Buffalo, N.Y. – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced the 2025 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative awards totaling over $421,000 to support 46 small to mid-sized arts organizations serving the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, through its competitive grants process.
Since the establishment of the Arts & Culture Initiative in 2021 by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Community Foundation has prioritized community feedback in the creation of this annual funding opportunity. In 2024, an Advisory Committee was convened to further evolve this funding. The Advisory Committee, comprised of members who have experience reviewing grants and working in grassroot nonprofit arts organizations, spent many hours reviewing data from the two previous grant years to learn and understand challenges and impact. The Committee continued this work in 2025 in response to Western New York’s changing arts and culture landscape to better meet the needs of the community. Additionally, collaboration continues to be an important part of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative and Rochester Area Community Foundation is an integral partner in supporting efforts in Monroe County, awarding $100,000 to 17 organizations. The 2025 funding granted through the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo was awarded in two categories:
Category 1: Combined Capacity-Building and General Operating Funds for organizations with at least one full-time (or one FTE) staff member to help organizations build the solid foundation necessary to pursue an ambitious mission and vision.
Grantees include:
• Alfred Box of Books Library – $13,500
• Beau Fleuve Music & Arts – $14,500
• Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $13,500
• Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art – $13,500
• Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Inc. – $13,500
• Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $13,500
• The Cobblestone Society – $13,500
• Community Canvases – $13,500
• Cordelia A. Greene Library – $13,500
• Danceability, Inc. – $13,500
• El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $13,500
• Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, New York – $13,500
• The Fountain Arts Center, Inc. – $13,500
• Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $13,500
• Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, Ltd. – $13,500
• Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center – $13,500
• IndicatorArt Corporation – $13,500
• KORP Foundation Inc. – $14,500
• Lewiston Council on the Arts Inc – $13,500
• Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc. – $13,500
• North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $13,500
• Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $13,500
• Shake on the Lake – $13,500
• Sukanya Burman Dance Inc. – $13,500
• The Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. – $18,515
• West Falls Center for the Arts – $13,500
• Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc – $13,500
Category 2: General Operating Micro Grants up to $2,500 for organizations with less than one full-time staff member to execute immediate programming.
Grantees include:
• Arts Services Inc. – $5,000 (for two separate projects)
• Aurora Players – $2,500
• Batavia Players – $2,500
• Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus – $2,500
• Buffalo Heritage Carousel – $2,500
• Chautauqua Youth Symphony – $2,500
• Community Canvases – $2,500
• El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $2,500
• Genesee Symphony Orchestra – $2,500
• Harmonia Chamber Singers, Inc. – $2,500
• LMCimpact Inc. – $2,500
• Minerva Free Library – $2,500
• Polish Arts Club of Buffalo – $2,500
• Sotto Voce Inc. – $2,500
• Starring Buffalo – $2,500
• Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $2,500
• Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Buffalo, NY Branch – $2,500
• Vocalis Chamber Choir – $2,500
• WAHI Studio, Inc. – $2,500
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative was established at the Community Foundation to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy. Part of the initiative includes $500,000 in annual funding to be awarded primarily to support small to midsized arts and culture organizations in the nine counties.
To learn more, visit http://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/ralph-c-wilson-jr-foundation-arts-culture-initiative/
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About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.
About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative was established at the Community Foundation to support arts and culture in the eight counties of Western New York, plus Monroe County, in recognition of the key role arts and culture organizations play in a thriving economy. Part of that announcement includes $500,000 in annual funding to be awarded primarily to support small to mid-sized arts and culture organizations in the nine counties.
About Rochester Area Community Foundation
In partnership with generous philanthropists and community partners, Rochester Area Community Foundation works to improve the quality of life for people who live and work in the eight-county greater Rochester region through its leadership and strategic grantmaking. Since it was founded in 1972, the Community Foundation has distributed more than $740 million dollars in grants and scholarships