WHAT WE DO
We focus on fostering healthy organizational growth and cultivating nonprofit adaptability and resiliency.
The WNY Foundation provides grants to support organizations that are changing our regional food systems and finding equitable solutions to long-standing problems. Our goal is to make targeted investments in specific capacities that will meet the unique characteristics and needs of each individual nonprofit.
We provide the necessary resources to build skills, ability and training that will allow under-resourced agencies to directly address community needs by investing in strategies and structures that result in sound management, strong governance, and greater financial stability.
We support coalitions and collaborations across sectors that encourage innovative solutions. We believe diverse partnerships create more equitable and sustainable results.
Photo Courtesy of Providence Farm Collective
WHO WE FUND
The Foundation strives to empower innovative people with the resources needed to create and implement sustainable solutions that will build a thriving and equitable food system that reflects the community it serves. We prioritize nonprofits focused on the wellbeing of BIPOC communities, families disproportionally impacted by poverty, immigrants and refugees, and disadvantaged people in rural areas. We will support efforts that work to decrease social inequities and reject the disparities of conventional food systems.
The WNY Foundation recognizes the vital role that wellbeing plays in building strong and thriving communities. As defined by the Full Frame Initiative (FFI), wellbeing is a multi-dimensional concept that impacts individuals and the communities they live in. There are five factors in play, which are largely socially determined: safety; stability; mastery; social connectedness, and meaningful access to relevant resources. Our foundation is committed to supporting nonprofits who align with the wellbeing tenets. To learn more about the 5 domains of wellbeing, please visit the Full Frame Initiative.