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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Ramsleg Foundation
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Druckenmiller Foundation
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Assets
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Total Given
$135.7M
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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