Local Nonprofit Organizations Invited to Apply for Grants Benefiting Niagara County

Lockport, N.Y. – The Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Lockport and the Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County – Empire State Development, two grant funds administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, are now accepting applications from nonprofits serving Niagara County. Qualifying nonprofits are welcome to apply for both grant funds.

The Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Lockport awards grants annually to organizations that are located in and/or serve Niagara County residents.  Preference will be given to organizations or projects that are located in and/or benefit the Greater Lockport area.  Applications are due May 10, 2021 at 4 p.m. and are available for submission at https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/verizonmedia-community-benefit-fund-lockport/

This year’s grant cycle will prioritize applications that support the Fund’s five interest areas, including:

• Family and Community Building

• Youth Education

• Economic Development

• Environment

• Animal Welfare

In addition to the fields of interest above, in 2021 the Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Lockport will give special preference to projects that address the following issues:

• Digital Inclusion

• Climate Protection

• Human Prosperity

Grant awards are determined by the Fund’s Resident Advisory Council with decisions to be announced in late July 2021.

Please contact Darren Penoyer, Senior Program Officer, Community Foundation via email at DarrenP@cfgb.org with any questions about the grant process.

The Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County – Empire State Development awards grants annually to organizations that are located in and/or serve Niagara County residents. Applications are due May 10, 2021 at 4 p.m. and are available for submission at https://www.cfgb.org/nonprofits/grants/verizonmedia-community-benefit-fund-niagara/

This year’s grant cycle will prioritize applications that advance one or more of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council’s (REDC) three core enablers as outlined in the REDC’s strategic plan, A Strategy for Prosperity:

• Implement Smart Growth

• Foster a Culture of Entrepreneurship

• Prepare our Workforce

Projects must be located in or provide services to Niagara County.  Preference will be given to projects outside the Greater Lockport area because the Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Lockport focuses on these locations. Grant awards are determined by Empire State Development’s Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County Grant Review Committee and will be announced in late July 2021.

Please contact John Risio, Project Manager, Empire State Development via email at John.Risio@esd.ny.gov with any questions.

The Yahoo Community Benefit Fund and the Yahoo Fund for Niagara County were created in 2015 as a part of Yahoo’s agreement with Empire State Development to establish a customer care and data center in the Town of Lockport. Due to corporate changes, the funds have been renamed the Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Lockport and the Verizon Media Community Benefit Fund for Niagara County – Empire State Development.

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.