Niagara Area Foundation Grants

The Niagara Area Foundation (NAF) was established in 2000 by a group of local philanthropic leaders seeking to address unmet charitable needs within Niagara County, New York. As a component fund of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, NAF supports initiatives that deliver high-impact, community-oriented results. For 2025, the foundation will distribute approximately $75,000 in grant funding to organizations that align with one or both of its two primary focus areas: Youth Enrichment and Environment. Under the Youth Enrichment priority, NAF seeks to build stronger communities by promoting positive youth development, equity, and inclusion. Preference is given to projects targeting urban or rural low-income communities in Niagara County. Qualifying initiatives include early childhood education, youth literacy enhancement, mental health support, addiction intervention, and increased access to enrichment activities such as the arts (with a particular interest in classical music) and civic engagement. Youth is defined as individuals aged 18 and under. For the Environment focus, NAF supports education and awareness around healthy and vibrant ecosystems. Preferred projects include educational initiatives that promote natural resource stewardship, as well as the creation or enhancement of parks, green spaces, and community gardens. Sustainability elements such as native planting and green practices are strongly encouraged. As with youth projects, preference is again given to efforts serving low-income areas within the county. Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in or delivering services to Niagara County residents are eligible to apply. Applicants must use the online Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager platform to submit proposals; paper, email, or PDF applications will not be accepted. Each organization may only have one open competitive grant with NAF at a time. The average historical grant award is $6,000, with a maximum available grant of $10,000. Applicants requesting more than this amount must contact the Foundation in advance to discuss the request. The application window opens on September 8, 2025, and all submissions must be completed by 4:00 p.m. on October 3, 2025. Applications saved in draft status after the deadline will be considered abandoned. Grant recipients will be notified in mid-December 2025. Projects funded under this cycle must take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. All grants must be closed out within one year, and grantees are required to submit final reports online, including detailed expenditure tracking and outcome evaluation. Optional mid-year video or virtual check-ins with program officers are encouraged. NAF promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its funding and governance expectations. Applicants must adhere to the foundation’s guidelines prohibiting the use of funds for political activity, religious purposes, higher education scholarships, fundraising events, annual events, or activities that occurred prior to award notification. Preference may be given to applicants with sound governance structures and those using tools such as BoardStrong to strengthen board leadership. Questions about eligibility, applications, or funding priorities may be directed to P. Richard Fleurant at richardf@cfgb.org or (716) 852-2857 ext. 261.

Follow instructions closely. Contact NAF in advance if requesting over $10,000. Use BoardStrong tools for governance development.