John R. Oishei Foundation Grant

Overview

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Background

For decades, the Oishei Foundation has supported a diverse group of hard-working organizations and individuals, all dedicated to building a thriving community. In the fall of 2023, building on our existing racial equity work, we shifted our focus to address the root causes of racial inequity, starting with Black communities on Buffalo’s East Side.

Mission

We work with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region.

Vision

A thriving, prosperous community for all, where diversity is our strength.

Values

* Act against racism: We are actively countering racism and the systemic barriers faced by Black and other residents of color in our region.

* Build on strengths: We center colleagues’ and communities’ agency, strengths, resources, and opportunities.
* Be trustworthy: We build and sustain trust through transparency, accountability, and humility.
* Work together: We listen to collaborate and build partnerships—across sectors and across differences. 
* Make a difference: We achieve positive impacts by investing in our own and the region’s capacity to learn, improve, and change.

Building a foundation for racial equity

The Oishei Foundation has always been committed to helping our community thrive. We’re proud of our work and, through our partners, believe we've made a difference. But as we look around, it’s clear that many of our neighbors—especially communities of color—still face stark inequities. So now, we are changing what we do—and how we do it—together.

Moving forward, the Oishei Foundation will narrow our focus in order to broaden our impact. Specifically, we will address the root causes of racial inequity, working to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just region.Building a foundation for racial equity.

Bringing racial equity into greater focus.

The Oishei Foundation recently engaged in a strategic planning process through which we gained an even deeper understanding of some challenging truths. We listened to diverse voices and analyzed disaggregated data that highlights racial inequities—specifically for Black people.

The inequities are clear. Black people in Buffalo earn 40% less, die 10 years sooner, and own their homes one-third less often than white people.

Real change requires real change.

Buffalo is both one of the poorest and one of the most segregated cities in the country. As we continue to ask why and consider what has to change, we have reached the conclusion (as many others have) that racial inequity is rooted in systems, and is directly linked to financial well-being.

For these reasons, the Oishei Foundation will change its approach, focusing first on Buffalo’s East Side communities, and going deeper than symptoms to address the root causes and systemic barriers that perpetuate racial inequity and deny Black people the opportunity to build financial stability that leads to generational wealth.

The region’s resurgence will only be complete when everyone is included.

It’s about time.

Moving forward together, everything we do will be measured by the progress made toward shared financial prosperity for a racially just region.

We will transition all grantmaking, support, and services to align with our new strategic focus.

We will share our power with communities, so they can lead.

We will listen more, learn more, and act more.

Together, we will build a foundation for racial equity—a foundation for a better Buffalo.

Eligibility

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Application Details

Building
a foundation
for racial
equity.
Our New Direction
80 81

2 3

Building a foundation for racial equity.
SECTION ONE: OUR COMMITMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Real change requires real change.
To our friends and partners .
SECTION TWO: OUR NEW DIRECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Centering racial equity, changing systems.
Mission . Vision . Values .
Strategic focus and goal .
Strategic pillars .
Indicators of progress .
Next steps, together .
SECTION THREE: RESEARCH FINDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Evidence and context.
Foundational concepts .
Internal analysis .
Community context .
It starts with a strong Foundation .
Endnotes and glossary .
4 5

SECTION ONE: OUR COMMITMENT
Real change
requires
real change.
6 7

For decades, the Oishei Foundation has supported a diverse
To our group of hard-working organizations and individuals,
all dedicated to building a thriving Buffalo-Niagara region.
We’re proud of our work and, through our partners, believe
we've made a difference. But as we look around, it’s clear
friends and
that many of our neighbors—especially communities of color—
still face stark inequities .
We’ve known this for years—which is why we started more
partners. concentrated efforts to support racial equity in 2017.
We’ve built on these initiatives since then, including a recent
strategic planning process through which we gained an
even deeper understanding of some challenging truths:
Buffalo is both one of the poorest and one of the most
segregated cities in the country—a city in which Black people,
concentrated on the city’s East Side, earn 40% less,
die 10 years sooner, and own their homes one-third less
often than white people .*
Can we really call ourselves the City of Good Neighbors
when these are the facts?
Yes, we came together as a community after the racist attack
on May 14, 2022 . But the systemic barriers never went away .
The COVID-19 pandemic and 2022 blizzard—both of which
disproportionately affected those on the East Side, who are
8 Oishei Foundation—Our Commitment predominately Black—further exposed Buffalo's racial disparities. 9

The truth is our region’s resurgence will not be complete until So, we will start by listening and learning, as we center
everyone is included . And that requires getting at the root the experience and expertise of the people living
causes that lead to racial inequities so that everyone can and working in East Side communities to inform how
prosper. When people are financially stable, they can afford we best advance this strategic framework, because we
access to better healthcare, education, and transportation . believe those closest to the issues hold the keys to
They can build sustainable wealth . And the entire community identifying the solutions .
benefits, with more well-paying jobs, more thriving businesses,
We are inspired by leaders and
and more ways for everyone to contribute . By removing
barriers, more people can have opportunities and a path
organizations already doing
to realizing their full potential .
this work .
We recognize that we need to change our approach to
achieve these goals . Moving forward—and we must move
We are grateful for our many
forward—the Oishei Foundation will narrow our focus to
partners across the region .
broaden our impact. Specifically, we will address the root
causes of racial inequity and build financial prosperity for
a racially just region . We will start with Black communities And we are hopeful that you
on Buffalo’s East Side, where there are dozens of vibrant,
will join in our efforts to build
proud neighborhoods, home to strong Black communities
and people who contribute in powerful ways, yet do not a foundation for racial equity—
participate equally in our regional growth .
a foundation for a better Buffalo.
While our initial focus will be in communities on the East Side,
our mission will not be complete until all parts of our
With resolve,
community can thrive .
William G . Gisel, Jr ., Chairman of the Board of Directors
Our new strategic framework is a beginning . Narrowing our focus Glenn Jackson, Chair-Elect
in this new direction, we recognize that we have much to learn . Christina P . Orsi, President
10 *see endnotes for sources 11

SECTION TWO: OUR NEW DIRECTION
Centering
racial equity,
changing
systems.
12 13

OVERVIEW
The Oishei Foundation’s new
strategic direction is built upon
the following framework—
approved by our board of directors
and embraced by our team after
a year of diligent research and
consideration . It asserts what
we stand for, defines our goals,
and reaffirms our ongoing
commitment to our community .
As a framework, it is intentionally
designed to evolve over time
as we build on strengths together .
14 15

Mission.
Vision.
Values.
16 Oishei Foundation—Our New Direction 17

MISSION VALUES
We work with communities
Act against racism.
We are actively countering racism and the
to change systems and
systemic barriers faced by Black and other residents
build financial prosperity
of color in our region .
for a racially just, vibrant
Build on strengths.
We center colleagues’ and communities’ agency,
Buffalo-Niagara region.
strengths, resources, and opportunities .
Be trustworthy.
VISION
We build and sustain trust through transparency,
accountability, and humility .
A thriving, prosperous
Work together.
community for all,
We listen to collaborate and build partnerships—
where diversity is our
across sectors and across differences.
strength .
Make a difference.
We achieve positive impacts by investing in
our own and the region’s capacity to learn, improve,
and change .
18 19

The Oishei Foundation will focus on building
Strategic
financial prosperity through a systems change
approach, starting in Buffalo’s East Side
communities and expanding throughout the
focus Buffalo-Niagara region over time.
By initially focusing on East Side communities,
we will balance capacity with data and knowledge
of significant historical, systemic, and recurring
and goal.
barriers to prosperity . We will support the assets of
the communities on the East Side that are full of
knowledge, pride, resilience, strength, and creativity .
Our goal is to contribute to the transformation of
systems to support racial equity and decrease
the disparities in regional prosperity (financial
security and wealth).
As outlined in the following strategic pillars, we will
build upon past achievements and leverage our
capabilities while changing how we work with and
alongside communities to achieve lasting change .
20 Oishei Foundation—Our New Direction 21

These pillars represent new intentions, as well
Strategic
as new ways of thinking about and doing our work.
While specific activities and tactics will emerge,
pillars. our success will depend upon mobilizing
existing strengths as we build our capacity
around these strategic pillars:
1
Centering racial equity.
—
Act against racism by aligning our organization’s governance,
operations, grantmaking, nonprofit capacity building,
and leadership programs with our strategic focus and goals .
—
Prioritize breaking down barriers to wealth creation
of Black residents on the East Side, then communities
of color throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region.
—
Strengthen white ally engagement in efforts to mitigate
systemic bias and deepen involvement in educating
on anti-racism to support racial equity across the region .
22 Oishei Foundation—Our New Direction 23

2 3
Becoming a learning organization. Building, sharing, and using power.
— —
Use learning to inform responsiveness and reward action: Share decision-making with residents most affected
build “action-learning cycles” (i .e ., ask what we want to by wealth disparities and co-create strategic activities
happen, ask what happened, then apply lessons learned, and measures of progress .
—
“now what?”) into all programmatic efforts.
Build bridges and meaningful connections, join and/or
—
Build collaborative and continuous learning partnerships set tables for community leaders of varied lived
with the community to listen, reflect, and evolve; experience to learn together, build community,
community knowledge, experiences, concerns, and align around a common goal .
—
creativity, and power are critical for generating strong
Support and/or lead cross-sector partnerships to
and sustainable outcomes .
align and enhance resources/capacity while centering
—
Prioritize learning about and identifying inequities community voices .
and disparities in Oishei’s policies and practices
that have given white people and white-led organizations
material advantages over people of color .
—
Create an internal culture of accountability for changing
individual and institutional views, beliefs,
decision-making, recruitment of board and staff,
and sourcing grantees/partners .
24 25

4 5
Supporting systems change to address Leveraging all our financial resources
root causes, including policy solutions, to by making grants and
dismantle racial and other structural barriers mission-aligned investments.
to prosperity in marginalized communities. —
Align grantmaking policies, procedures, and
—
Support advocacy work, which may include grassroots decision-making with strategic direction and goal .
—
mobilization, public education campaigns, and research .
Use the investment portfolio to go beyond
—
Use communications strategies to educate and influence. grantmaking to support mission while ensuring
— strong fiscal stewardship.
Create and/or support high-impact coalitions to address
systems change .
—
Revitalize local assets, the primary building blocks of a
sustainable community development (e .g ., neighborhood
commercial corridors, green infrastructure, vacant lot
development, quality affordable housing, etc.).
—
Promote equitable and inclusive civic engagement .
—
Direct grant funding toward resolving underlying root
causes of inequity in communities .
26 27

SHORT-TERM (1–3 years)
Operationalizing the new strategy.
As we build specific plans to drive our new direction, we will
keep these short-term goals in mind, understanding that
change will take time.
Indicators —
Community, public, and private coalitions are joined or built,
supported, and aligned on common strategy and goals .
—
Racial-equity focused stakeholder engagement
of progress.
is our way of practice .
—
The Oishei Foundation has developed a policy agenda .
—
Increased participation of community members
in Oishei decision-making .
—
Staff and board have cultural humility to work
with relevant stakeholders .
—
Governance, operations, resources, and policies/
procedures reviewed and revised to align with values
and strategy .
—
The Foundation’s grantmaking practices are experienced
as transparent, meaningful, and streamlined for
grant-seekers .
—
Develop mission-aligned investment criteria to utilize in
decision-making for the Foundation’s investment portfolio .
—
Increased economic investment on Buffalo’s East Side:
neighborhood revitalization initiatives
28 Oishei Foundation—Our New Direction and civic infrastructure, without displacement . 29

LONG-TERM (>10 years)
Collective efforts contributing toward
positive long-term change.
We realize the Oishei Foundation is one of many contributors
to long-term, generational change and we plan to work
in partnership with stakeholders across the community to
drive toward change together .
—
Communities of color attract outside
public/private investment .
—
Decline in people of color (families/children)
living in poverty .
—
Reduced spatial segregation by race—
dissimilarity index and isolation/exposure indices .
—
Median income increases, disaggregated by race .
—
Household debt reduced to not be a barrier
to economic security .
—
Increased rates/amounts of home ownership,
savings/retirement, and business ownership for
people of color .
—
Wealth gap closing in Buffalo-Niagara region
for people of color .
These short- and long-term indicators of progress are
a starting point—preliminary milestones that will be modified
30 and updated with input from the communities we work with . 31

Working together to build
a foundation for racial equity
will take time . We will
approach this work in phases .
Next steps,
Phase 1: Understanding
From June 2022 through September 2023,
together.
the Oishei Foundation conducted initial research,
developed the Strategic Framework shared
on the previous pages, and designed a
transition plan for our grantees and partners .
Phase 2: Commitment
In fall 2023, we began informing grantees, partners,
and people throughout the community of our
commitment to this new strategic direction .
—
The Oishei Foundation is pausing grantmaking as we take
time to listen and learn with East Side communities and
determine and develop the specifics of our future work.
We are enacting a thoughtful transition plan that provides
time for partners who rely on us for significant support
to adjust . We are also evaluating our philanthropic support
programs, using this new direction as a guide .
—
These decisions are made with careful consideration to the
very valuable work of so many organizations that are deeply
32 2O0is2h3e—i F2o0u33n d Sattrioante—gOicu Fr rNamewe wDoirrekction committed to advancing racial equity . 33

Phase 3: Learning & Engagement
Beginning in fall 2023, we will:
—
Invest our time working with and within East Side
communities to listen and learn, and to ensure
that a shared path forward directly reflects the
communities’ collective vision of progress and prosperity .
During this time, the individuals within these
communities will guide our actions—because we
believe that those closest to issues and with lived
experience hold the keys to possible solutions .
—
Further develop a learning culture that will allow us to
center equity in learning, improve knowledge sharing,
and answer strategic questions to advance our mission .
Phase 4: Action
While our learning and engagement will continue
on an ongoing basis, we will also begin taking action .
We will try new approaches, and use more of our
capabilities in various ways to achieve our shared goals .
34 35

It’s about time for foundational change.
We will balance urgency with
patience, advancing this work
together in phases .
And together,
We will transition all grantmaking,
support, and services to align
we will build
with our new strategic focus .
We will strengthen existing a foundation for
partnerships and build new ones
with those advancing racial equity .
racial equity—
We will leverage our networks,
leadership, and resources a foundation for
to rebuild systems that thrive
on equity .
a better Buffalo.
We will extend expertise
with humility .
We will share our power with
communities, so they can lead .
We will listen more, learn more,
and act more .
36 37

This new strategic direction isn’t about us.
It’s about all of us.
The entire Oishei Foundation team commits to this work, having
learned enough to know that we have much more to learn .
One thing we are certain of, though, is that we cannot do it alone .
This shared opportunity will only be realized if we work together—
as partners and as a community—joining with those already
engaged in these efforts.
Board of Directors
William G . Gisel, Jr ., Chair
Glenn Jackson, Chair-Elect
Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Ph .D, Vice Chair & Secretary
Francisco M . Vasquez, Ph .D, Treasurer
Donald K . Boswell
Maureen Hurley
Luke T . Jacobs
Michael T . Ulbrich
Melva D . Visher
Staff
Christina P . Orsi, President
Esther Annan
Natalie Cook
Lawrence H . Cook II
Linda Gloss-Ball
Susan M . Kirkpatrick
Blythe T . Merrill
Geoffrey Pritchard
Curtis W . Robbins
Mark J . Scott, Ph .D
Also contributing:
Mobile Safety-Net Team
Allison Geddes
Brandon Redmond
Annie Todd
38 39