Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $33,824,220 (2023)
Total Assets: Over $940 million
Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000+
Average Grant: $18,000 - $20,000 (competitive grants)
Geographic Focus: Eight counties of Western New York
Total Awards (2023): 498 grants
Application Method: Two-stage process (LOI then full application)

Contact Details

Address: 726 Exchange Street, Suite 525, Buffalo, NY 14210

Phone: (716) 852-2857

Grant Inquiries: Darren Penoyer, Director of Community Impact
Email: darrenp@cfgb.org | Phone: (716) 852-2857 ext. 206

Technical Support: Sarah Johnson (Foundant system issues)
Email: sarahj@cfgb.org

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Overview

Founded in 1919, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is one of Western New York's largest and oldest grantmakers, managing over $940 million in charitable assets. The foundation serves the eight counties of Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming) and works with more than 400 active clients while carrying on the legacies of an additional 500 clients. In 2023, the foundation awarded $33.8 million through 498 grants. Under the leadership of President/CEO Betsy Constantine, who assumed the role in January 2023, the foundation has experienced significant growth—from $161 million in assets when Constantine joined in 2009 to over $900 million today. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on four Community Goals: racial equity, education, arts and culture, and environment. Special consideration is given to requests that advance racial equity work throughout Western New York.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Foundation Competitive Grants: $18,000 - $20,000 average grant

Two-stage application process via online portal
Annual competitive process with specific deadlines
LOI deadline: April 28, 2025 by 4 PM (for 2025 cycle)
Must align with one or more of the four Community Goals

21st Century Fund: $100,000 (single award)

Awarded every two years through member-driven giving circle
Strong preference for sustainable projects requiring minimal future grant support
Focus on long-term significant impact on eight-county region

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds: Varies by program

Annual awards totaling over $1.3 million distributed to 85+ organizations (2025)
Four focus areas: Caregivers, Community Assets, Design and Access, Youth Sports
Specific grants typically $10,000 - $25,000

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative: $500,000 annual funding pool

Supports small to mid-sized arts and cultural nonprofits
Serves eight Western New York counties plus Monroe County

WNY Forward Fund: Variable amounts

Collaborative effort of 13 funders
Priorities include Strategic Alliances & Nonprofit Resiliency, Civic Health & Building Common Ground, Impact Data & Storytelling
Focus on mental health, food security, and housing

Named Funds (various amounts and focuses):

Daniel C. and Beatrice M. Fisher Fund (Town of Clarence focus)
Garman Family Foundation Grants (two cycles annually: mental health, food security, housing)
Josephine Goodyear Foundation Grants (indigent women and children, physical needs)
Bauman Fund for the Arts (fine arts appreciation)
William F. Thiel Grants (health focus, Wyoming County residents)
J. Warren Perry & Charles Donald Perry Memorial Fund (invitation-only, innovation emphasis)

Priority Areas

The foundation's grantmaking is organized around four Community Goals:

1. Racial Equity

Special consideration given to all requests that advance racial equity work
Increasing interaction and bridging racial/ethnic divides between residents and organizations
Promoting civic engagement and leadership in communities of color
Solutions that address systemic barriers

2. Education

Promoting economic mobility through educational achievement for residents in low-income households
Improving academic achievement and postsecondary completion of low-income students (preference for systems change)
Improving school readiness of children ages 5 and under living in communities of poverty
Focus on addressing educational disparities

3. Arts and Culture

Increasing access to long-term arts instruction for low-income children and youth
Restoring and leveraging significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks
Supporting small to mid-sized arts and cultural nonprofits
Promoting fine arts appreciation across the region

4. Environment

Trail reconstruction and maintenance
Environmental sustainability projects
Green infrastructure initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Restrictions:

Organizations must be located or delivering services in at least one of the eight counties of Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming)
Some specific funds have narrower geographic restrictions (e.g., Community Assets grants limited to Erie County nonprofits)

Program-Specific Exclusions:

Tackle football programs (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Youth Sports)
Traditional sporting goods equipment (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Youth Sports)
Youth programs outside ages 5-13 (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Youth Sports focus)

Eligibility Requirements:

Must have 501(c)(3) status as determined by the IRS
Must align with one or more of the four Community Goals

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Betsy Constantine, President/CEO (since January 2023)

Joined the Community Foundation in 2009
Promoted to Vice President of Giving Strategies (2011), Executive Vice President (2017)
Under her leadership, foundation assets grew from $161 million (2009) to over $900 million
Recognized on Buffalo Business First's 2024 Power 250 list
Described by predecessor as having "great energy, great vision and is very much a people person. She personifies collaborative approaches."

Previous Leadership:

Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker (President/CEO 2007-2022): Led the foundation's growth from $135 million to $850 million in assets during her tenure

2024 Board of Directors Officers

Chair: Hon. Rose H. Sconiers
Chair-Elect: Steve Finch
Vice Chairs: Tamara O. Alsace, Ph.D.; Jeffrey H. Katz, Esq.
Secretary: Owen Herne, Esq.
Treasurer: Cheryl Jankowski

Board Members

Jennifer Balbach, David Blesy, Bonita R. Durand (Ph.D.), Dottie Gallagher, Allen "Pete" Grum, Alice Jacobs (JD), Alex Montante, Hal D. Payne, Amy Habib Rittling (Esq.), Luis Rodriguez, John F. Somers, Nancy Ware

Key Staff

Darren Penoyer, Director of Community Impact

Over 10 years of experience at the Community Foundation
Oversees annual giving in client directed, geographic, leadership related and competitive grants
Manages Niagara Area Foundation, Wyoming Foundation, and Fund for the Arts
Primary contact for competitive grants process

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application System: All applications are submitted electronically through the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager. No paper, emailed, or PDF applications are accepted.

Two-Stage Process:

Letter of Intent (LOI)
- First step for all competitive grant applications
- Must align with one or more of the foundation's four Community Goals and their detailed Solutions
- LOIs that align best with the solutions are invited to submit full applications
- For 2025 cycle: LOI due April 28, 2025 by 4 PM (no exceptions)
Full Application
- Invitation-only for selected LOIs
- Submitted through same online Foundant system
- Includes detailed project information, budget, and organizational background

Application Cycles: The competitive grants process typically operates on an annual cycle with specific deadlines. Some named funds (e.g., Garman Family Foundation) offer two cycles annually.

Technical Issues: Contact Sarah Johnson at sarahj@cfgb.org with your name, organization, EIN, and detailed problem description.

Decision Timeline

Competitive Grants: Specific timeline varies by cycle; contact Darren Penoyer for current timeline
Niagara Area Foundation Grants: Notifications in mid-December
Historical average processing time: Not publicly disclosed, but foundation made 498 awards in 2023 across multiple programs

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data, the foundation awarded 498 grants totaling $33.8 million. The competitive grants process is highly selective, with only the LOIs that "align best" with the foundation's solutions invited to submit full applications. Specific acceptance rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by fund. For general competitive grants, the foundation encourages organizations to reapply if they continue to align with the Community Goals. Contact Darren Penoyer for specific guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Alignment with Community Goals is Critical: Applications must clearly demonstrate how they address one or more of the four Community Goals. The foundation emphasizes that "LOIs that align best with the solutions listed under the goals are invited to submit a full application."

Racial Equity Lens: The foundation gives "special consideration to requests that advance racial equity work." Successful applications should articulate how their work addresses racial equity, even if it's not the primary focus.

Sustainability Matters: Based on the 21st Century Fund criteria, the foundation has "a strong preference for requests that are sustainable, requiring minimal future grant support of any type, and result in long-term significant impact on the eight-county region."

Systems Change Over Individual Services: Particularly for education grants, the foundation shows a preference for systems change approaches rather than direct service delivery.

Recent Funded Projects (Examples from 2024-2025)

Youth Sports (Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds):

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy: $10,000 for "Improving Youth Access to the Game of Golf"
Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District: $20,000 for "Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District Sports Equity & Opportunity Project"

Community Assets:

Ujima Company, Inc.: $25,000 for "The Dunbar Youth Program"
Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc.: $15,000 for "Broadway Theater Restoration Project"

Arts & Culture (2025 Competitive Grants):

North Park Theater of Buffalo, Inc.: $20,000
Ujima Company, Inc.: $12,500

What the Foundation Values

From Leadership: Former CEO Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker emphasized the foundation's commitment to "bringing together public, private, nonprofit and government partners to tackle systemic issues."

Current President/CEO Betsy Constantine is known for "collaborative approaches" and has focused on deepening "relationships with clients, prospective clients and professional advisors."

Community Impact Focus: The foundation's website emphasizes "making grants that maximize impact on the eight counties of Western New York within its four Community Goals."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Lead with Community Goals alignment: Your LOI must clearly demonstrate how your project addresses one or more of the four Community Goals (racial equity, education, arts and culture, environment). This is the foundation's primary filter for advancing applications.
Emphasize racial equity: Even if racial equity isn't your primary focus, articulate how your work advances racial equity. The foundation gives special consideration to these elements across all grant programs.
Think systems change, not band-aids: Particularly for education and social service grants, the foundation prefers approaches that change systems rather than just provide direct services. Show how your work will have lasting impact.
Build sustainability into your proposal: The foundation values projects that won't require ongoing grant support. Demonstrate how your initiative will be sustained beyond the grant period.
Know the two-stage process: Don't invest heavily in a full proposal upfront. The LOI is your chance to get invited—make it compelling and tightly aligned with their goals. Only invited organizations submit full applications.
Geographic focus matters: Your work must serve one or more of the eight Western New York counties (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming). Don't apply if you serve outside this region.
Contact Darren Penoyer before applying: With over 10 years at the foundation, Darren Penoyer (Director of Community Impact) can provide guidance on fit and alignment. His insight can help you determine if your project is a good match before investing time in an LOI.

References

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Official Website. "Grants, Scholarships & Awards." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/receive-funding-or-support/grants/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Community Foundation Grants." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/community-foundation/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Community Foundation For Greater Buffalo Inc." EIN 22-2743917. Accessed December 24, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/222743917
Instrumentl. "Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo | 990 Report." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/community-foundation-for-greater-buffalo-inc
Inside Philanthropy. "Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/new-york-grants/community-foundation-for-greater-buffalo
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Community Foundation Announces Leadership Transition." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/news/community-foundation-announces-leadership-transition/
Buffalo News. "Dedecker to retire as Community Foundation CEO." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://buffalonews.com/news/local/dedecker-to-retire-as-community-foundation-ceo/article_3c90d53e-c6fb-11ec-9a0d-4b0ef4197684.html
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Announces 2025 Grant Awards from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/news/community-foundation-for-greater-buffalo-announces-2025-grant-awards-from-ralph-c-wilson-jr-legacy-funds/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Announces 2024 Grant Awards from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/news/community-foundation-for-greater-buffalo-announces-2024-grant-awards-from-ralph-c-wilson-jr-legacy-funds/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Board of Directors - About Us." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/about/board-of-directors/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Contact Us - Phone, Address, Email." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/contact/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Our People: Staff and Board." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/about/team/
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. "Darren Penoyer - Staff." Accessed December 24, 2024. https://www.cfgb.org/about/staff/darren-penoyer/
WNY Papers. "Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo opens 2025 Competitive Grant Process." January 6, 2025. https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/2025/01/06/161920/community-foundation-for-greater-buffalo-opens-2025-competitive-grant-process