Buffalo, N.Y. – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is accepting applications for its 2026 competitive grant process beginning February 6, 2026 through March 6, 2026, at 4 p.m. This process has been revised for 2026 and is now a one application process with no letters of intent. Interested organizations should read the detailed guidelines and additional information that
can be found online before submitting an application: https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/community-foundation/
An information session on this process will be held on February 10, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Organizations can find details and register to attend here: https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/community-foundation/.
Applications must address one of the solutions listed under the Community Foundation’s four Community Goals:
Goal I: Achieve racial/ethnic equity
Solutions:
1. Promote civic engagement and leadership.
Goal II: Promote economic mobility through educational achievement, workforce readiness and access to family sustaining jobs for residents living in low-income households
Solutions:
1. Improve the school readiness, academic achievement and postsecondary completion of students living in low- income households.
2. Promote civic engagement and leadership.
Goal III: Steward significant environmental resources
Solutions:
1. Protect and restore the region’s waterways.
2. Strengthen environmental organizations and collaboratives to support climate resilience and sustainability with a preference for addressing the needs of vulnerable communities and climate education.
3. Promote civic engagement and leadership.
Goal IV: Promote regional vibrancy through architecture, arts and culture
Solutions:
1. Promote equitable access to long-term arts instruction for children and youth living in low-income communities.
2. Promote civic engagement and leadership.
3. Promote cultural tourism by restoring and leveraging significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks (Defining historic as official recognition by State/National Register of Historic Places or local preservation ordinance.)
Special funding is available to support programs that serve the visual, speech or hearing impaired that also aligns with one of the Solutions (~$10,000).
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Competitive Grant application details:
• Process Opens: February 6, 2026
• Information Session (in-person and virtual options) for interested organizations: February 10, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
• Deadline to apply: March 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. (no exceptions)
• Decision notifications: Late June 2026
Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in or serving one of the eight counties of Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming).
For more information about eligibility requirements, to access the application, and to register for the information session, organizations should visit https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/community-foundation/.
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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