Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds

Grant requests should range between $10,000 and $25,000 for Caregivers, Community Assets and Youth Sports. Design and Access requests should range between $10,000 and $50,000. Funds will be released after grant requirements and obligations have been signed and returned.

•  Applications will be accepted online – November 3, 2025.
•  Application deadline – December 1, 2025, at 4 p.m.
•  Funding decisions will be announced – Mid April 2026.

Goals and Objectives

1. Caregivers – Support caregivers – whether paid, voluntary, or family – of persons who are unable to fully care for themselves and with a preference for those who are part of an underserved community. Preference will be given to organizations or projects that provide support to caregivers of older adults. Requests must address the following objective:-Increase opportunities for caregivers to take advantage of resources.
   • • Examples of such resources include, but are not limited to, the following: transportation assistance, support for volunteers, and training opportunities.
     • Support community-based efforts where strategic, targeted funding can yield meaningful impact. It also provides organizations with the capacity to test new ideas, pilot innovative programs, learn what works, and build evidence to inform future expansion.
2. Community Assets – Support significant cultural and historic assets and/or increase access to long-term arts instruction for youth. Requests must address one of the following objectives:
   • • Increase access to long-term arts instruction for children and youth living in under-resourced communities.
     • 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.)
3. Design and Access – Support enhancement of community access to spaces and programs through  pre-planning, development and/or construction projects that improve waterways, greenways, and outdoor recreation corridors, or support increasing the walkability and bikeability of local communities. It is a preference but not a requirement that these projects:

• • • Incorporate green design to be environmentally sustainable.
    • Incorporate universal access design to serve people of all abilities.
    • Please note: Sports facilities (including large facilities, fields, courts, etc.), playgrounds, and community gardens are ineligible for funding.

4. Youth Sports – Support organizations or projects that provide opportunities for all children to be active through sport. Requests to build collaborations among organizations are encouraged. Requests for projects should include the following objectives from the State of Play WNY Report:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Ask kids what they want.
            2. Reintroduce free play.
            3. Encourage sport sampling.
            4. Revitalize in-town leagues.
            5. Think small.
            6. Design for development.
            7. Train all coaches.
            8. Emphasize prevention.

To download a copy of the State of Play Western New York report, please visit: http://www.ralphcwilsonjrfoundation.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/06/State_Of_Pl   ay_WNY_RWJF.pdf.

Eligibility

• Grant requests should range between $10,000 and $25,000 for Caregivers, Community Assets, and Youth Sports. Design and Access requests should range between $10,000 and $50,000. Funds will be released after grant requirements and obligations have been signed and returned.
• Requests may be for capital, programming, or For Design and Access, this also may include planning requests.
• For Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that meet the guidelines described above and reside in Western New York may apply for a grant. Western New York is defined as Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming
• For Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports, government agencies also may The intent is not to replace public funding but to augment and leverage it.
• For Community Assets, only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that reside in Erie County may apply.
• For Youth Sports, youth is defined as children ages 5-13 . Tackle football programs are not eligible to apply. The fund will also not consider requests for traditional sporting goods equipment. For those seeking sports equipment, we partner with Good Sports (a national non-profit dedicated to providing brand-new sports equipment to kids in need) and Leveling the Playing Field (who redistributes new and gently used sports equipment to expand access within youth sports and recreation programs). If you are seeking traditional sports equipment for your organization, please see the link for information on how to apply directly to Good Sports or reach out to Leveling the Playing Field at wny@levelingtheplayingfield.org. Please consult with Good Sports prior to submitting your grant request.
• There is a limit to one application per organization per funding
• Multi-year requests will not be accepted.
• Requests for endowments, religious purposes, attendance at or sponsorship of events, and for schools not registered with the NYS Education Department will not be accepted.

• Monday, November 3, 2025, at 12 p.m. (all focus areas, virtual).
• Monday, November 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. (Youth Sports only, in person, 1021 Broadway St. Buffalo NY, 4th Floor).
• Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 12 p.m. (all focus areas, virtual).
• Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 6 p.m. (Youth Sports only, in person, Genesee County YMCA 209 E Main Street Batavia NY).
• Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 6 p.m. (Youth Sports only, in person, Chautauqua Lake Central School District 100 N Erie St Mayville NY).

If you have questions about applying to Caregivers, please contact Cara Reynolds at CaraR@cfgb.org.

If you have questions about applying to Community Assets, please contact Yuki Numata Resnick at YukiNR@cfgb.org.

If you have questions about Design and Access, please contact Colin Perry at ColinP@cfgb.org.

If you have questions about applying to Youth Sports, please contact James Ballin at JamesB@cfgb.org.

For general information, please contact Sarah Johnson at SarahJ@cfgb.org.

FAQs

Please click here to view answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Who May Apply

For Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that meet the 2025 Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds Goals and Objectives and reside in Western New York may apply for a grant.

For Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports, government agencies also may apply.

For Community Assets, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that reside in Erie County may apply.

• There is a limit to one application per organization per funding category
• Multi-year requests will not be accepted
• Requests for endowments, religious purposes, attendance at or sponsorship of events and for schools not registered with the NYS Education Department will not be accepted