The New Era Cap Foundation is the philanthropic arm of New Era Cap, LLC, a sports and lifestyle headwear manufacturer founded in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch and currently led by fourth-generation CEO Chris Koch. Formally established in 2016, the Foundation operates as a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Buffalo, New York. The organization functions as a corporate foundation dedicated to giving back to communities where New Era Cap operates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.3M
+11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$952K
-26.6% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
-29.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, New Era Cap Foundation reported a distributable amount of $907K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's fundamental belief is that "impact thrives when people unite." The organization supports five primary pillars:
- Cancer Patient & Family Care — Supporting those undergoing cancer treatment and their support systems
- Veterans & First Responders — Honoring service members and first responders
- Youth Sports — Providing children opportunities to develop through sports
- Women Empowerment — Uplifting women regardless of circumstance
- Arts & Education — Ensuring equal access to arts and education programs
Grantmaking
The Foundation makes grants ranging from $450 to $1,000,000. Grant programs include:
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
All grant requests must be submitted through the online Grant/Donations Request portal on the Foundation's website. The Foundation does not schedule meetings until proposals are received through the portal. Decision time averages approximately one month with a monthly review cycle.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily focuses on Western New York and regions where New Era Cap operates, with particular emphasis on Buffalo, New York. Grant-making also extends to Florida and Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,317,361
- Total Revenue: $3,830,000
- Total Expenses: $1,890,000
- Total Giving: $952,270
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $18,293,560
- Total Revenue: $1,503,587
- Total Expenses: $2,489,820
- Annual Giving: $1,296,950
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,317,361 | $18,293,560 | $16,444,823 |
| Revenue | $3,832,022 | $1,503,587 | $16,782,391 |
| Expenses | $1,892,112 | $2,489,820 | $570,896 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,070,964 | $1,344,094 | $300,875 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,058,455 | $304,931 | $2,428 |
| Distributable Amount | $907,287 | $814,308 | $88,805 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Childrens Hospital of Buffalo ($500,000), Yellowstone Forever ($150,000), P U N T Pediatric Cancer Collaborative Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BUFFALO INC BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF BUFFFALO INC BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $11,000 |
| HOPE RISES INC BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| HOPE TOTES INC CLARENCE, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| LIDS FOUNDATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $16,260 |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK INC WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| STITCH BUFFALO INC BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| SUMMIT CENTER INC GETZVILLE, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO BUFFALO, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chris Koch — Fourth-generation CEO of New Era Cap, LLC and leader of the Foundation
- Danielle Koch — Co-leader with Chris Koch in the Foundation's philanthropic efforts
- Christopher H. Koch — Listed as Member in organizational filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER KOCH | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LORRIE TURNER | DIRECTOR, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KEVIN WILSON | DIRECTOR, TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 160 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202
Email: necfoundation@neweracap.com
Phone: 800-839-1754
Website: neweracapfoundation.org
Social Media: @neweracapfoundation (Instagram)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does New Era Cap Foundation fund?
The Foundation's fundamental belief is that "impact thrives when people unite." The organization supports five primary pillars: • **Cancer Patient & Family Care** — Supporting those undergoing cancer treatment and their support systems • **Veterans & First Responders** — Honoring service members and first responders • **Youth Sports** — Providing children opportunities to develop through sports • **Women Empowerment** — Uplifting women regardless of circumstance • **Arts & Education** — Ensurin…
How do I apply for a grant from New Era Cap Foundation?
The Foundation makes grants ranging from $450 to $1,000,000. Grant programs include: • **Impact Grants** — Monetary awards ($450–$1,000,000) • **Event Sponsorships** — Variable amounts on a rolling basis • **Product Donations** — In-kind support of headwear, apparel, and accessories on a rolling basis All grant requests must be submitted through the online Grant/Donations Request portal on the Foundation's website. The Foundation does not schedule meetings until proposals are received through t…
Where does New Era Cap Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily focuses on Western New York and regions where New Era Cap operates, with particular emphasis on Buffalo, New York. Grant-making also extends to Florida and Montana.
What size grants does New Era Cap Foundation award?
In 2024, New Era Cap Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $952K — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is New Era Cap Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, New Era Cap Foundation reported a distributable amount of $907K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is New Era Cap Foundation's EIN?
New Era Cap Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1548325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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