Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Wyoming Foundation Grants

Background

The Wyoming Foundation was established in 1974 by Dr. James MacCallum as a means to improve the quality of life in Wyoming County. Since 1977, the Wyoming Foundation has actively supported a wide variety of cultural, educational and human services organizations.

In 2011, the Wyoming Foundation awarded grants to 10 nonprofit organizations in Wyoming County that support a wide variety of community needs.

Grant Opportunity

Individual grants range from $500 to $2,000.

The Wyoming Foundation competitive grant process is conducted through an online grant application and processing system. In addition, grantees utilize the system in order to report outcomes when grant funding is expended.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be located or delivering services in Wyoming County New York.
  • Grants are awarded only to organizations that have current Section 501©(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
  • At any given time organizations can only have one open competitive grant with the Foundation.

Guidelines for Applicants

1. Read the Wyoming Foundation Mission Statement:

  • The Wyoming Foundation is intended to strengthen the quality of life in Wyoming County and the surrounding area by:
    • Encouraging private and public giving and supporting other philanthropic activities.
    • Developing a permanent endowment.
    • Assessing and responding to emerging and changing community needs.
    • Providing options and services for donors with varied interests at various levels of giving.
    • Serving as a resource catalyst to charitable activities.

2. Be informed that your application will be rated for:

  • Your project’s purpose, rationale, and benefit to your community
  • Relevance to Wyoming Foundation Mission
  • Number of people your project will serve
  • Project feasibility
  • Budget adequacy and project sustainability
  • Creative approach of your grant proposal
  • Involvement of local volunteers
  • Local support for your project

The Foundation will not consider competitive funding for:

  • Higher education scholarships (separate application, deadlines, and process)
  • Endowments
  • Religious purposes
  • Projects outside Wyoming County.
  • Schools not registered with the New York State Education Department
  • Attendance at or sponsorship of fundraising events for organizations
  • Annual events or festivals
  • Any partisan political activity. Funds from the foundation cannot be used to support or oppose a candidate for political office.
  • Projects and activities that have occurred. The Foundation will not, except in extraordinary cases, provide payment or reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to the funding decision being communicated to the applicant.

Timeline:

  • RFP posted online: April
  • Application deadline: May
  • Notification to applicants: June/July

Contact

For more information about the Wyoming Foundation call (585) 285-4135.