Seeds of Sustainability Grant Program

The Seeds of Sustainability Grant Program, offered by the Western New York Foundation, is designed to strengthen nonprofit organizations by improving their operational capacity and enhancing their ability to achieve transformative impacts. The Foundation, rooted in a commitment to fostering sustainable community development, seeks to provide strategic funding that empowers organizations to better fulfill their missions and drive systemic change within the food systems sector. The program underscores the Foundation’s dedication to supporting initiatives that address key challenges and opportunities in regional and local food systems. The primary objective of the Seeds of Sustainability Grant Program is to support capacity building within nonprofit organizations. It provides financial assistance and targeted support services that enable grantees to develop essential skills, knowledge, and resources. The funding scope includes activities such as developing strong board and staff leadership, fostering strategic collaborations, strengthening communications efforts, expanding financial resources, promoting programmatic excellence, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. Through these investments, the Foundation aims to ensure that grantees are well-positioned for long-term sustainability and impactful service delivery. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations that have secured tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Organizations must demonstrate a substantial commitment to transforming local or regional food systems, with at least ninety percent of their work dedicated to food systems efforts. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum of three years of IRS Form 990 filings, excluding postcard filings, and must operate with an annual budget ranging between $100,000 and $6,000,000, categorizing them as small to mid-size organizations. The application process offers two pathways for submission. Applicants may submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the Foundation’s online grant portal or schedule a meeting with the Foundation’s Program Officer to deliver a verbal LOI. Meetings for verbal LOI submissions must be scheduled by July 7, 2025. Application materials and resources, including LOI questions and a required Demographic Data Spreadsheet, are available through the Foundation’s website. The grant program operates on two annual cycles. For the May 2025 cycle, the LOI opens on May 27, 2025, with a submission deadline of July 21, 2025. Applicants will be notified of LOI decisions by August 4, 2025, with full applications due by August 25, 2025. Site visits are scheduled for October 2025, and final proposal decisions are expected in November 2025. The November 2025 cycle follows a similar structure, with the LOI period opening in December 2025 and subsequent deadlines extending into the first half of 2026. Evaluation criteria focus on the applicant’s alignment with the program’s objectives, demonstrated capacity for transformative food systems work, and readiness to effectively utilize the grant to build organizational capacity. While the Foundation does not specify an award ceiling, floor, or total program funding in the provided materials, it emphasizes the tailored nature of funding to meet each grantee’s specific needs. For further information or to engage with the Foundation, applicants are encouraged to use the online portal or contact the Program Officer directly through the Foundation’s website.