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Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Community foundation

Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc

To foster a better quality of life in buffalo and the western new york region.

$102k
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$34k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Human Services$151kYouth Development$106kEducation$70kRecreation & Sports$32kHealth$24kArts & Culture$21kPhilanthropy$19kReligion$5k
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 8 grants below total $92,200, the rows itemized in this filing. The $102,200 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $10,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k5 grants · $38k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $55k
$9,200
Median grant
1
States reached
$2.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
RMHC OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC$34,000
BUFFALO YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION INC$10,500
BUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL$10,000
VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT OF WNY$9,200
ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150$8,000
NATIVITY MIGUEL MIDDLE SCHOOL OF BUFFALO$7,600
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BUFFALO INC$6,900
716 SQUASH INC$6,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–24, $16k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BUFFALO INC: $7k → 13%VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT OF WNY: $9k → 13%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art

The Buffalo Institiute for Contemporary Art (Bica) is a art and educational project for Buffalo, NY. Through Innovative exhibitions, cross-discipplinary skills-based programming, and arts ecology development, bica mission is to break down…

Arts & Culture
2
Invest Buffalo Niagara Foundation Inc

Invest buffalo niagara foundation, inc. is a vehicle to solicit charitable contributions to develop programs, collaborate with, and provide funding to organizations that advance and encourage economic development in western new york.

Community Improvement
3
Better Parks Buffalo Inc

Create new public golf and recreation amenities in the city of buffalo; assist in the restoration of frederick law olmsted's south park arboretum; and construct a new education center for underserved, minority youth.

—
4
Buffalo Maritime Center Inc

The buffalo maritime center's mission is to provide everyone the opportunity to experience the hoy of being on the water, to learn maritime history, and to achieve higher levels of craftmanship.

Recreation & Sports
5
Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy Inc

The organization was formed for the specific purpose of operating, maintaining and protecting parks and public spaces in the city of buffalo, new york, including but not limited to parks and public spaces owned or operated by the city of…

Recreation & Sports
6
University at Buffalo Foundation Incubator Inc

The organization operates an incubator facility to identify and aid start-up businesses with a purpose of stimulating development and increasing interaction between the university at buffalo and such businesses.

Education
7
East Buffalo Development Corporation

East Buffalo Development Corporation is a community-based real estate development corporation committed to our mission of leveraging private and public funds to drive equitable and inclusive eastside planning, construction, land use, and…

Community Improvement
8
Open Buffalo Inc

Open Buffalo's mission is to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice through skill building, network connecting, and activating leadership opportunities with the ultimate goal for all communities in Western New York to thrive free…

Human Services
9
Richardson Architecture Center Inc

The lipsey architecture center buffalo (the center) explores excellence in architecture and city planning as demonstrated by buffalo's outstanding architectural heritage. located in the richardson olmstead complex, the center will provide…

Arts & Culture
10
Buffalo Lighthouse Association Inc

Preservation, protection and restoration of the buffalo new york lighthouses and to maintain and develop the area surrounding them in accordance with their historical significance.

—
11
Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc

To foster a better quality of life in buffalo and the western new york region.

Philanthropy
12
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation

Support the urban economic development efforts of the region through the acquisition, remediation and management of distressed properties

Community Improvement
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation; the most unlike its peers is The Tool Library Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

22 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
12/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Resource Council of WNY Inc: $210,000 · Youth DevelopmentResource Council of WNY IncTHE BISON CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC: $32,000 · PhilanthropyTHE BISON CHIL…GATEWAY-LONGVIEW FOUNDATION: $10,000 · PhilanthropyGATEWAY-LONGVI…THE SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OF WNY: $9,000 · PhilanthropyTHE SERVICE CO…ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $5,000 · PhilanthropyROSWELL PARK A…RMHC OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC: $34,000 · HealthRMHC OF WES…THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION: $10,000 · HealthTHE CHILDRE…GREATER BUFFALO SPORTS HALL OF FAME INC: $21,000 · Arts & CultureGREATER BUF…BUFFALO NAVAL PARK COMMITTEE INC: $12,500 · Arts & CultureBUFFALO NAV…ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 INC: $8,000 · Arts & CultureASSEMBLY HO…University at Buffalo Foundation Inc: $20,000 · EducationBUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL: $10,000 · EducationVIA VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT: $9,200 · Human ServicesJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BUFFALO INC: $6,900 · Human ServicesNATIVITYMIGUEL MIDDLE SCHOOL OF BUFFALO: $7,600 · OtherFOUNDATION OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BUFFALO N Y: $5,000 · OtherBUFFALO YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION: $10,500 · Other716 Squash Inc: $6,000 · Other
Youth Development$210,000Philanthropy$56,000Health$44,000Arts & Culture$41,500Education$30,000Human Services$16,100Other$29,100

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetResource Council of WNY Inc: $210,000 over 5y, 20% of budgetRMHC OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC: $34,000 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetTHE BISON CHILDREN'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC: $32,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetGREATER BUFFALO SPORTS HALL OF FAME INC: $21,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetUniversity at Buffalo Foundation Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBUFFALO NAVAL PARK COMMITTEE INC: $12,500 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetBUFFALO YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION: $10,500 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetGATEWAY-LONGVIEW FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetBUFFALO CREEK ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetVIA VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT: $9,200 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE SERVICE COLLABORATIVE OF WNY: $9,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 INC: $8,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER BUFFALO INC: $6,900 over 1y, 0.1% of budget716 Squash Inc: $6,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Community Foundation …The John R Oishei Fou…Cullen FoundationFirst Niagara Foundat…The Ralph C Wilson Jr…Children's Foundation…Cullen Foundation of …The Baird FoundationThe Osc Charitable Fo…The Margaret L Wendt …Foundation for Jewish…Simple Gifts Fund
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo IncNY43.3× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc · The John R Oishei Foundation · Cullen Foundation · First Niagara Foundation · The Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation · Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc · Cullen Foundation of Western New York Inc · The Baird Foundation · The Osc Charitable Foundation · The Margaret L Wendt Foundation · Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies Inc · Simple Gifts Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Inc through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 18 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $112k of grant expense, but none of it to a named recipient. On a Form 990 that can mean grants abroad, filed by region only (Schedule F), grants under $5,000, which are not itemized, or a schedule referenced as an attachment the e-file does not carry. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder named its grantees.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Buffalo Renaissance’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

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