Form 990 for tax year 2024
Filed by COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO INC.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $48,658,362
- Total expenses
- $46,615,540
- Contributions and grants received
- $35,509,949
- Grants paid
- $38,236,066
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $12,024,564
- Other revenue
- $1,123,849
- Total assets, end of year
- $944,045,975
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $213,357,956
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $730,688,019
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $42,156,362
- Management and general expenses
- $4,162,500
- Fundraising expenses
- $296,678
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $42,156,362
Program services were 90.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$501,238
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$35,008,711
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$4,843,640
-
3 · Investment income
total $6,863,373 · excluded $6,863,373
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $44,148,647
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $38,987,456
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $5,161,191
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $5,161,191 · excluded $5,161,191
-
11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME
total $969,297 · related or exempt $969,297
-
11b · Other revenue: PASS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP K-1
total $154,552 · unrelated business $154,552
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$1,123,849
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $32,472,999 · program services $32,472,999
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $5,763,067 · program services $5,763,067
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $1,020,311 · program services $412,285 · management and general $573,028 · fundraising $34,998
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $3,735,393 · program services $1,995,767 · management and general $1,626,513 · fundraising $113,113
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $130,342 · program services $73,298 · management and general $54,930 · fundraising $2,114
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $324,717 · program services $157,354 · management and general $157,010 · fundraising $10,353
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $333,633 · program services $170,972 · management and general $152,249 · fundraising $10,412
-
11a · Fees: management
total $52,797 · program services $21,694 · management and general $29,795 · fundraising $1,308
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $62,360 · program services $20,218 · management and general $35,066 · fundraising $7,076
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $61,300 · program services $5,000 · management and general $56,300
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,251,115 · program services $640,023 · management and general $547,153 · fundraising $63,939
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $190,688 · program services $40,423 · management and general $113,288 · fundraising $36,977
-
13 · Office expenses
total $160,542 · program services $47,215 · management and general $108,598 · fundraising $4,729
-
14 · Information technology
total $312,107 · program services $14,525 · management and general $297,582
-
16 · Occupancy
total $321,371 · program services $127,880 · management and general $185,268 · fundraising $8,223
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $215,897 · program services $128,177 · management and general $86,620 · fundraising $1,100
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $102,508 · management and general $102,508
-
23 · Insurance
total $17,512 · program services $2,704 · management and general $14,640 · fundraising $168
-
24a · Other expenses: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
total $49,487 · program services $34,464 · management and general $12,855 · fundraising $2,168
-
24b · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES
total $37,394 · program services $28,297 · management and general $9,097
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $36,356,288 · end of year $34,072,500
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $62,511,283 · end of year $51,638,154
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $658,142 · end of year $846,616
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$1,863,230
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$1,415,133
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $459,064 · end of year $448,097
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $209,639,457 · end of year $216,905,868
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $525,235,613 · end of year $591,351,321
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $45,272,487 · end of year $48,783,419
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $1,211,063 · end of year $1,537,705
-
18 · Grants payable
beginning of year $1,125,606 · end of year $941,927
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $16,234,321 · end of year $25,325,563
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $167,610,899 · end of year $185,552,761
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $181,070,545 · end of year $184,646,906
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $512,879,900 · end of year $546,041,113
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO, INC. (THE FOUNDATION) IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE, IDEAS AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIVES IN WESTERN NEW YORK. SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1919, THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS MAKE THEIR CHARITABLE GOALS A REALITY AND TO PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO HELP ADDRESS CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES AND NEEDS. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES SOUND MANAGEMENT OF CHARITABLE ASSETS AND A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE WESTERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY TO ENSURE OUR GRANT-MAKING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES ARE USED STRATEGICALLY AND MOST EFFECTIVELY TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY.
Activities or mission (Part I)
TO CONNECT PEOPLE, IDEAS AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIVES IN WESTERN NEW YORK.
-
DONOR/CLIENT DIRECTED FUNDS: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS FUNDS IN WHICH DONORS MAKE GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD REVIEWS AND APPROVES THESE GRANTS, WHICH SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. IN 2024, PROGRAM EXPENSES TOTALED $23,128,000, INCLUDING $21,207,000 IN GRANTS. THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE GRANTS VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, REFLECTING THE DIVERSE PHILANTHROPIC INTERESTS OF DONORS.
Expenses $23,128,000 · Grants $21,207,000
-
BOARD DIRECTED GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS: THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DIRECTS THE USE OF CERTAIN FUNDS (AS REQUESTED BY THE CLIENT/DONOR) AS FOLLOWS:(1) CHANGING NEEDS: CLIENTS/DONORS REQUEST THAT THEIR FUNDS BE DIRECTED BY THE BOARD TO ADDRESS THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY OVER TIME. IN 2024 THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTED $820,000 TO ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES SET BY THE FOUNDATION. (2) FIELD OF INTEREST : CLIENTS/DONORS REQUEST THAT THEIR FUNDS BE DIRECTED TO A SPECIFIC AREA OF INTEREST. THE GRANTEES RECEIVING THESE FUNDS ARE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. IN 2024 THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDED $3,016,000 FROM FIELD OF INTEREST FUNDS.(3) SCHOLARSHIPS CLIENTS/DONORS HAVE ESTABLISHED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WHICH THE FOUNDATION AWARDS TO RESIDENTS OF WESTERN NEW YORK. THESE AWARDS ARE BASED PRIMARILY ON FINANCIAL NEED, ALTHOUGH THE CLIENT/DONOR MAY HAVE MADE ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS SUCH AS FIELD OF STUDY OR GRADUATES OF A PARTICULAR HIGH SCHOOL. IN 2024 $2,576,000 WAS AWARDED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, EXCLUDING THOSE AWARDED BY SAY YES BUFFALO (LISTED BELOW).
Expenses $7,006,000 · Grants $6,412,000
-
SAY YES BUFFALO (SYB): THE SAY YES BUFFALO INITIATIVE IS AN EDUCATION BASED, ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION EFFORT DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE AND OFFER UNPRECEDENTED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO URBAN YOUTH. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS AND ADMINISTERS THE SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP FUND WHICH SEEKS TO REMOVE ALL BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS THROUGH A COORDINATED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT AND BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL GRADUATES OF BUFFALO PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PURSUE A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTERING THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS ALSO MADE GRANTS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS INITIATIVES SPEARHEADED BY SAY YES BUFFALO IN ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL, ACADEMIC, HEALTH AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.
Expenses $4,398,000 · Grants $4,398,000
-
Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.
Expenses $7,624,362 · Grants $6,219,066
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.
Listed in Part VII
-
Steve FinchSTEVE FINCH
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5
-
Tamara Alsace Ph DTAMARA ALSACE PH D
VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Owen Herne EsqOWEN HERNE ESQ
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Cheryl Jankowski CPACHERYL JANKOWSKI CPA
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4
-
Jennifer BalbachJENNIFER BALBACH
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Rosalind BurgunROSALIND BURGUN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
David Blesy CPADAVID BLESY CPA
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Boni R Durand PhDBONI R DURAND PHD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Darby FishkinDARBY FISHKIN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Dottie GallagherDOTTIE GALLAGHER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Scott GardnerSCOTT GARDNER
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Allen Pete GrumALLEN PETE GRUM
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Alice Jacobs JDALICE JACOBS JD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Jeffrey Katz EsqJEFFREY KATZ ESQ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Alex MontanteALEX MONTANTE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Jennifer PaulyJENNIFER PAULY
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Hal Payne Ph DHAL PAYNE PH D
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Luis RodriguezLUIS RODRIGUEZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Rose SconiersROSE SCONIERS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
John SomersJOHN SOMERS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Nancy WareNANCY WARE
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Elizabeth ConstantineELIZABETH CONSTANTINE
PRESIDENT/CEO
- Total calculated
- $466,397
- From this org
- $407,000
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $59,397
- Hours/week
- 55
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $325,000
- Bonus
- $82,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $49,000
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,397
- Filer's total
- $466,397
-
Ellen MusialowskiELLEN MUSIALOWSKI
CFO
- Total calculated
- $234,954
- From this org
- $211,667
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $23,287
- Hours/week
- 55
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $181,667
- Bonus
- $30,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $11,100
- Nontaxable benefits
- $12,187
- Filer's total
- $234,954
-
Maria WhyteMARIA WHYTE
CHIEF COMMUNITY IMPACT OFF
- Total calculated
- $318,959
- From this org
- $274,546
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $44,413
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $238,846
- Bonus
- $35,700
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $33,508
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,905
- Filer's total
- $318,959
-
Cara MattelianoCARA MATTELIANO
SENIOR DIRECTOR, POLICY AN
- Total calculated
- $182,958
- From this org
- $169,850
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $13,108
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $149,850
- Bonus
- $20,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $11,988
- Nontaxable benefits
- $1,120
- Filer's total
- $182,958
-
Jean McKeownJEAN MCKEOWN
SPECIAL ADVISOR TO PRESIDE
- Total calculated
- $218,319
- From this org
- $196,700
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $21,619
- Hours/week
- 25
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $177,600
- Bonus
- $19,100
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $14,208
- Nontaxable benefits
- $7,411
- Filer's total
- $218,319
-
Myra LawrenceMYRA LAWRENCE
V.P. FINANCE
- Total calculated
- $238,911
- From this org
- $204,720
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $34,191
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $182,020
- Bonus
- $22,700
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $25,483
- Nontaxable benefits
- $8,708
- Filer's total
- $238,911
-
Felicia BeardFELICIA BEARD
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, RE PHILANTHROPY AND STRA
- Total calculated
- $199,917
- From this org
- $180,500
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $19,417
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $150,000
- Bonus
- $30,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $12,000
- Nontaxable benefits
- $7,417
- Filer's total
- $199,917
-
Halimah MadyunHALIMAH MADYUN
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS
- Total calculated
- $199,503
- From this org
- $178,500
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $21,003
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $163,000
- Bonus
- $15,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $10,323
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,680
- Filer's total
- $199,503
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
- 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Independent compensation consultant
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 7:
- EACH YEAR, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IS EVALUATED BASED ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS RELATIVE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL'S APPROVED ANNUAL OBJECTIVES AND OTHER COMPENSATION FACTORS (AS DESCRIBED ON SCHEDULE O FOR PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15). THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EVALUATES THE PRESIDENT/CEO BY HAVING EACH BOARD MEMBER SUBMIT AN EVALUATION ON THE PRESIDENT/CEO'S PERFORMANCE TO THE FOUNDATION'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THEN REVIEWS THESE EVALUATIONS, RECEIVES COMPENSATION BENCHMARKS, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO. THE BOARD MEETS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS, FINALIZE THE OVERALL EVALUATION AND DETERMINE THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT/CEO INCLUDING ANY NON-FIXED PAYMENT THAT MAY BE MADE. THE PRESIDENT/CEO EVALUATES THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM AND DETERMINES ANNUAL COMPENSATION INCLUDING ANY NON-FIXED PAYMENT THAT MAY BE MADE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALSO REVIEWS THE COMPENSATION FOR THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP INC
$1,790,661
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
$737,000
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
$590,500
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
$589,264
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
$560,850
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
$541,625
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
-
CHARITABLE SUPPORT. ANY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE GRANTEE.
The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO INITIATIVES INC
509(A)(3) · TO RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY GOALS. · NY
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 9 October 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.2
- Source object
- 202503169349303905
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.