A Look at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation’s Local Priorities in New York

When discussing philanthropy in New York, it’s easy to get caught up in all the big things happening in New York City with the high-profile foundations we’re all familiar with. However, New York is a big state with many other regions engaged in charitable giving. This story takes us to southwestern New York, to the Cattaraugus area and the city of Olean. This is where the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) is based and distributes money through more than 175 funds and scholarships it manages.

There are Six Main Areas of Interest

As with many regional community foundations, CRCF has broad interests and funds a wide variety of local causes each year. However, grants are largely centered on six main areas of interest: education (including scholarships), healthcare, arts, community development, human services, and youth development. CRCF provides a link to a fillable grant application form on its website and prefers to receive completed forms by email.

Capacity-Building is a Priority

Across all six of these interest areas, CRCF is particularly interested in using its grantmaking power to build the capacity of organizations in need of funds. Capacity-building support has been of increasing interest to community foundations and is even starting to become standard procedure for community funders. To be eligible for capacity-building grants, organizations should be providing vital community services.

Cattaraugus County and Surrounding Areas

Cattaraugus County, New York, is the primary focus of this regional foundation, but it also considers the needs of nearby communities. This is because specific funds that the foundation manages target other areas, such as Allegany County and McKean County. In the past, many grantees have been based in the city of Olean.

Specific Funds Accept Applications

The most accessible grant opportunities at CRCF are within the Community Fund, an unrestricted fund that is responsive to community needs. There are two funding cycles for these grants, with April 21 and October 21 deadlines. These grants are typically small, between $100 and $2,000 each.

However, other specific funds held at CRCF accept grant applications too—descriptions of these funds are on the foundation website. Funds that accept grant applications have a rolling application deadline. Another opportunity is the Mental Wellness in Cattaraugus County Fund, which accepts grant applications once per year by October 1 to support programs of licensed mental health practitioners and agencies.

CRCF manages over $20 million in assets and has awarded more than $5.6 million through grants and scholarships since its inception in 1994. Learn more about this foundation and the staff members who work here in IP’s full profile of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.