The John R Oishei Foundation
The John R. Oishei Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. It works with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region, with its current strategic direction starting with Black communities on Buffalo’s East Side.
The John R Oishei Foundation at a glance
In short: The John R Oishei Foundation gave $9.5M across 168 grants in 2024 (avg $56K), mostly in New York. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,466,396
- -15.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 168
- +8.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $56,348
- -21.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $329,976,631
- +4.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (19 of 139, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John R Oishei Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s grant-program information says it is not accepting new grant requests at this time. Its filing states that there is no set form and that submission deadlines vary by project. The Foundation’s website invites organizations to begin by completing a Request to Partner form. The filing describes grants as intended to act as a catalyst for change to enhance economic vitality and quality of life in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
- Contact
Application contact: Natalie Cook
Mailing address: 726 Exchange Street Suite 510, Buffalo, NY 14210
Phone: (716) 856-9490
Website: https://oishei.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The John R Oishei Foundation
Who The John R Oishei Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Education Collaborative of WNY Inc ($1.9M across 5 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($300,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
857 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 550 grants of 857 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated place-based emphasis begins with Buffalo’s East Side, particularly Black communities there, and its mission covers the Buffalo-Niagara region. In filing year 2024, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 168 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The John R Oishei Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 139 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.5M (2024) to $17.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 168 grants totaling $9.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Education Collaborative of WNY Inc Buffalo, NY | 2024-2028 Scholarship Program | $930,000 |
| Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology (Bcat) Buffalo, NY | Capital Campaign | $500,000 |
| Education Collaborative of WNY Inc Buffalo, NY | 2023-2024 Scholarship Program | $420,354 |
| Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology (Bcat) Buffalo, NY | General Operating Support 2024-2026 | $400,000 |
| Education Collaborative of WNY Inc Buffalo, NY | Academic Excellence for All (DEI) 2024-2028 | $372,000 |
| Buffalo Prep Buffalo, NY | General Operating Support | $350,000 |
| Community Connections of NY Inc Buffalo, NY | Mobile Safety-Net Team (MSNT) 2024 | $303,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $300,000 |
| Center for Regional Strategies Buffalo, NY | Regional Revitalization Partnership - East Side Avenues | $300,000 |
| Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc Buffalo, NY | Boys and Men of Color Initiative 2024-2026 | $300,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $329,976,631 | $18,999,236 | $16,542,605 | $9,466,396 | 168 | $12,996,844 | $44,360,506 | $15,663,500 |
| 2023 | $315,667,488 | $5,069,390 | $18,132,688 | $11,164,401 | 155 | $14,627,695 | $20,211,815 | $14,331,042 |
| 2022 | $299,615,783 | $15,989,814 | $18,413,618 | $11,928,155 | 173 | $14,934,378 | $12,714,406 | $14,342,684 |
| 2021 | $338,585,552 | $40,802,311 | $23,205,177 | $17,019,439 | 176 | $19,750,240 | $32,201,197 | $13,852,616 |
| 2020 | $294,151,477 | $18,357,929 | $19,835,698 | $14,593,664 | 185 | — | $10,309,678 | $12,337,851 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John R Oishei Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to work with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region. Its partnership approach emphasizes community priorities, racial and economic justice, community power-building, and place-based impact. It prioritizes work rooted in or primarily serving Buffalo’s East Side, guided by people most affected, and aligned with advancing financial prosperity and at least one of its focus areas.
Its seven interconnected focus areas are organizational power; individual power; community asset control and ownership; joy, restoration and resilience; collective community organizing; narrative change; and policies and practices. The Foundation describes organizational power as support for long-term infrastructure such as staffing, systems, technology, and governance. Its other focus areas include community control of housing, land, and businesses; grassroots organizing; and efforts to change inequitable policies and systems.
Among the organizations receiving grants in 2024, the Education Collaborative of WNY says its mission is to facilitate collaboration among educators, students, and community partners to build a just and thriving future. Buffalo Prep says it promotes educational access and opportunity through programming for students across Western New York. Say Yes Buffalo describes its work as removing barriers to educational attainment, workforce participation, and economic mobility for students in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The Center for Regional Strategies says it focuses on collaborative economic growth strategies to build sustainable community wealth, especially in underserved areas.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 168 grants totaling $9,466,396. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $930,000, with a median of $20,000. Its largest listed grant was $930,000 to the Education Collaborative of WNY for a 2024–2028 scholarship program. Other large awards included $500,000 to Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology for a capital campaign; $420,354 to the Education Collaborative of WNY for a 2023–2024 scholarship program; and $400,000 to Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology for general operating support.
Other notable 2024 awards included $350,000 to Buffalo Prep for general operating support; $303,000 to Community Connections of NY for a mobile safety-net team; $300,000 each to the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy for the AK360 campus development project and the Center for Regional Strategies for the Regional Revitalization Partnership – East Side Avenues; and $300,000 to Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship for its Boys and Men of Color Initiative.
The Foundation also reports that it may provide organizational capacity-building and technical support through consultants paid directly by the Foundation, rather than through grants to nonprofits. These services may include board or policy development, strategic planning, grant writing, or administrative support; the reported cost in 2024 was approximately $194,057.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Glenn S. Jackson as chair, effective May 2024, and William G. Gisel Jr. as chair through April 2024. It lists Francisco M. Vasquez as treasurer; Yvonne S. Minor-Ragan as vice chair and secretary; and Donald K. Boswell, Maureen O. Hurley, Luke T. Jacobs, Chandra Redfern, Michael Ulbrich, and Melva D. Visher as directors. Chandra Redfern’s directorship was effective May 2024.
The John R Oishei Foundation is led by Christina Orsi, President on every filing since 2022; all 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christina Orsi
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$239K (2022) → $303K (2024)
Glenn S. Jackson
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $28K (2024)
William G. Gisel Jr.
Chair
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $28K (2024)
Donald K. Boswell
Director
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Luke T. Jacobs
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Maureen O. Hurley
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Melva D. Visher
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Michael Ulbrich
Director
On filings since 2022
8 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $25K (2024)
Chandra Redfern
Director
New on the 2024 filing
8 hrs/week
$6K (2024)
Francisco M. Vasquez
Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2022
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Yvonne S. Minor-Ragan
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Blythe T. Merrill
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$169K (2021) → $40K (2024)
Geoffrey Pritchard
CFO & Impact Investment Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$187K (2023) → $199K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Edward F. Walsh Jr. (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Gioia (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Florence M. Conti (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Paul Hogan (2020) — Executive Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $303K, to Christina Orsi (President). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The John R Oishei Foundation
How much does The John R Oishei Foundation give each year?
The John R Oishei Foundation gave $9.5M across 168 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.2M across 155 grants.
What is The John R Oishei Foundation's typical grant size?
The John R Oishei Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $56,348, across 168 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John R Oishei Foundation that year got $48K on average.
Where does The John R Oishei Foundation give grants?
The John R Oishei Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (115 grants), Niagara Falls, NY (10 grants), Lockport, NY (5 grants) and Syracuse, NY (4 grants).
Does The John R Oishei Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The John R Oishei Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 168) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Basic Human Needs 2024-2025" (57 grants), "2024 Capacity Building Micro Grant" (26 grants) and "JRO Transition Fund" (25 grants).
Who are The John R Oishei Foundation's largest grantees?
The John R Oishei Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Education Collaborative of WNY Inc ($1,917,354 across 5 grants), Buffalo Center for Arts & Technology (Bcat) ($920,000 across 3 grants) and Buffalo Prep ($540,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($300,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The John R Oishei Foundation?
The John R Oishei Foundation reported $330.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The John R Oishei Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to work with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region. Its partnership approach emphasizes community priorities, racial and economic justice, community power-building, and place-based impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John R Oishei Foundation?
The Foundation’s grant-program information says it is not accepting new grant requests at this time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John R Oishei Foundation's EIN?
The John R Oishei Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0874319. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John R Oishei Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-r-oishei-foundation-morg_16577bc2f7ec4564b0f539b3662347bc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_160874319_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John R Oishei Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-r-oishei-foundation-morg_16577bc2f7ec4564b0f539b3662347bc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The John R Oishei Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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