Buffalo, N.Y. – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo announced the 2024 Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Arts & Culture Initiative awards totaling $500,000 to support 56 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 members synthesized data from the two previous grant years and drew heavily on their own experiences working in grassroots arts nonprofit organizations and as reviewers for grant processes outside of the Community Foundation.
Collaboration continues to be an important part of the Arts & Culture Initiative and the Rochester Area Community Foundation is an integral partner in supporting efforts in Monroe County. The Arts & Culture Initiative also appreciates the additional funding provided by the Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation for the second year in a row.
The funding 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 – $15,000
- BFM Arts, Inc. – $15,000
- Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology – $13,000
- Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art – $15,000
- Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Inc. – $14,000
- Carousel Society of the Niagara Frontier – $15,000
- Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts, Inc. – $15,000
- Community Canvases – $14,000
- Cordelia A. Greene Library – $15,000
- Danceability, Inc. – $15,000
- El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $15,000
- Fenton Historical Society of Jamestown, New York – $15,000
- Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council – $15,000
- Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, Ltd. – $15,000
- Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center – $15,000
- IndicatorArt Corporation – $15,000
- KORP Foundation Inc. – $14,000
- Lewiston Council on the Arts Inc – $15,000
- Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc. – $14,000
- North Park Theatre of Buffalo, Inc. – $13,000
- Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Collective – $15,000
- Shake on the Lake – $15,000
- Sukanya Burman Dance Inc. – $15,000
- The Cobblestone Society – $15,000
- The Fountain Arts Center, Inc. – $15,000
- The Theatre of Youth Company, Inc. – $15,000
- West Falls Center for the Arts – $15,000
- Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc – $14,327
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:
- American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation – $2,500
- Arts Services Inc. – $2,500
- Buffalo Music Hall of Fame – $2,500
- Buffalo Niagara LGBTQ History Project Inc – $2,500
- Buffalo Society of Artists – $2,500
- Canalside Radio Inc – $2,500
- Clann Na Cara Parents Organization INC d/b/a Buffalo Irish Dance Parents Organization – $2,500
- Concordia Foundation, Inc. – $1,500
- Depew Community Action Team, Inc – $2,500
- El Batey Inc. – $2,500
- El Museo Francisco Oller Y Diego Rivera – $2,500
- Fractured Atlas – $2,500
- Genesee Symphony Orchestra – $2,500
- Greater Niagara Ballet Company – $2,500
- GWBN Inc. dba Gardens Buffalo Niagara – $2,500
- Leon Historical Society – $2,500
- Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown – $2,500
- Polish Arts Club of Buffalo – $2,500
- Polish Genealogical Society of New York State – $2,500
- Red Blazer Men’s Chorus – $2,500
- Rock Autism – $2,500
- Starry Night Theatre, Inc. – $2,500
- Tonawandas’ Council on the Arts/Carnegie Art Center – $2,500
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America – Buffalo, NY Branch – $2,500
- Virtuous Diamonds Foundation Inc – $2,500
- Vocalis Chamber Choir – $2,500
- WAHI Studio, Inc. – $2,500
- YITC Foundation 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 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.
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.