Health Foundation for Western & Central
The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York is an independent private foundation based in Buffalo, NY, with a second office in Syracuse, NY. Established in 2001 and tax-exempt since December 2002, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving health and healthcare outcomes across a 16-county region in New York State.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$159.5M
+5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.1M
+7.2% YoY
Grant Count
154
+58.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-32.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Health Foundation for Western & Central reported a distributable amount of $7.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To improve the health and health care of the people and communities of western and central New York.
Vision: A healthy central and western New York where racial and socioeconomic equity are prioritized so all people can reach their full potential and achieve equitable health outcomes.
The Foundation advocates for racial and socioeconomic health equity and operates under the principle that healthcare is a human right. Since its inception, the organization has awarded more than 400 grants totaling more than $30 million. The Foundation focuses its funding on programs that improve health outcomes for two primary vulnerable and underserved populations: older adults and children from birth to age five who are impacted by poverty.
Current program areas include:
- Doula Partnership Programs supporting maternal health outcomes by connecting Medicaid-eligible pregnant and birthing people with trained doulas
- PEDALS Program implementation in Onondaga County with technical support for establishing coordinating hubs
- Health Leadership Fellows Cohort - an 18-month fellowship developing diverse, collaborative leaders with focus on person-centered care, continuous quality improvement, interdisciplinary teamwork, informatics, and evidence-based outcomes
Grantmaking
The Foundation awarded its first grants in April 2004. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Health Foundation serves 16 counties across two regions:
Western New York (8 counties): Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming
Central New York (8 counties): Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Tompkins
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $151.8 million to $159.5 million
- Total Revenue: $2.43 million
- Total Expenses: $6.86 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.01 million
- Total Giving: $4.14 million (2024)
Staffing: 11-12 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $159,528,159 | $151,786,109 | $140,375,083 |
| Revenue | $5,473,071 | $2,425,062 | $13,896,071 |
| Expenses | $7,433,131 | $6,857,088 | $9,627,337 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,098,911 | $6,646,091 | $7,247,784 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,637,870 | $6,641,290 | $16,686,305 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,508,899 | $6,947,992 | $6,535,715 |
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 Health Foundation for Western & Central
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Erie Niagara Area Health Education Center Inc ($300,000), Child Care Solutions ($268,981), Cayuga County Community Health Network Inc ($260,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCORD CORP BELMONT, NY | IMAGINE NONVIOLENCE EXPAND THE REACH | $10,000 |
| ALLEGANY COUNTY COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BELMONT, NY | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY FUND | $5,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSN CNY CHAPTER SYRACUSE, NY | RURAL HEALTH MICROGRANT FUND 2023 | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION PITTSBURGH, PA | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY FUND | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY ON AGING PASADENA, CA | WHY SURVIVE DOCUMENTARY | $16,000 |
| ARDENT SOLUTIONS WELLSVILLE, NY | OLDER ADULT TRAUMA CHAMPIONS PROGRAM | $186,000 |
| ARDENT SOLUTIONS WELLSVILLE, NY | GROWING RESILIENCY THROUGH TRAUMA INFORMED CARE | $126,191 |
| ARDENT SOLUTIONS WELLSVILLE, NY | SOUTHERN TIER CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER EMERGENCY FUNDING | $150,000 |
| AUBURN COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AUBURN, NY | AGE-FRIENDLY HEALTH SYSTEM NYS ACTION COMMUNITY 3.0 | $10,000 |
| BACK TO BASICS OUTREACH MINISTRIES INC BUFFALO, NY | IMAGINE NONVIOLENCE CLOSE THE GAP | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEANNE FISCOE | CHAIR | 4 | — |
| CARRIE WHITWOOD | VICE CHAIR | 4 | — |
| ANDREW W DORN JR | TREASUER | 4 | — |
| MARYBETH K MCCALL MD | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| NORA SURIC | PRESIDENT | 40 | $260,553 |
| DIANE OYLER | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $166,859 |
| RICHARD BATTAGLIA MD | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| CHIMA CHIONUMA MD | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| TRICIA PETER CLARK | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| JASON DANIELS | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| CATHERINE A DIVINEY | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| ANGELA M DOUGLAS | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| LINDA GABOR CPA | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| LATOYA M JONES | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| KEVIN B KLOTZBACH | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| ELIZABETH L MAURO | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| BRENDA W MCDUFFIE | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| SUCHARITA PAUL MD | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| CYNTHIA RICH | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| ANN SEDORE | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| FRANCA TRINCIA CPA | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
| KEVIN D WATKINS MD MPH | TRUSTEE | 4 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: 716-852-3030
- Email: info@hfwcny.org
- Website: www.hfwcny.org
- Address: 500 Seneca St Ste 600, Buffalo, NY 14204-1963
- EIN: 22-3804398
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Health Foundation for Western & Central fund?
**Mission:** To improve the health and health care of the people and communities of western and central New York. **Vision:** A healthy central and western New York where racial and socioeconomic equity are prioritized so all people can reach their full potential and achieve equitable health outcomes. The Foundation advocates for racial and socioeconomic health equity and operates under the principle that healthcare is a human right. Since its inception, the organization has awarded more than 4…
How do I apply for a grant from Health Foundation for Western & Central?
The Foundation awarded its first grants in April 2004. Recent grant activity includes: • More than $2.8 million in new grants awarded in the final quarter of 2025 • Over $1.7 million in funding awarded in the second half of 2023 • Over $1.5 million awarded in the last quarter of 2022 • More than $2.8 million in grants announced in the second half of 2020 Typical grant awards range from $300 to $441,783. The Foundation works collaboratively with community partners to design and support programs,…
Where does Health Foundation for Western & Central make grants?
The Health Foundation serves 16 counties across two regions: **Western New York (8 counties):** Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming **Central New York (8 counties):** Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and Tompkins
What size grants does Health Foundation for Western & Central award?
In 2024, Health Foundation for Western & Central awarded 154 grants totaling $4.1M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Health Foundation for Western & Central required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Health Foundation for Western & Central reported a distributable amount of $7.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Health Foundation for Western & Central's EIN?
Health Foundation for Western & Central's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3804398. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Health Foundation for Western & Central'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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