Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is a public charity based in Buffalo, New York, established in 1919. It makes grants and administers charitable funds supporting organizations and causes in Western New York, while also offering scholarships to students in the region.
Key facts about Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
In short: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc gave $33.4M across 562 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in New York. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 22-2743917
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $33,418,104
- Grants made (2024)
- 562
- Average grant
- $59,463
- Median grant
- $23,220
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (146 of 562, 2024)
- Total assets
- $944,045,975
- Primary geography
- New York (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- For the 2026 Community Foundation competitive process, submit a full electronic application aligned with a listed solution under one of the Foundation’s community goals. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$944.0M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$33.4M
+15.5% YoY
Grant Count
562
+13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+1.7% YoY
Is Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 146 of 562 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to connect people, ideas, and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Its current community goals are to achieve racial and ethnic equity; promote economic mobility through education, workforce readiness, and access to family-sustaining jobs for residents in low-income households; steward environmental resources in the context of climate resilience; and promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts, and culture.
The Foundation supports a range of nonprofit organizations. For example, Say Yes Buffalo describes its mission as removing barriers to educational attainment, workforce participation, and economic mobility for students in public and charter schools. Open Buffalo describes its work as advancing racial, economic, and ecological justice. Other 2024 grantees include the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy, which says it operates, maintains, and protects parks and public spaces in Buffalo, and the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which says it promotes and fosters art and is the parent organization of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 562 grants totaling $33,418,104. Itemized grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,790,661, with a median of $23,220. The largest grants included $1,790,661 to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc.; $993,396 to the Research Foundation for the SUNY on behalf of the University at Buffalo; $946,103 to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society; and $737,000 to Open Buffalo Inc.
Open Grants
17 open opportunities from Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
21st Century Fund Grants
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
CFGB Scholarships Grant
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Amount
US $1,000 - US $6,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Foundation Competitive Grants
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Amount
US $18,000 - US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s competitive grant programs serve the eight counties of Western New York. Its 2024 grantmaking was concentrated in New York, which received 88% of grant dollars; other recipient states included the District of Columbia and Virginia (2% each), and Pennsylvania and California (1% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 562 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19.5M (2019) to $39.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 562 grants totaling $33.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc ($1.8M). Together the top 10 received $7.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,695 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,889 grants of 2,695 (70%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $1,790,661 |
| Research Foundation for the SUNY on Behalf of the University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $993,396 |
| Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $946,103 |
| Open Buffalo Inc Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $737,000 |
| Service Collaborative of Western New York Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $621,177 |
| Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $590,500 |
| Buffalo Fine Arts Academy Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $589,264 |
| Bryant & Stratton College Orchard Park, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $560,850 |
| Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences Buffalo, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $541,625 |
| Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum (DBA the Strong) Rochester, NY | Charitable support. Any restrictions have been communicated to the grantee. | $500,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $944,045,975 | $48,658,362 | $46,615,540 | $33,418,104 |
| 2023 | $880,132,334 | $54,971,299 | $41,559,311 | $28,940,011 |
| 2022 | $772,638,253 | $56,537,676 | $55,052,109 | $39,470,929 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $944,045,975 | $880,132,334 | $772,638,253 |
| Revenue | $48,658,362 | $54,971,299 | $56,537,676 |
| Expenses | $46,615,540 | $41,559,311 | $55,052,109 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,024,564 | $10,070,619 | $11,392,871 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steve Finch as chair, Tamara Alsace as vice chair, Owen Herne as secretary, and Cheryl Jankowski as treasurer. Directors listed include Jennifer Balbach, Rosalind Burgun, David Blesy, Boni R. Durand, Darby Fishkin, and Dottie Gallagher.
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc is led by Elizabeth Constantine, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 8 of 29 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Constantine
President & CEO
Executive Vice President → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2019
55 hrs/week
$238K (2019) → $407K (2024)
Jean McKeown
Special Advisor to President
V.p. Community Impact → Special Advisor to President & CEO, 2023
Special Advisor to President & CEO → Special Advisor to President, 2024
On filings since 2019
25 hrs/week
$160K (2019) → $197K (2024)
Steve Finch
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cara Matteliano
Senior Director & Policy An
V.p. Community Impact → Senior Director, Policy & Strategic Partnerships, 2020
Senior Director, Policy & Strategic Partnerships → Senior Director & Policy An, 2021
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $170K (2024)
Alex Montante
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Jacobs JD
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allen Pete Grum
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dottie Gallagher
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Balbach
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John F. Somers
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rose Sconiers
Director
Chair Elect → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey H. Katz Esq.
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Blesy CPA
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luis Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Boni R. Durand PhD
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Ware
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darby Fishkin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hal Payne Ph D.
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Pauly
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosalind Burgun
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Gardner
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Myra Lawrence
V.p. Finance
V.p Finance → V.p. Finance, 2020
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$137K (2019) → $205K (2024)
Felicia Beard
Associate Vice President, Re Philanthropy & Stra
Senior Directior & Racial E → Associate Vice President & Racial Equity Initiative, 2023
Associate Vice President & Racial Equity Initiative → Associate Vice President, Re Philanthropy & Stra, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $181K (2024)
Ellen Musialowski
CFO
On filings since 2023
55 hrs/week
$14K (2023) → $212K (2024)
Maria Whyte
Chief Community Impact Officer
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$241K (2023) → $275K (2024)
Halimah Madyun
Associate Vice President Administrative Operations
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$179K (2024)
Cheryl Jankowski CPA
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Owen Herne Esq.
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Alsace Ph D.
Vice Chair
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Hal D. Payne (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Melissa Baumgart (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Tamara Alsace (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Amy Habib Rittling Esq. (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Larry Franco (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Bonita R. Durand PhD (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Brendan Harrington (2019–2022) — Former CFO & CAO
- Former: Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker (2019–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Gary Crosby (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: John N. Walsh III (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lawrence C. Franco Esq. (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Colleen Becht (2022) — Controller
- Former: Cindy Odom (2019–2021) — Chief Community Impact Officer
- Former: James Biltekoff (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: William Joyce (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Francisco Vasquez PhD (2019–2020) — Chair
- Former: Gary Mucci (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Ross Eckert (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Gerald Reger (2019) — CFO & CAO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $407K, to Elizabeth Constantine (President/CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 726 Exchange Street 525, Buffalo, NY 14210
Phone: (716) 852-2857
Website: https://cfgb.org
Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
How much does Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc give each year?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc gave $33.4M across 562 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $28.9M across 495 grants.
What is Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's typical grant size?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's median grant in 2024 was $23,220, and its average grant was $59,463, across 562 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc that year got $30K on average.
Where does Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc give grants?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc gives mostly in New York: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (253 grants), Williamsville, NY (13 grants), Niagara Falls, NY (13 grants) and New York, NY (12 grants).
Does Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 562 grants with a stated purpose on Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's largest grantees?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc ($1,790,661), Research Foundation for the SUNY on Behalf of the University at Buffalo ($993,396) and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society ($946,103), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc reported $944.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $48.7M.
What does Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to connect people, ideas, and resources to improve lives in Western New York. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc?
For the 2026 Community Foundation competitive process, submit a full electronic application aligned with a listed solution under one of the Foundation’s community goals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's EIN?
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2743917. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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