The Buffalo Sabres Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1995 and based in Buffalo, New York. Located at KeyBank Center (One Seymour H. Knox III Plaza), the foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of the Buffalo Sabres NHL organization, committed to enhancing the quality of life in Western New York through strategic charitable giving and community engagement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$537K
-17.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-13.1% YoY
Grant Count
34
-30.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
+25.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To identify and support organizations in Western New York which share core objectives of serving children and military personnel, caring for the sick, assisting physically and mentally challenged athletes, and supporting youth hockey initiatives. By utilizing financial resources and community influence, the foundation assists these organizations and their beneficiaries in realizing their highest potential and succeeding in their endeavors.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Youth hockey initiatives
- Health, wellness, and education of underprivileged and disadvantaged youth
- Support for military personnel
- Physically and mentally challenged athletes
- Youth development and character building
Grantmaking
The foundation provides financial support to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations. Grant awards typically range from $5,500 to $333,333. The foundation has demonstrated significant giving capacity, with total giving of $1,252,405 based on recent IRS filings.
How to Apply
** Organizations can submit grant requests through the foundation's website or by contacting the foundation directly.
Ready to take the next step with Buffalo Sabres Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Western New York, with some activity extending to Massachusetts. The foundation specifically targets organizations serving the Western New York region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $654,000
- Total Revenue: $1.86 million
- Total Expenses: $1.7 million
- Total Liabilities: $195,000
Rating: The foundation holds a Three-Star rating with an 88% score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $536,919 | $654,126 | $571,788 |
| Revenue | $1,334,420 | $1,860,203 | $1,237,532 |
| Expenses | $1,487,271 | $1,702,888 | $1,349,686 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Buffalo Sabres Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers:
- Rich Jureller – President
- David Zygaj – Secretary
- Kyle Allen – Treasurer
Directors: Kyle Allen, David Anderson, Chad Buchta, Matt Collard, Donna DeCarolis, Laurel DiBrog, Elizabeth Gurney, Rich Jureller, Alphonso Oneil-White, Larry Playfair, Kevin "Duke" Reilly, Dave Zygaj
Contact: Rich Jureller can be reached at (716) 855-4703 or via email.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICH JURELLER | BOARD MEMBER/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DAVID ZYGAJ | BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KYLE ALLEN | BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ALPHONSO O'NEIL-WHITE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LAUREL A DIBROG | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEVIN REILLY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW COLLARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID ANDERSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH GURNEY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHAD BUCHTA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DONNA DECAROLIS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LARRY PLAYFAIR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL BALL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant recent donations, including:
$100,000 donation to Resource Council of Western New York
Sabres Foundation to donate $100,000 to Resource Council of WNY | Buffalo$30,000 donation to Family Justice Center of Erie County
Sabres announce $30,000 donation to Family Justice Center of Erie CountyThe foundation operates a 50/50 raffle program in partnership with organizations like Northtown Automotive to generate additional charitable funding.
Buffalo Sabres 50/50 Raffle Rules - NHL.comThe foundation has expanded its partnership with Hasek's Heroes, a youth hockey development program for economically disadvantaged children. In 2011, the Sabres Foundation partnered with Hasek's Heroes to expand programming into the Cazenovia Timothy J. Burvid Ice Rink in South Buffalo.
Sabres Foundation to donate $100,000 to Resource Council of WNY | Buffalo**Supported Organizations:** The foundation has provided support to numerous Western New York organizations including FeedMore WNY, GLYS Inc, Roswell Park, Buffalo City Mission, Salvation Army, Explore & More Children's Museum, Friends of Night People, Make-a-Wish, WNY Heroes, and Buffalo Police Athletic League.
Buffalo Sabres 50/50 Raffle Rules - NHL.comSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Buffalo Sabres Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities