New York · Nonprofit
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO (New York) receives grants from 66 organizations whose IRS filings report $13,393,596 to it, the largest being FEEDMORE WESTERN NEW YORK INC ($2,922,296). 43 of them have funded it in more than one year.
- Revenue FY2025
- $32M
- Funders on record
- 66
- Grants received
- $13M
- Net assets
- $34M
What Catholic Charities of Buffalo does
Mission
For 100 years, Catholic Charities of Buffalo has been providing hope for the most vulnerable and in need in our community. Catholic charities is one of the most comprehensive human services organizations serving all eight counties of western new york, offering vital assistance to people of all faiths, races and walks of life.
As stated on its FY2025 Form 990.
Programs
Stability and connectedness - social care programs address the needs of some of our community's most vulnerable, who face challenging and unexpected situations. This assistance is offered in all eight counties. Basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, financial, prescription, and heat assistance were provided to 9233 individuals, children, and families across western new york. In cattaraugus and allegany counties, our kinship caregiver program supported 199 kinship and non-relative caregivers and their families. Using a case management model and support groups, kinship caregivers also offer families other community resources for financial and non-financial assistance. Programs for older adults that sustain social interaction for personal well-being and keep individuals safely in their own homes served 292 people. These include home visitation in genesee and wyoming counties, the telephone assurance program in erie county, friendly phones in orleans county, and project hope, a case management program geared to older adults. Care coordination includes programs to assist 221 children and adults, many of whom are low-income. Services include assessing and assisting client needs…
$8,177,888 spentof which $4,673,441 as grants$669,244 earned by the program30% of program spendingNutritional services - Catholic Charities of Buffalo administers the women, infants, and children (wic) federal nutrition program in erie, niagara, and chautauqua counties. Through wic, 23,903 women, children, and families were supported. Catholic charities operates nine food pantries in three counties - one in allegany, one in cattaraugus, and seven in erie county. A total of 7,113 people were assisted through this program. One thrift store serves allegany county and offers free clothing to clients when needed. A total of 1,866 people were assisted through this program. Ladies of charity of the diocese of buffalo operates the erie/niagara thrift store. Ladies of charity also provides a number of other referral programs for people in need, including holiday gifts, clothing, baby items, and household goods. Ladies of charity is a ministry of service provided by women and young women within the community on a volunteer basis. The group is an affiliate of catholic charities. A total of 13,347 people were assisted through these services.
$6,427,509 spentof which $179,960 as grants$37,139 earned by the program23% of program spendingFamily enrichment catholic charities works to stabilize, empower, and strengthen families through programs such as traditional, kinship, and refugee preventive services, therapeutic supervised visitation, access and visitation, multisystemic therapy, incredible years parenting program, and our kids parent education and awareness programs. These programs served 510 direct clients, impacting 1535 children and individuals. Our in-school programs provide extra support to help students overcome obstacles they may face when achieving success in the classroom. The in-school social work program (isswp) enhances student success by providing comprehensive character-development and skill-building activities for students through short-term individual sessions, small groups, and class presentations. The closing the gap (ctg) program seeks to improve the academic success of students in buffalo public schools by addressing non-academic barriers to learning. A total of 4,314 students benefited from these programs. The foster grandparent program for older adults, which provides benefits for lower-income eligible adults who work one-on-one with students in need in schools and other educational…
$3,828,281 spentof which $38,330 as grants$264,285 earned by the program14% of program spendingImmigration & refugee assistance programs - Catholic Charities of Buffalo has provided services to the immigrant and refugee populations in western new york since it was founded in 1923. Pre- and post-arrival services such as assistance with housing, food, clothing, employment, english language learners classes, and immigration services are provided to our resettlement clients. Medical case management services are also provided. A total of 1,223 individuals were assisted in 2023-2024. The clients served by Catholic Charities of Buffalo arrive in the united states through the auspices of the united states conference of catholic bishops/migration and refugee services, and only after approval from the u.s. Department of state and u.s. Citizenship and immigration services. Refugees considered for resettlement by the united states must pass through a series of security screenings aimed at ensuring they will not pose a security risk. The information examined to confirm a refugee's identity is checked against law enforcement, the intelligence community, and other relevant databases, including those administered by the national counterterrorism center, department of defense, federal…
$2,042,179 spentof which $568,176 as grants$87,719 earned by the program7% of program spendingPayments to affiliates - diocese of buffalo and monsignor carr institute
$2,411,679 spent9% of program spendingSchool-based services -our in-school programs provide extra supports to help students overcome obstacles they may face in achieving success in the classroom. The in-school social work program (isswp) enhances student success by providing comprehensive character-development and skill-building activities for students through short-term individual sessions, small groups, and classroom presentations. The closing the gap (ctg) program seeks to improve the academic success of students in buffalo public schools by addressing non-academic barriers to learning. Ctg began in 2002 in collaboration with catholic charities, united way of buffalo and erie county, and the buffalo public school district. Approximately 5,000 students were impacted by these programs.
$2,010,148 spentof which $27,307 as grants7% of program spendingWorkforce development - catholic charities' workforce development programs offer educational and job-training services. Programs guide and support individuals who are out of school and want to improve their employability, and ultimately earn a living wage and more. For those who may be unemployed, underemployed, or a dislocated worker, we can provide a high school equivalency program, offer remedial assistance, and/or assist with enrollment in college or vocational training programs. Our vocational training programs offer hands-on experience and certifications in growing fields such as construction and telecommunications. Since 1975, catholic charities has assisted thousands of erie and niagara county residents get a fresh start with these services. Our workforce development programs served 3,098 people.
$1,253,768 spentof which $14,382 as grants5% of program spendingBehavioral health - Catholic Charities of Buffalo behavioral health services treats children as young as three years old, adolescents, adults, and families to assess for and provide counseling and medication management services to address mental/behavioral wellness needs. Through our behavioral health services, we strive to treat the whole person through comprehensive assessment and person-centered care planning to help individuals and families achieve their wellness goals. Behavioral health services of catholic charities reached 7,320 people.
$1,460,558 spent5% of program spending
The 8 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $27,612,010.
The organization over time
Each line starts at 100 in 2017, so what you read is the shape rather than the size: 150 means half as much again as 2017, 50 means half. The number beside each label in the key is where it ended. The shaded band is where the middle 50% of its peers' revenue would sit, given their growth.
Balance sheet
Total assets and total liabilities at each year end, in dollars. The largest one-year move in total assets was 2018 to 2019, from $42M to $39M (−9%).
How it's funded, over time
Each bar is one year's revenue split into where it came from, and every bar is the same height — these are shares, not amounts, so a year that raised twice as much looks the same size. Hover a bar for the split.
Government-grant reliance: 2017 55% · 2018 48% · 2019 50% · 2020 47% · 2021 48% · 2022 53% · 2023 52% · 2024 49% · 2025 49%. Grants only. Government contracts and fees sit inside program revenue.
91% of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO’s revenue is contributions — more donation-reliant than the typical peer (80% for the typical peer).
Surplus & reserves
Operating surplus or deficit each year, and months of liquidity in hand. 7 of the last 9 reported years ran a deficit.
reserve
Leadership and staff
The officers, directors, trustees and key employees listed on each return. Joined and no longer listed compare each filing with the year before, matching people by surname and first initial; a year after a gap, or a roster under three people, has no comparison.
Chief executive
Deacon Steve Schumer
Chief executive officer
Board chair
Rev Michael William Fisher
Chairman
As listed on its FY2025 Form 990.
Who funds it, year by year
2017 → 2023: the base broadened from 18 funders to 26 funders, grant income fell $1.4M → $1.2M.
21 of 66 of your funders are donor-advised or pass-through sponsors (tagged DAF) — 30% of grant dollars received. That money is really individual donors directing a sponsor; the institutions to cultivate are the non-DAF funders.
From the IRS filings of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO’s funders (the co-funder graph). Top 30 of 66 funders by total. Association, not causation. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
How concentrated its funding is
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO has a broad base — no single funder exceeds 22% of grant income, and it takes 3 funders to reach half.
the vertical line marks half of all grant income — 3 funders to its left
69% of the income these shares are computed over arrives through pass-through sponsors or from payers whose filings do not say what kind of payment it is. Concentration is still measured over all of it, because the money is real; what it does not support is a claim about how many institutions have chosen to fund CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO.
Largest funder’s share by year: 2017 30% · 2018 28% · 2019 56% · 2020 29% · 2021 22% · 2022 43% · 2023 38% — growing more concentrated.
“Effective funders” = inverse Herfindahl index (1 / Σ shareᵢ²) — the number of equal-sized funders that would give the same concentration. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
How long its funders stay
52% of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO's funders are still giving 3 years after their first grant; 65% give in more than one year at all.
Share of funders still giving k years after their first recorded grant, pooled across every acquisition cohort. A funder counts as retained in a year only if it made a grant that year. Measured to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving — a funder cannot be counted as lapsed in a year most filers have not reached.
Where its funders are
99% of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO's grant income comes from New York funders.
In-state vs out-of-state, by year
Funder states come from each funder’s own filing. $4.1M arriving through sponsors registered in 14 states is excluded from the map and the split above: a sponsor holds money on a donor’s behalf, so its registered address would place those dollars somewhere no donor need ever have been. Trends are read to FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving. FY2024–FY2026 are still being filed and are shown unshaded; they do not move any figure on this page.
Against its field
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO receives grants from 66 organizations whose IRS filings report $13M to it.
this organization peer median middle 50% of peers· 490 philanthropy nonprofits $10M–$100M, FY2025
Organizations like CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO
Organizations whose mission and program text most resemble this one, by semantic similarity over every organization in the US filings — the closest peers, and often the clearest route to shared or prospective funders.
In New York
Nationally
Read directly from this organization’s own Form 990, as neutral context.
Where the money goes
84% of spending goes to programs.
Governance
Public support
94%
Share of support from the public (Schedule A) — the basis for its public-charity status.
Footprint & structure
Part of a family of 2 related entities
- Diocese of Buffalo · exempt
- Monsignor Carr Institute · exempt
Screen this organization
A dated, signed PDF of the compliance screen for CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO: IRS status (Business Master File, Publication 78, auto-revocation), the OFAC sanctions lists, the Internal Revenue Bulletin, and California registration, with the Rev. Proc. 2018-32 §8.01 reliance elements stated element by element. Generated from the current files at the moment you download it.
Screens are triage, not determinations; a source that cannot be read reports not screened, never clear. Screen this nonprofit · How the screen works · on the API as GET /api/screening/{ein}?format=pdf
Questions and answers
- Who funds CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO?
- CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO (New York) receives grants from 66 organizations whose IRS filings report $13,393,596 to it, the largest being FEEDMORE WESTERN NEW YORK INC ($2,922,296). 43 of them have funded it in more than one year.
- How many funders does CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO have?
- IRS filings report 66 organizations giving $13,393,596 in grants to CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO, 43 of which have funded it in more than one year.
- Who is the largest funder of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO?
- FEEDMORE WESTERN NEW YORK INC is the largest funder on record, with $2,922,296 in grants. The full list of funders is on this page.
- How can an organization like CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO find more funders?
- Start with the funders already giving here, then look at the foundations that back similar organizations in New York. The funding by cause and by state pages list the largest funders for a given area and how to approach them.
Play a game about who funds Catholic Charities of Buffalo →
These figures are read directly from IRS Form 990 / 990-PF e-file XML: this organization’s own return for FY2025 (financials across 2017–2025), and the filings of 66 funders that report grants to it. “On record” means captured in the filings we have parsed — a funder that does not e-file, or whose grant detail is not itemized, will not appear. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind. Trends on this page end at FY2023, the last fiscal year that has finished arriving; later years are shown and marked, and move no figure. Data on this page was exported October 22, 2026. What this page cannot tell you · view filing