Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO INC

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 Finch

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Tamara Alsace Ph D

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Owen Herne Esq

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Cheryl Jankowski CPA

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Jennifer Balbach

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Rosalind Burgun

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • David Blesy CPA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Boni R Durand PhD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Darby Fishkin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Dottie Gallagher

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Scott Gardner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Allen Pete Grum

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Alice Jacobs JD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Jeffrey Katz Esq

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Alex Montante

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Jennifer Pauly

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Hal Payne Ph D

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Luis Rodriguez

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Rose Sconiers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • John Somers

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Nancy Ware

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Elizabeth 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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.

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.