Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts Grant

Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Summary

The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts, established in 1996, aims to perpetuate the appreciation of fine arts, particularly classical ballet and opera. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations in Western New York, focusing on performances that preserve traditional compositions. The fund prioritizes Tier 1 for ballet and opera, and Tier 2 for high-quality classical performances by responsible nonprofits. It reflects a legacy of cultural enrichment through artistic expression.

Overview

Perpetuating the Appreciation of Fine Arts The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts was established in 1996 by Sarah Bauman Baxter as a unique way to memorialize her father by including his name in her own endowment. Mrs. Baxter and her father shared a love for the classics, including classical languages, ballet and opera. At the end of her life, she translated that love into this bequest, which Mrs. Baxter said should help “perpetuate the appreciation of such fine arts as an important and integral part of our culture.” Grant Opportunity Support shall be in the form of a grant, preferably matching funds. Tier 1 Awards will be prioritized first for performances of “traditional, classical ballet and opera on the living stage, and preferably of the English, European, or Russian schools.” Qualifying performances should “preserve the originality of their composition, so the ballets are presented in their traditional choreography, and operas are sung in the language in which they were composed (except certain operas which may be customarily be rendered in English and are regarded as ‘traditional’ by the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York).” Tier 2 If any funds remain after awards have been made to all ballet and opera nonprofits eligible under Tier 1, awards will be prioritized for qualifying performances presented through the encouragement and support of responsible music or theater nonprofits. Qualifying works shall “preserve the high quality of performance of traditional or classical works” of music, theater, or ballet from the repertories traditionally considered classical for each medium.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are awarded only to organizations that have current Section 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue ServiceApplicants must be located or delivering services in at least one of the eight counties of Western New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming.At any given time, organizations can only have one open competitive grant with the Bauman Fund.