Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Accepting Letters of Intent for 2022 Competitive Grant Process

Buffalo, N.Y. – The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo is now accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) for its 2022 competitive grant process through Feb. 1, 2022 at 4 p.m. Interested organizations should read the detailed guidelines/additional information that can be found here before submitting a Letter of Intent: https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/community-foundation/

LOI proposals must address at least one of the Solutions listed under the Community Foundation’s four Community Goals:

I. Improve educational achievement for individuals living in low-income households. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

  1. Improve the academic achievement and postsecondary completion of individuals living in low-income households.
  2. Improve the school readiness of children, ages birth to five, living in low-income households.

II. Increase racial/ethnic equity. Requests must address the following Solutions:

  1. Increase opportunities for residents to interact across racial/ethnic lines resulting in improved understanding.
  2. Promote civic engagement and leadership in communities of color.

III.  Protect and restore significant environmental resources and promote equitable access (access defined as racially inclusive). Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

  1. Protect and restore the region’s waterways and promote equitable access (access defined as racially inclusive).
  2. Strengthen individual environmental organizations and support a more racially inclusive and collaborative environmental community.

IV. Strengthen the region as a center for architecture, arts, and culture. Requests must address one of the following Solutions:

  1. Increase access to long term arts instruction for children and youth living in low-income households.
  2. Increase opportunities for residents to engage across racial/ethnic lines through the arts.
  3. Restore and leverage significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks, with a preference for sites that promote cultural tourism. (Defining historic as official recognition by State/National Register of Historic Places or local preservation ordinance.)

Special consideration will be given to requests which advance racial equity: https://www.cfgb.org/community-change/goals/racial-equity/ 

Special funding available to support programs that serve the visual, speech or hearing impaired (~$5,000). Preference for this funding will be given to requests that also align with one or more of the four Community Goals listed above.

Additionally, 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).

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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.