Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds

Grants of up to $25,000 and grants of up to $50,000 to New York nonprofit organizations and government agencies in eligible locations to serve local residents. Funding is intended to support programs, operations, and capital requests in the areas of youth sports, caregivers, community access, and design and access. Requests in the area of design and access may support planning. The Community Assets fund is limited to Erie County. Caregivers, Design and Access, and Youth Sports are open to all eight counties of Western New York, which is defined as Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established endowment funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to provide annual support for programs and initiatives in the areas of Caregivers, Community Assets, Design and Access and Youth Sports.

Caregivers

Caregivers – Support caregivers – whether paid, voluntary or family – of persons who are unable to fully care for themselves and 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 at least one of the following objectives:

1. Increase opportunities for caregivers to take advantage of resources.
   
2. Support operating expenses of the applicant organization.

Community Assets

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:

1. Increase access to long term arts instruction for children and youth living in under-resourced communities
2. Restore and leverage significant historic buildings and architectural landmarks, with a preference for sites that promote cultural tourism
3. Support operating expenses of the applicant organization.

Design and Access

Design and Access – Support enhancement of community access to spaces and programs that support healthy living. Requests must address one of the following objectives:

1. Support for pre-planning, development and/or construction. This may include projects related to increasing the walkability and bikeability of local communities, and improving waterways,greenways and recreation corridors.
2. Support operating expenses of the applicant organization.

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

Youth Sports

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.