First Niagara Foundation is a private foundation established in 1998 and based in Buffalo, New York. The foundation is a company-sponsored foundation dedicated to empowering individuals and neighborhoods through strategic investments in education, mentoring, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.0M
-87.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.4M
+3.3% YoY
Grant Count
81
-33.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$91K
+55.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Niagara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with mentoring children and youth. Primary funding focuses on:
- Education
- Mentoring and children and youth services
- Workforce development
- Neighborhood revitalization
- Community development
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 73 grants in 2022, with total grant distributions of $6,968,601 beyond the three largest awards listed above.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Giving is limited to areas of company operations, with primary focus on New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2022:
- Total assets: $1,027,758
- Total revenues: $23,974
- Total expenses: $5,152,341
- Total giving: $7,363,601
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,027,758 | $8,466,550 | $15,321,383 |
| Revenue | $23,974 | $2,184,344 | $1,531,565 |
| Expenses | $5,152,341 | $8,216,250 | $10,932,137 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,460,569 | $7,167,192 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $22,439 | $2,136,012 | $1,425,867 |
| Distributable Amount | $146,038 | $537,552 | $978,635 |
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 2022
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest include Buffalo Arts and Technology Center Inc ($250,000), Gerard Place Housing Development Fund Company Inc ($250,000), Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Inc ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 716 SQUASH INC BUFFALO, NY | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING WNY BUFFALO, NY | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | $25,000 |
| ASPIRE OF WESTERN NEW YORK GETZVILLE, NY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $10,000 |
| ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 BUFFALO, NY | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | $30,000 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INC BUFFALO, NY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $50,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NIAGARA COUNTY INC LOCKPORT, NY | MENTORING | $15,000 |
| BUFFALO ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER INC BUFFALO, NY | EDUCATION | $250,000 |
| BUFFALO ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER INC BUFFALO, NY | EDUCATION | $26 |
| BUFFALO MEDIA RESOURCES INC BUFFALO, NY | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE BUFFALO, NY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Elizabeth Gurney – Executive Director
- Ann Segarra – Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2022 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY CROSBY | PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| ANN SEGARRA | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| BUFORD SEARS | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| TRINA EVANS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| GARY QUENNEVILLE | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| DAVID ZEBRO | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| LESLIE ZEMSKY | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ELIZABETH GURNEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has partnered with KeyBank to award grants to nonprofit organizations in Niagara County, demonstrating ongoing commitment to the region's community development and nonprofit sector support.
Niagara Area Foundation Announces 2025 Grantees, Nearly $83,000 Awarded toSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does First Niagara Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with mentoring children and youth. Primary funding focuses on: • Education • Mentoring and children and youth services • Workforce development • Neighborhood revitalization • Community development • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from First Niagara Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2022: $7,363,601 • Typical grant awards range from $26 to $1,500,000 • Recent major grants include: • The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation: $1,500,000 (2022) • Research Foundation for the State University of New York: $625,000 (2022) • Mount St Mary's Hospital Foundation: $500,000 (2022) The foundation made 73 grants in 2022, with total grant distributions of $6,968,601 beyond the three largest awards listed above.
Where does First Niagara Foundation make grants?
Giving is limited to areas of company operations, with primary focus on New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does First Niagara Foundation award?
In 2022, First Niagara Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $7.4M — an average of about $91K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is First Niagara Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, First Niagara Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is First Niagara Foundation's EIN?
First Niagara Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1549641. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Niagara Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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