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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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