United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Buffalo, New York, operating since 1947. The organization brings people, organizations, and resources together to improve community well-being, ensuring that every person in the community has the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.0M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.7M
-22.8% YoY
Grant Count
98
-14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$79K
-9.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: We bring people, organizations, and resources together to improve community well-being.
The organization focuses on three primary impact areas:
- Education – K-12 education and charter schools
- Financial Security – Poverty alleviation and family financial well-being
- Health and Wellness – Building a strong and healthy community
Grantmaking
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County operates multiple grantmaking mechanisms:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County primarily serves Erie County, New York, with some grant activity extending to Cattaraugus County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $28,964,553
- Total Revenue: $10,942,939
- Total Expenses: $13,150,152
- Total Liabilities: $5,000,000
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated as 501(c)(3) since September 1960
Staffing: 63 employees (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,964,553 | $29,437,274 | $31,555,637 |
| Revenue | $10,942,939 | $14,922,880 | $14,020,396 |
| Expenses | $13,150,152 | $15,141,440 | $13,922,295 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $35,026 | $19,069 | $12,605 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donor Designations to Agencies ($2,191,952), Bps Adult Learning Centerbuffalo Public Schools Foundation ($546,451), Bestself Behavioral Health ($178,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF BUFFALO BUFFALO, NY | PROGRAM FUNDING | $18,900 |
| AMAZON COM INC SEATTLE, WA | WNY GIRLS IN SPORTS SUPPLIES | $12,340 |
| AMAZON COM INC SEATTLE, WA | SUPPLMENTAL ALLOCATIONS - BUFFALO TOGETHER COMMUNITY RESPONSE FUND & COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BLIZZARD RESPONSE FUND | $76,603 |
| BALLOON MASTERS BUFFALO, NY | WNY GIRLS IN SPORTS SUPPLIES | $5,400 |
| BELMONT HOUSING RESOURCES FOR WNY BUFFALO, NY | FAMILY HOUSING STABILITY CASE MANAGEMENT | $149,385 |
| BELMONT HOUSING RESOURCES FOR WNY BUFFALO, NY | PROGRAM FUNDING | $166,500 |
| BELMONT HOUSING RESOURCES FOR WNY BUFFALO, NY | UNITED WAY WORKS | $55,568 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUFFALO, NY | WNY GIRLS IN SPORTS | $7,902 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUFFALO, NY | PROGRAM FUNDING | $178,000 |
| BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUFFALO, NY | CLOSING THE GAP CLEVEHILL - FUND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION FEDERAL GRANT | $71,327 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President & CEO: Trina Burrus
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RACHELLE SAT'CHELL ROBINSON | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINA BROZYNA | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| AUSTIN HOULDING | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| NICKOLE GARRISON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARIJKE KEMBLE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| HUGH RUSS | CHAIR DESIGNATE | 1 | — |
| FELICIA BEARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KENDRA BRIM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALEXANDER BURGOS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRODERICK CASON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL COLEMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DIANE COLGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMIE FERULLO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN HOGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE IRISH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATTY KAMINSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICK MCGUIRE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNE O'NEILL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEANNIE PARENT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIAN PATTERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RAMONA REYNOLDS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHLEEN RIZZO YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELINDA SEIBOLD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JONATHON STAPLES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMASINA STENHOUSE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNA STOLZENBURG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN TURKOVICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CAITLIN ZULEWSKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TRINA BURRUSS | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $183,764 |
| THOMAS WRINN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $104,521 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Pitch10 Competition:** Next Generation United announced nonprofit winners of the Pitch10 pitch competition
United Way of Buffalo & Erie County\u2019s Next Generation United Announces\**Community Resilience Fund:** Ongoing updates to community resilience initiatives
Press Release: Community Resilience Fund Update | United Way of Buffalo**Cattaraugus County Grants:** Distributed $98,125 to support services in Cattaraugus County
United Way of Buffalo & Erie County\u2019s Next Generation United Announces\**WNY Forward Fund:** Received grants to support exploration of strategic alliances in the nonprofit sector
WNY Forward Fund Announces Grants to Support Exploration of ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Way of Buffalo and Erie County fund?
**Mission:** We bring people, organizations, and resources together to improve community well-being. The organization focuses on three primary impact areas: • **Education** – K-12 education and charter schools • **Financial Security** – Poverty alleviation and family financial well-being • **Health and Wellness** – Building a strong and healthy community
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Buffalo and Erie County?
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County operates multiple grantmaking mechanisms: **Grant Programs:** • Program investments through competitively awarded grant programs to local agencies • Grant program and initiatives providing support to community organizations, groups, and agencies • Donor designations allowing donors to direct gifts to any 501(c)(3) organization **Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,117 to $2,342,946 **Total Giving:** $6,691,319 (based on most recent IRS Form 990) *…
Where does United Way of Buffalo and Erie County make grants?
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County primarily serves Erie County, New York, with some grant activity extending to Cattaraugus County.
What size grants does United Way of Buffalo and Erie County award?
In 2024, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County awarded 98 grants totaling $7.7M — an average of about $79K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is United Way of Buffalo and Erie County's EIN?
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0743969. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Buffalo and Erie County's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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