Give for Greatness Grants

The Give for Greatness grant, administered by Arts Services Inc. (ASI), offers capacity-building grants in the amount of $2,000 to support micro and small nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located in select counties of Western New York. Eligible geographic areas include Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara counties, along with the Native nations that share this geography, such as the Seneca Nation, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, and Tuscarora Nation. These grants are designed to strengthen internal organizational operations rather than fund specific programs or events. Capacity building, as defined by ASI, refers to investments that enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of nonprofit organizations. These efforts help organizations improve internal systems and infrastructure in areas such as governance, management, strategic planning, and technology. Funds may be used for hiring consultants, staff training, legal compliance, software upgrades, website improvements, or purchasing necessary equipment. However, funding cannot be used for general operating support, programmatic activities, events, fundraising efforts, capital projects, startup costs, or debt reduction. To be eligible for the Give for Greatness grant, organizations must have arts or cultural programming as their primary mission, be designated as 501(c)(3) nonprofits or possess NYS CHAR 500 status, operate within the designated counties or Native nations, and have an operating budget of less than $500,000. The grant specifically supports entities focused on long-term sustainability and internal improvements rather than one-time programs or external-facing initiatives. The application process is fully online through ASI’s Foundant grants portal. Applicants are required to answer three narrative questions: outlining the organization's mission, vision, and programming; describing the primary community they serve; and detailing how the grant funds will support capacity-building activities. Attachments such as strategic plans, price quotes, or annual reports may be uploaded to support the proposal. Applicants are encouraged to include itemized cost breakdowns and documentation to substantiate the proposed use of funds. The application window for the 2025 cycle opens on September 15, 2025, and closes at 11:59 PM on November 14, 2025. Grant award decisions will be announced in mid-December 2025. Although the portal has a new user interface, the underlying functionality remains unchanged. Additional details about the program and application preview are accessible through the application platform. For questions, applicants may contact Holly Grant, ASI's Director of Grants and Programming, by email at holly@asiwny.org or by phone at 716-833-3004 x512. The grant cycle follows an annual schedule, and the next expected open date for applications is September 15, 2026. The internal review for updated information should occur by that date in the following year.

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