The Western New York Foundation
The Western New York Foundation is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. It supports nonprofit organizations working to strengthen Western New York’s regional food system, with an emphasis on organizational capacity, equitable solutions, and collaboration.
The Western New York Foundation at a glance
In short: The Western New York Foundation gave $1.5M across 127 grants in 2026 (avg $11K), mostly in New York. 33% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $1,451,796
- +19.1% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 127
- -5.2% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $11,431
- +25.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $25,767,754
- +13.1% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (27 of 82, 2026)
- Primary geography
- New York (93% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Western New York Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation’s website invites eligible organizations to submit Letters of Intent for its grant programs. The Small Grant Program accepts online applications on a rolling basis as funds are available. The Foundation’s 2025 filing lists electronic submission through its website and says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing lists June 30 and November 30. The website’s listed future timeline gives an LOI opening in December 2026 and an LOI deadline in January 2027; dates are subject to change.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing lists June 30 and November 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Beth K Gosch
Mailing address: 2495 Main Street Ste 464, Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: (716) 839-4225
Website: https://www.wnyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from The Western New York Foundation
Cultivator of Change Grant Program
The Western New York Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Food for Thought Grant Program
The Western New York Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
iCAP Implementation Grant Program
The Western New York Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Western New York Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo1 ($505K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
579 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 553 grants of 579 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says it serves seven Western New York counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Wyoming. Its general grant eligibility information says applicants must be headquartered in one of those counties. The Small Grant Program lists eight counties, adding Orleans.
In 2026, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 6% to recipients in Nebraska. The filing data also lists shares rounded to 0% for Illinois, California, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 127 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Western New York Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 27 of 82 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 52% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+8%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $730K (2020) to $1.6M (2022). In 2026 it made 127 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo1 Buffalo, NY | WNY Forward Fund | $500,000 |
| United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Buffalo, NY | iCAP Consulting | $108,500 |
| Massachusetts Avenue Project Buffalo, NE | Operations Director & Communications Manager | $72,464 |
| NY Funders Alliance Syracuse, NY | NonProfit Support Group Annual Operations | $50,409 |
| Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation Olean, NY | CA BOCES Sprouting Knowledge Farm | $50,000 |
| United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Buffalo, NY | Consulting | $48,930 |
| West Side Community Services Buffalo, NY | Marketing and Rebranding | $41,000 |
| Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County Warsaw, NY | Seed of Sustainability / Capacity Building: Wyoming County Food System and Market Capacity Report | $25,000 |
| WNY Women's Foundation Buffalo, NY | Phase I; Special Proj Mgr and Knowledge Mgmt/Applied Res Mgr | $25,000 |
| Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Albion, NY | Communications Coordinator: Phase II | $23,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Western New York Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $25,767,754 | $1,989,711 | $1,964,691 | $1,451,796 | 127 | $1,883,059 | $956,914 | $1,257,252 |
| 2025 | $22,789,937 | $479,306 | $1,580,707 | $1,219,199 | 134 | $1,513,902 | $379,648 | $1,164,964 |
| 2024 | $23,070,642 | $1,935,828 | $1,179,523 | $749,904 | 84 | $1,119,084 | $969,310 | $989,979 |
| 2023 | $19,327,568 | $1,427,222 | $1,747,608 | $1,344,604 | 112 | $1,703,558 | $328,449 | $955,727 |
| 2022 | $21,714,703 | $1,836,524 | $1,972,840 | $1,608,973 | 122 | $1,896,909 | $1,744,507 | $1,106,259 |
| 2021 | $22,275,214 | $1,154,730 | $1,688,638 | $1,374,892 | 150 | — | $1,070,612 | $951,077 |
| 2020 | $15,338,443 | $1,687,646 | $1,043,403 | $730,142 | 63 | — | $571,994 | $912,126 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Western New York Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2026 — 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 drive transformative changes in the regional food system by supporting innovative people and organizations with resources to create and implement sustainable solutions. Its website describes work across three pillars: building nonprofit capacity, raising awareness through storytelling and education, and strengthening connections among food-system partners.
The Foundation prioritizes food-system organizations focused on the wellbeing of BIPOC communities, families disproportionately affected by poverty, immigrants and refugees, and disadvantaged people in rural areas. Its programs support capacity building, communications, leadership, financial stability, operational effectiveness, community collaboration, and food-system awareness.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of community work. West Side Community Services describes its mission as promoting Buffalo residents’ stability, security, and wellbeing through youth development, older-adult engagement, food access, and community events. Canticle Farm says it works to build a resilient local food system through regenerative agriculture and ecological justice. Food for the Spirit describes using arts and creative facilitation to support racial healing, ecological justice, and equitable food systems. Other 2026 grantees include organizations whose stated missions concern women’s opportunities, historic preservation, arts education, and educational access.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the Foundation reported 127 grants totaling $1,451,796. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $500,000, with a median award of $3,500. Notable grants included $500,000 to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for the WNY Forward Fund; $108,500 to United Way of Buffalo & Erie County for iCAP Consulting; $72,464 to Massachusetts Avenue Project for an operations director and communications manager; and $50,409 to NY Funders Alliance for annual operations of a nonprofit support group.
The Foundation’s website describes a Small Grant Program offering awards of up to $2,500 for professional development, consultant support, specialty contract services, and certifications or accreditations. It also describes the Cultivator of Change program, which provides $2,500 grants to selected food-system leaders, and the Food for Thought program, which supports arts- and education-based projects related to the food system. Those programs are distinct from grants to organizations: Cultivator of Change requires nominations of individuals.
The website says Seeds of Sustainability, iCAP, and iCAP Core are temporarily paused for 2026, while the Small Grant Program accepts applications on a rolling basis. A separate iCAP Implementation Grant Program is listed as active and is limited to organizations that have completed iCAP or iCAP Core. The website lists a future general grant timeline with an LOI opening in December 2026, a January 2027 deadline, a March 2027 application deadline, April site visits, and May decisions; it notes that dates may change.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Sharon J. Mathe as President, Theodore V. Buerger as Chairperson, Paulette M. Crooke as Vice President, Beth K. Gosch as Executive Director, and Brielynn Bell as Treasurer. It also lists Liz Buerger as Secretary and Bernie A. Tolbert, Anthony Johnson, Tammy Alsace, and Kathy Granchelli as trustees.
The Western New York Foundation is led by Beth K Gosch, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Beth K Gosch
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
$122K (2020) → $155K (2026)
Sharon J. Mathe
President
Treasurer & Secretary → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
theodore v buerger
Chairperson
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Bernie A Tolbert
Trustee
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tammy Alsace
Trustee
On filings since 2025
No compensation reported
Anthony Johnson
Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
No compensation reported
John N Walsh III
Honorary Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
No compensation reported
Judge James AW McLeod
Honorary Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
No compensation reported
Kathy Granchelli
Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
No compensation reported
Timothy Hogues
Trustee
New on the 2026 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz Buerger
Secretary
Trustee → Interim Trustee, 2021
Interim Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paulette M Crooke
Vice President
Secretary → Trustee, 2021
Trustee → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brielynn Bell
Treasurer
Trustee Associate → Trustee, 2025
Trustee → Treasurer, 2026
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Andrew W. Dorn Jr. (2020–2025) — Treasurer
- Former: Jennifer S. Johnson (2020–2025) — Trustee
- Former: Andrea Spako (2025) — Trustee Associate
- Former: Blaine Johnson (2025) — Trustee Associate
- Former: James A. W. McLeod (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Alexa Joan Wajed (2024) — Trustee Associate
- Former: John Behm (2024) — Trustee Associate
- Former: Miles Gresham (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Amey D. Moot (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Shelley M. Kimelberg (2020–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $155K, to Beth K Gosch (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Western New York Foundation
How much does The Western New York Foundation give each year?
The Western New York Foundation gave $1.5M across 127 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $1.2M across 134 grants.
What is The Western New York Foundation's typical grant size?
The Western New York Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $3,500, and its average grant was $11,431, across 127 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Western New York Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Western New York Foundation give grants?
The Western New York Foundation gives mostly in New York: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nebraska (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (65 grants), Jamestown, NY (10 grants), Orchard Park, NY (6 grants) and Olean, NY (5 grants).
Does The Western New York Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of The Western New York Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 127) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (15 grants), "Social Justice and Equity" (12 grants) and "Give 716 Match" (11 grants).
Who are The Western New York Foundation's largest grantees?
The Western New York Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo1 ($505,000 across 2 grants), United Way of Buffalo & Erie County ($172,230 across 6 grants) and Massachusetts Avenue Project ($86,864 across 6 grants), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Western New York Foundation?
The Western New York Foundation reported $25.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Western New York Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to drive transformative changes in the regional food system by supporting innovative people and organizations with resources to create and implement sustainable solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Western New York Foundation?
The Foundation’s website invites eligible organizations to submit Letters of Intent for its grant programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Western New York Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-western-new-york-foundation-morg_4d9285f384af48e29d63100ad5795eff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_160845962_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Western New York Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-western-new-york-foundation-morg_4d9285f384af48e29d63100ad5795eff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Western New York 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.
The Western New York Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?