Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc
The Children's Foundation of Erie County is a small, private foundation incorporated in 1836 and based in Kenmore, New York. The foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies serving the direct needs of children in Erie County, New York. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.9M
+9.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$391K
+8.1% YoY
Grant Count
73
+1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+6.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc reported a distributable amount of $396K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "The Children's Foundation mission is to support not for profit organizations that are committed to improving the quality of life for at risk children in the County of Erie. Our grants are focused on organizations that have a proven track record of assisting, protecting and/or enhancing the lives and potential of children up to the age of 21 in the County of Erie, New York."
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation focuses on programming including scholarships, after-school programs, summer programs, summer camps, educational programs, and youth services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 75 grants in 2024, totaling $390,900. Recent grantees include:
Grant Range
$2,000–$10,000
Review Cycle
January 30
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in Erie County, New York. Grants must serve the direct needs of children whose permanent residence is in Erie County, NY.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $3,889,626
- Total giving: $390,900
- Total revenues: $755,508
- Total expenses: $428,753
- Number of grants: 75
- Giving rate: 9.1% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,889,626 | $3,562,871 | $3,440,556 |
| Revenue | $755,508 | $510,976 | $128,050 |
| Expenses | $428,753 | $388,661 | $380,025 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $403,155 | $374,272 | $358,152 |
| Net Investment Income | $742,153 | $498,045 | $116,466 |
| Distributable Amount | $395,521 | $348,031 | $352,887 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Buffalo Center for Art & Technology ($14,000), Michigan St African American Heritage ($10,000), Epic ($9,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 716 SQUASH BUFFALO, NY | SUMMER PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING (YOUNG AUDIENCES) BUFFALO, NY | ARTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 BUFFALO, NY | ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT | $7,000 |
| BE-A-FRIEND PROGRAMBIG BROTHERSISTERS BUFFALO, NY | MENTORING PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BIG BIG TABLE COMMUNITY CAFE BUFFALO, NY | EVERYBODY EAT MEAL PROGRAM | $6,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE NORTHTOWNS BUFFALO, NY | TRIPLE PLAY AND POWER HOUR | $5,000 |
| BOYS ON THE RIGHT TRACK LAKEVIEW, NY | RUNNING PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BUFFALO ARTS STUDIO BUFFALO, NY | JUMP START PROGRAM | $3,000 |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR ART & TECHNOLOGY BUFFALO, NY | YOUTH ART PROGRAM | $14,000 |
| BUFFALO INNER CITY BALLET CO BUFFALO, NY | AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH MITCHELL | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH S GURNEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ANNE DENMAN | FOUNDATION ADMINISTRATOR | 5 | $18,000 |
| W LAWRENCE BUCK | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DAVID EDMUNDS ESQ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROSA GONZALEZ PHD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARY GRESHAM PHD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW COLLARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LINWOOD ROBERTS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LIZA KEENAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** "The Children's Foundation mission is to support not for profit organizations that are committed to improving the quality of life for at risk children in the County of Erie. Our grants are focused on organizations that have a proven track record of assisting, protecting and/or enhancing the lives and potential of children up to the age of 21 in the County of Erie, New York." **Primary Funding Areas:** • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services …
How do I apply for a grant from Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical grant range: $2,000–$10,000 • Grant range reported: $1,000–$14,000 • Median grant: $5,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 75 grants in 2024, totaling $390,900. Recent grantees include: • Epic - Every Person Influences Children ($9,000 for Storytime at Canalside) • The International Institute of Buffalo ($8,000 for Global Kids Programs) • Journeys End Refugee Services ($7,500 for Resettlement & Placement) • Buffalo Center For Art & Technology **Applica…
Where does Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in Erie County, New York. Grants must serve the direct needs of children whose permanent residence is in Erie County, NY.
What size grants does Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc award?
In 2024, Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc awarded 73 grants totaling $391K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc reported a distributable amount of $396K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc's EIN?
Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6000171. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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