Collaborative Initiatives

The Community Foundation plays a leadership role in bringing partners together on collaborative initiatives to advance change in our community. Serving as a central backbone organization, the Community Foundation convenes and incubates partnerships to increase long-term capacity. When the partnership become independent, the Community Foundation shifts its role to be partner, champion, consultant, advocate and funder. Below are some examples of our initiatives:

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Arts & Culture Initiative

In December 2021, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced a $100 million commitment to transform the financial strength and long-term viability of Western New York’s arts and culture community

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WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund

When the pandemic arrived at doorsteps in mid-March 2020, dozens of funders in Western New York joined forces quickly to respond to the rapidly changing needs in our community.

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Say Yes Buffalo

This is an initiative with more than 200 partners created to strengthen our local economy by investing in the education of our City's future workforce.

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Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable

The Roundtable includes more than 210 partners working together in different capacities to advance racial equity and accelerate shared regional prosperity.

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Get Ahead of Lead

This collaborative initiative aims to end lead poisoning, which can permanently reduce a child's ability to learn.

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Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative

Communities of Giving Legacy Initiatives (CGLI) inspires philanthropy for and within communities of color, and drives positive change in our youth.

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Lift Off

A collaborative effort to ensure that by the time WNY children reach Kindergarten, they are prepared physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively to reach their full potential.

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21st Century Fund

21st Century Fund is a giving circle that is open to anyone who wants to give back to Western New York.

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Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) brings together more than a dozen local partners to address critical changes and make homes safe and more energy-efficient in Buffalo.

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Fund for the Arts

The Community Foundation administers a funders collaborative of public, private, family and corporate foundations. It assesses the needs of our arts community, promotes collaboration and strengthens the sector.

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Youth Sports

Project Play Western New York is an initiative launched to ensure that children in the eight counties of Western New York have the opportunity to be active through sports.

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Water Equity Taskforce

The Water Equity Taskforce is a national learning exchange that ensures that all people have access to safe, reliable and affordable water.

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Great Lakes One Water Partnership

This initiative focuses on engaging shoreline community foundations to advance a new era of water management.

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Western New York Impact Investment Fund

Recognizing a need in our community, the Community Foundation brought together 11 initial investors to create a for-profit fund to invest for financial and social gains.

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Buffalo Niagara Freedom Station Coalition

This initiative preserves and promotes the heritage of Buffalo’s oldest African American church.

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Western New York Environmental Alliance

Convened by the Community Foundation, the Western New York Environmental Alliance is now an independent, member-run coalition of more than 80 organizations working to protect and steward our environment and natural resources.

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Read to Succeed

Read to Succeed Buffalo (RTSB) is an education-based initiative that encourages partners to support children in learning to read.

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Scholarships

The Community Foundation is one of WNY's largest scholarship providers, awarding scholarships more than $2M each year.

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