Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announces 2026 grant awards to 78 organizations

Press release

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced 77 Western New York organizations received more than $1.26 million in grant awards from endowment funds created to carry on the legacy of Ralph C. Wilson Jr. 

In 2016, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established the legacy funds as endowments at the Community Foundation to provide annual support to areas that were important to Wilson during his lifetime: caregivers, community assets, design and access, and youth sports. Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding forever for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes. 

The legacy funds at the Community Foundation complement the work of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and were created to provide immediate impact and long-term benefit in Western New York. Grant awards are listed alphabetically within each interest area.

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Caregivers

• A Better YOU Lifestyle Inc – $11,000
• Canopy of Neighbors Inc. – $15,000
• Compeer of Greater Buffalo – $20,000
• Every Bottom Covered Inc. – $20,000
• Genesee County Office for the Aging – $16,000
• Gerard Place – $20,000
• HART Inc. – $20,000
• Hearts and Hands – Faith in Action Inc. – $20,000
• Interfaith Caregivers – $20,000
• Karen Society of Buffalo – $20,000
• No Wound Untreated Inc – $12,500
• People Inc. – $12,500
• Reg Lenna Center for the Arts – $12,000
• The Prevention Council of Erie County – $20,000
• Total Senior Care – $25,000
• West Falls Center for the Arts $10,000

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Community Assets

• Ade Jembe Fola – $16,000
• Arts for Learning WNY – $16,000
• Buffalo Arts Studio – $15,000
• Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $15,401
• Buffalo String Works – $20,000
• Coles House Foundation – $25,000
• Graycliff Conservancy Inc. – $16,000
• North Park Theatre of Buffalo Inc. – $25,000
• Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $25,000
• Peace of the City Ministries – $25,000

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access

• Alfred Almond Community Sports Association Inc. – $50,000
• Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust – $50,000
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper – $46,557
• Citizens for a Better Cassadaga – $45,000
• Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail – $41,832
• IMPACT: Friends Improving Allegany County Trails Inc. – $21,000
• Nor-Ton Red Jacket Club Inc. – $25,000
• Open Buffalo Inc. – $50,000
• Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy – $50,000

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports

• 716 Squash – $8,000
• Arc GLOW – $10,000
• Batavia GLOW Young Men's Christian Association Inc. – $10,000
• Bolivar Richburg Youth Football and Cheer – $12,000
• Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County – $15,000
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns of WNY – $10,000
• Buffalo Maendeleo Soccer Club Inc. – $10,000
• Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy – $15,000
• Buffalo Sports and Wellness Association (d/b/a Healthy Buffalo) – $10,000
• Buffalo Sports Project – $5,000
• Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center – $8,000
• Chautauqua Striders Inc. – $8,000
• Dominik Hasek Youth Hockey League Inc.– $12,000
• EPIC – Every Person Influences Children – $5,000
• Erie Regional Housing Development Corp. – The Belle Center – $10,000
• Friends of Youngstown – $7,000
• Full Circle Family Services – $10,000
• Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $12,000
• Girls on the Run of Buffalo Inc. – $10,000
• Girls Sport Foundation – $10,000
• Harrison's Playmakers – $10,000
• Karen Society of Buffalo – $10,000
• Lakeshore Youth Football League – $6,000
• Medina Glow Young Men's Christian Association Inc.– $10,000
• Natural Heritage Trust – $15,000
• Niagara Falls Boys and Girls Club – $12,550
• Police Athletic League of Niagara Falls NY – $12,500
• Research Foundation for the SUNY on behalf of the University at Buffalo – $12,000
• Resource Council Of WNY Inc. – $10,000
• Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc. – $15,000
• Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped Inc. – $10,300
• SOLID Foundation Prep Inc. – $8,000
• Take the Reins – $7,500
• Taking It To The Streets – $8,000
• The Champion Project – $10,000
• The Salvation Army of Buffalo, NY – $8,000
• The Unit Promise – $8,000
• Town of Allegany – $7,500
• United Somali Alliance of Buffalo – $10,000
• WNY Lacrosse Foundation – $5,000
• YMCA Buffalo Niagara – $10,000
• Youth Mentoring Services of Niagara County – $6,000

Since 2016, nearly $14 million has been awarded through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. legacy funds to support organizations across the eight counties of Western New York.

The legacy funds are annual grants; for updates on the next granting cycle, visit https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-wilson-legacy/.

For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at www.cfgb.org.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Wilson’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his beloved Buffalo Bills NFL team. Prior to his passing in 2014, Wilson provided that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a lifelong generosity of spirit by funding the foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the foundation began with a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires Jan. 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Wilson’s desire for the foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable, and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org.