$23.1M in expenses

Donor/client directed funds: the community foundation administers funds in which donors make grant recommendations to the board of directors. The board reviews and approves these grants, which support a wide variety of nonprofit organizations locally and nationally. In 2024, program expenses totaled $23,128,000, including $21,207,000 in grants. The recipients of these grants vary from year to year, reflecting the diverse philanthropic interests of donors.

$7.0M in expenses

Board directed grants & scholarships: the board of the community foundation directs the use of certain funds (as requested by the client/donor) as follows:(1) changing needs: clients/donors request that their funds be directed by the board to address the changing needs of our community over time. In 2024 the community foundation granted $820,000 to advance the priorities set by the foundation. (2) field of interest : clients/donors request that their funds be directed to a specific area of interest. The grantees receiving these funds are determined by the board of the community foundation. In 2024 the community foundation awarded $3,016,000 from field of interest funds.(3) scholarships clients/donors have established scholarship funds which the foundation awards to residents of western new york. These awards are based primarily on financial need, although the client/donor may have made additional stipulations such as field of study or graduates of a particular high school. In 2024 $2,576,000 was awarded for scholarships, excluding those awarded by say yes buffalo (listed below).

$4.4M in expenses

Say yes buffalo (SYB): the say yes buffalo initiative is an education based, economic revitalization effort designed to strengthen the regional workforce and offer unprecedented education opportunities to urban youth. The community foundation supports and administers the say yes buffalo scholarship fund which seeks to remove all barriers to educational success through a coordinated system of support and by providing scholarships for all graduates of buffalo public and charter schools to pursue a post-secondary education. In addition to administering the scholarship fund, the community foundation has also made grants to support various initiatives spearheaded by say yes buffalo in its mission to address the financial, academic, health and social/emotional barriers to educational achievement.

$7.6M in expenses

Other program services: the community foundation administers designated funds, which donors create to provide ongoing support to specific charitable organizations. These grants are generally awarded to the same organizations each year, consistent with the fund agreements. In 2024, other program expenses totaled $7,624,000, including $6,219,000 in grants after netting interfund activity. Grants awarded from designated funds totaled $6,880,000.