United Way of Buffalo and Erie County

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,786,900 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: $5,142 - $2,931,191
• Geographic Focus: Buffalo and Erie County, New York

Contact Details

Website: www.uwbec.org

Phone: (716) 887-2626

Email: programfunding@uwbec.org (for grant application inquiries)

Address: 742 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209

Overview

United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, founded in 1917, is a leading nonprofit organization with $28.9 million in assets and annual revenue of approximately $35 million. The organization distributed $7,786,900 in grants across 98 awards in 2024, focusing on education, health services, and human services primarily in Erie County, New York. United Way's mission centers on improving the health, education, and financial stability of families and individuals in the Buffalo and Erie County region. The organization takes a strategic, hands-on approach by bringing together people, organizations, and resources to address systemic community challenges. United Way has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting strong organizational performance. Their current strategic focus emphasizes supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) populations—the 40% of Erie County residents who work hard but struggle to afford basic necessities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Community Investment RFP: Open application process with grants ranging from $5,142 to over $2.9 million. Recent investment of $3.3 million across 94 programs (2022-2024). Current RFP deadline: October 24, 2025
• Next Generation United - Pitch10: $50,000 total in competitive grants through Shark Tank-style competition for young professionals
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP): Federal program administered locally for emergency assistance providers
• Special Response Funds: Community Resilience Fund and Buffalo Together Community Response Fund activated for urgent community needs

Priority Areas

• Healthy Community: Maternal and infant health initiatives, trauma-informed care, 211 WNY information service
• Financial Security: VITA tax preparation, employment programs, asset building for ALICE populations (recently invested $350,000+)
• Youth Opportunity: Early childhood education, literacy development, Full Service Community Schools, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Political candidates, parties, organizations, or policies
• Organizations outside Erie County
• Programs outside the three focus areas

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Trina Burruss (appointed 2022)

• Known for community-centered leadership approach
• Quote: "We believe that these three issues [housing, education, and health] are those that most heavily impact the inability of ALICE to thrive financially."

Chief Program Officer: Kathy Jamil

Chief Development Officer: Rema Hanash

Board includes community and business leaders such as Hugh Russ, Partner at Hodgson Russ.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

• Monitor uwbec.org/funding for RFP announcements
• Submit application through online portal before deadline
• Must be 501(c)(3) health and human service agency operating in Erie County
• Programs must align with focus areas: Healthy Community, Financial Security, or Youth Opportunity
• Complete annual certification process for donor-designated contributions
• Current RFP deadline: October 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines not publicly detailed. Recent extension funding runs through June 2025.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Context: 98 grants awarded in 2024 from $7.78 million distributed.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in public materials. Contact programfunding@uwbec.org for guidance.

Application Success Factors

• ALICE Population Focus: Programs serving Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed individuals and families
• Strategic Alignment: Clear connection to Healthy Community, Financial Security, or Youth Opportunity focus areas
• Geographic Targeting: Services in high-need Erie County Census block groups based on poverty rates and ALICE prevalence
• Outcome Measurement: Ability to report outcomes with clear metrics showing impact
• Partnership Orientation: CEO emphasizes "forging unlikely partnerships" - demonstrate collaborative approaches
• Equity Focus: Programs addressing disparities in health, education, and economic outcomes
• Recent Funded Examples: Employment programs, maternal health initiatives, free tax preparation, Full Service Community Schools

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on serving the 40% of Erie County residents who are ALICE (working but struggling financially)
• Clearly align with at least one of three strategic pillars: Healthy Community, Financial Security, Youth Opportunity
• Use local data to demonstrate need in Erie County's high-poverty areas
• Emphasize collaborative approaches and potential for systems-change impact
• Be prepared for rigorous outcome measurement and reporting requirements
• Consider multi-year sustainability - United Way makes long-term commitments to effective programs
• Sign up for RFP notifications and engage early with questions to programfunding@uwbec.org

References

• United Way of Buffalo & Erie County official website: www.uwbec.org (accessed March 2, 2026)
• United Way Funding Page: https://www.uwbec.org/funding (accessed March 2, 2026)
• 2025 Request for Proposal page: https://www.uwbec.org/resources-and-training/nonprofit-resources/request-for-proposal/ (accessed March 2, 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/160743969 (accessed March 2, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN: 16-0743969): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/160743969 (accessed March 2, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/united-way-of-buffalo-and-erie-county (accessed March 2, 2026)
• Buffalo News articles on leadership and campaigns (September 2022, May 2023)
• WGRZ: "Buffalo and Erie county United Way kicks off annual giving campaign" (2024)