeding program |
| The Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W Farris Foundation | Boston, MA | 4 | $301K | $23K | Preselected only | General operating support; Behavioral health initiative planning participation grant; Youth non-crisis warm line for support and referral |
| The Kendeda Fund | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $300K | $300K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust Trubee Wealth Advisors | Buffalo, NY | 24 | $287K | $10K | Yes | General operating; Various projects; Support for social services program |
| Paul a Saffrin Foundation C/O Catherine B Eberl | Buffalo, NY | 2 | $267K | $133K | Preselected only | General |
| Succ Co-Ta J Camerata Charitable 498 | New York, NY | 3 | $263K | $88K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Charles & Ione Arrick Char Trust Pf | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $262K | $262K | Preselected only | General support |
| Redlich Horwitz Foundation | Chappaqua, NY | 3 | $257K | $75K | Preselected only | General unrestricted |
| The Pershing Square Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | General support |
| 18220 Fund | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Scholarship fund for students at Canisius High School with… |
| E&w G Foundation | North Tonawanda, NY | 9 | $240K | $20K | Preselected only | Donation; New exhibit - science stadium; Education and water monitoring programs at satellite office… |
| Msgr Richard S Amico Memorial Charitable Trust | Buffalo, NY | 27 | $235K | $10K | Preselected only | Program services |
| The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc | Williamsville, NY | 9 | $230K | $10K | Yes | Charitable; Charitablecapital campaign; Uss tripperecreation |
| Charles D & Mary a Bauer Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 3 | $220K | $105K | Preselected only | Scholarships; Athlete/leadership development; Research |
| The Statler Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 3 | $219K | $48K | Yes | Scholarships and support |
| The Edward H Butler Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 11 | $215K | $10K | Yes | General fund; To support the modern city builders program; Butler mitchell house renovation |
| Grigg-Lewis Foundation Inc | Lockport, NY | 11 | $212K | $10K | Yes | Human service; Community improvement; Youth |
| The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | 82311 preparing guidelines for data dashboards accountable… |
| Chur Family Foundation | Williamsville, NY | 9 | $198K | $20K | Preselected only | Charitable; Chartiable |
| The Hyde Family Charitable Fund C/O Thomas R Hyde | Buffalo, NY | 5 | $197K | $10K | Preselected only | Educational; Charitable |
| New York State Health Fdn D/B/A New York Health Foundation | New York, NY | 6 | $191K | $6,800 | Yes | Conference scholarship application - healthy food, healthy…; Expanding healthy eating opportunities for veterans in west…; Conference scholarship application - veterans health |
| Education Revolution Association | Strongsville, OH | 2 | $190K | $95K | Preselected only | 1st payment on $140,000 grant to allow pilot of life skills…; General support of school |
| Mosaic 659 Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 4 | $183K | $14K | Preselected only | General funds donation; Charitable |
| Ford Philanthropy | Dearborn, MI | 3 | $180K | $50K | Preselected only | Essential services; Employee volunteering |
| Montague Family Charitable Foundation | Clarence Center, NY | 6 | $178K | $6,500 | Preselected only | Program services |
| Elf Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 4 | $176K | $53K | Yes | Pancreatic cancer research; Capital campaign; General support |
| The Barbara a and Thomas F Wolfe Foundation Inc C/O Frank Rimerman & Co | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $175K | $175K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Montgomery Family Foundation | East Lyme, CT | 8 | $172K | $25K | Yes | Charitable support; To support tifft nature preserve; To support live symphonic music |
| The Richard W Rupp Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 21 | $171K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Program services; Theater renovation |
| Russo Family Charitable Foundation Inc | Orchard Park, NY | 7 | $170K | $20K | Preselected only | Medical; General |
| The Robert J & Martha B Fierle Fndn | Williamsville, NY | 14 | $167K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Marks Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 17 | $164K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Charitable; Mentoring program; Town clubhouse teen center repairs |
| The Galasso Foundation | Clarence, NY | 11 | $163K | $10K | Preselected only | Contribution |
| Risen Son Foundation Inc | Amherst, NY | 7 | $163K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General fund; Upgrade of infusion suite |
| Louis P Ciminelli Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 5 | $155K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted; 2025 season support |
| The Frank L Ciminelli Family Foundation | Buffalo, NY | 7 | $154K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Thompson Family Foundation | Bedford Heights, OH | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Fights for racial and economicjustice with a spirit ofbelon… |
| Charles E Burchfield Foundation Inc | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Operations |
| Surdna Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | General support |
| The Nussdorf Family Foundation Inc | West Palm Beach, FL | 3 | $150K | $40K | Preselected only | Annual fund; Sola program; General purpose |
| Lawrence P Castellani Family Foundation | Sarasota, FL | 3 | $148K | $13K | Preselected only | Further the donee's mission; General support to the roswell park comprehensive cancer ce… |
| The Lewis J & Clelia M Serventi Family Foundation | Perry, NY | 4 | $145K | $43K | Preselected only | General funds donation; Pledge to pediatric center; General funds donation. |
| Co-Tr Uart 19 Ow Mae Stone Goode 12-208920 | New York, NY | 2 | $145K | $72K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| The Fatta Foundation Inc | Buffalo, NY | 11 | $143K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable; Arts & culture |
| J F Schoellkopf Silver Wedding Fund | Buffalo, NY | 1 | $142K | $142K | Preselected only | Charitable mutual aid |
| The Carol J Adragna Family Foundation | Depew, NY | 20 | $136K | $5,000 | Yes | General - unrestricted; Scholarship |
| The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc | New York, NY | 2 | $135K | $68K | Yes | Program support (over 2 years) |
| Kenneth & Katherine Koessler Family Foundation Inc | Buffalo, NY | 21 | $134K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Herbert F & Bertha W Darling Trust | Norwich, NY | 2 | $134K | $67K | Preselected only | General operating |
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 Buffalo, New York?
The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Inc, The John R Oishei Foundation, Cullen Foundation of Western New York Inc, Foundation 214 Inc and 95 others reported grants to Buffalo 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 Buffalo. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.