The Western New York Foundation
The Western New York Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York, dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and driving transformative change in the region. Founded in 1951 as the Wildroot Foundation and renamed in 1958, the organization has evolved from its origins in a successful hair care manufacturing company into a significant philanthropic institution with assets exceeding $22 million.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.8M
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+62.6% YoY
Grant Count
134
+59.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+1.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Western New York Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Drive transformative changes in the regional food system by supporting innovative people and organizations with the resources needed to create and implement sustainable solutions.
Vision: Implement sustainable solutions that will build a thriving and equitable food system that reflects the community served.
The Foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Food systems and sustainable solutions
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Fine and performing arts
- Youth agencies
- Natural sciences
- Social service agencies
- Health services
- Libraries and educational institutions
The Foundation emphasizes support for capital needs, seed funds for new projects, and expanding services among nonprofit institutions.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation maintains a regionally focused approach, serving seven counties in Western New York. The organization recognizes each of the seven counties as equals while acknowledging that every organization and circumstance is unique. Primary funding occurs in New York, with some activity in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2025):
- Total assets: $22,789,937
- Total revenues: $479,306
- Total expenses: $1,580,707
- Number of employees: 1
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,789,937 | $23,070,642 | $19,327,568 |
| Revenue | $479,306 | $1,935,828 | $1,427,222 |
| Expenses | $1,580,707 | $1,179,523 | $1,747,608 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,513,902 | $1,119,084 | $1,703,558 |
| Net Investment Income | $379,648 | $969,310 | $328,449 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,164,964 | $989,979 | $955,727 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from The Western New York Foundation
Cultivator of Change Grant Program
THE WESTERN NEW YORK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Food for Thought Grant Program
THE WESTERN NEW YORK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
iCAP Implementation Grant Program
THE WESTERN NEW YORK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Jewish Family Services ($100,000), Massachusetts Avenue Project ($51,100), Ny Funders Alliance ($41,797).
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THEODORE V BUERGER | CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| BERNIE A TOLBERT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHARON J MATHE | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| ANDREW W DORN JR | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| LIZ BUERGER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| PAULETTE M CROOKE | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER JOHNSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TAMMY ALSACE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIELYNN BELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BLAINE JOHNSON | TRUSTEE ASSOCIATE | 1 | — |
| ANDREA SPAKO | TRUSTEE ASSOCIATE | 1 | — |
| BETH K GOSCH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $166,564 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Western New York Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Drive transformative changes in the regional food system by supporting innovative people and organizations with the resources needed to create and implement sustainable solutions. **Vision:** Implement sustainable solutions that will build a thriving and equitable food system that reflects the community served. The Foundation's primary funding interests include: • Food systems and sustainable solutions • Education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Fine…
How do I apply for a grant from The Western New York Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 150 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical award range: $48,000 to $100,000 • Total grant distribution: $888,903 (across 87 documented grants in recent filings) **Recent Grant Examples:** • Jewish Family Services of Western New York: $100,000 (Refugee Partnership Crisis Response Fund) • Massachusetts Avenue Project: $51,100 (iCAP Implementation: Operations Director and Communications Manager) • Connecting Communities in Action (CCA): $50,000 (SDOH Plan Implem…
Where does The Western New York Foundation make grants?
The Foundation maintains a regionally focused approach, serving seven counties in Western New York. The organization recognizes each of the seven counties as equals while acknowledging that every organization and circumstance is unique. Primary funding occurs in New York, with some activity in Michigan.
What size grants does The Western New York Foundation award?
In 2025, The Western New York Foundation awarded 134 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Western New York Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Western New York Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Western New York Foundation's EIN?
The Western New York Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0845962. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Western New York Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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