WNY Forward Fund Announces Grants to Support Exploration of Strategic Alliances in Nonprofit Sector

Local funders join forces to create greater strength, stability and sustainability in face of federal cuts and shifting priorities

Buffalo, N.Y., February 5, 2026 – The Western New York Forward Fund, a collaborative effort of local funders, has announced its first round of grants to 19 organizations to support the exploration and formation of strategic alliances to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem. The Fund is a multi-year commitment to help ensure that the WNY community and the nonprofit sector remains strong, resilient, and equipped to adapt in the face of recent changes that have created financial strain, rapid change and deep uncertainty while community need is increasing.

There was significant interest in the funding opportunity, and $350,000 has been awarded in grants ranging from $2,250 up to $25,000 to organizations across Western New York, representing a broad cross-section of the region’s nonprofit sector, including arts and cultural, education, social services, and mental health organizations. The grants will support the exploration and/or pursuit of strategic alliances designed to help nonprofits adapt to the evolving environment and remain resilient to community needs. Strategic alliances of varying levels were considered including partnerships, shared services, mergers, and other collaborative models. Due to the sensitive nature of these explorations, many in the very early stages, WNY Forward Fund is not releasing specific organization names who have been awarded grants.

Nonprofits in the eight counties of Western New York (Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming, Genesee, and Orleans) were eligible to apply. Additional grant opportunities in this area are also planned for 2026.

The WNY Forward Fund was created in late 2025 and includes 14 local funders who have contributed approximately $2.5 million to the Fund to spark innovation, strengthen capacity, and support nonprofits as they adapt to shifting conditions and they explore how to deliver services in partnership. The announced grants and the formation of strategic alliances is one of three priority areas designated by the collaboration. Other priorities include exploring opportunities to fund and support initiatives that strengthen our civic health, and sector support for communications and storytelling.

According to Betsy Constantine, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the organization managing the Fund, “Together with our funding partners, we are pleased to support these 19 organizations who are pursuing strategic, innovative, and creative ways to join forces and strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem in Western New York. At a time when resources are strained and uncertainty is the new norm, we applaud those organizations who are willing to think and work differently for the benefit of their respective organizations, those they serve and ultimately, their communities.”

Conversations among local foundations began in the spring of 2025 as changes at the federal level were enacted. As it became clear that the resources of the local funding community would not be near enough to address funding shortfalls, the collaboration formed to create the WNY Forward Fund. The funding shortfall in the first quarter of 2025 alone has been estimated to be approximately $7 billion across New York State to organizations and individuals. In addition, nearly 70% of the nonprofit sector received some type of government funding.

WNY Forward Fund collaborators include The Buffalo Bills Foundation, The Celia Lipton & Victor W. Farris Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Fund, James H. Cummings Foundation, The John R. Oishei Foundation, KeyBank, Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, M&T Bank, The Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, and The Western New York Foundation. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo manages the Fund.

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