Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts

The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts is a competitive grantmaking initiative administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Established in 1996 by Sarah Bauman Baxter, the fund was created to honor her father by supporting fine arts programs, particularly in ballet and opera, reflecting the shared passion the two had for classical arts and culture. This endowment emphasizes sustaining traditional forms of the performing arts as a valued cultural heritage, a commitment that Mrs. Baxter hoped would continue to foster appreciation for the fine arts in future generations. The fund supports nonprofit organizations that deliver performances preserving traditional ballet and opera in their original form and language, with a preference for styles rooted in English, European, or Russian schools. Tier 1 of the funding criteria focuses specifically on “traditional, classical ballet and opera on the living stage,” and mandates that performances maintain original choreography and language, except in cases where English renditions are customary and recognized as traditional by institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera of New York. For this fund, "classical" is defined strictly as the period up to the start of World War I in 1914. If funding remains after all eligible Tier 1 applications have been fulfilled, the program may extend awards under Tier 2. This second tier prioritizes performances supported by responsible music or theater organizations, provided the works continue to reflect traditional or classical qualities from their respective repertoires. These secondary awards must also maintain high performance standards and must align with the donor’s overarching intent to uphold classical art forms. Approximately $66,000 is available for disbursement in 2026. Grants are preferably awarded as matching funds. The fund does not support endowments, sectarian religious activities, political lobbying, reimbursement of past expenses, or projects outside the eight counties of Western New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible. Only one open competitive Bauman Fund grant may be held by an organization at a time, and schools not registered with the New York State Education Department are ineligible. The application process is fully electronic via the Community Foundation’s Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager portal, and paper or email applications are not accepted. Applications for the 2026 cycle open on March 9, 2026, and must be submitted by April 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Decision notifications will be issued by late May 2026. Applicants are required to complete detailed sections regarding their project’s alignment with Bauman criteria, community need, timeline, involved personnel, and budget. Supporting documents such as resumes of project personnel and letters of support are encouraged, while evaluations from previous programs and a list of board members must also be submitted. Grant recipients are expected to close out their grant within one year unless part of a multiyear commitment. The Foundation may conduct evaluations of grant activities for up to four years after funding. Applicants with ongoing multiyear grants from the Bauman Fund must complete their current obligations before applying again. The Community Foundation offers support to applicants through direct contact and encourages inquiries to ensure complete, eligible submissions. Darren Penoyer is the designated contact for the Bauman Fund, available via email at [email protected] or by phone at (716) 852-2857.

Prioritize Tier 1 alignment; maintain classical form and language as defined by the guidelines