Josephine Goodyear Foundation Grants

The Josephine Goodyear Foundation, operating under the stewardship of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, is a private philanthropic entity with a longstanding commitment to supporting the welfare of disadvantaged women and children. The foundation's origin dates back to 1912, when Mrs. Frank Goodyear established the Josephine Goodyear Convalescent Home in Williamsville, New York. Originally serving as a recovery facility for women and children undergoing surgery, the foundation evolved post-World War II following advancements in medicine that diminished the need for such services. The sale of the facility led to the creation of a grantmaking foundation that continues to honor its mission through financial support to nonprofits in the Greater Buffalo area. The foundation now annually awards approximately 50 grants totaling around $300,000. Decisions regarding these grants are made by an Advisory Council through its Contributions Committee, which convenes twice a year, in May and September. This structured and regular grantmaking process ensures that funding decisions are thoughtful and responsive to community needs. Over time, the foundation has expanded its scope beyond medical support to encompass broader services addressing physical needs and overall well-being of disadvantaged women and children. Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation emphasizes brevity and clarity in submissions, requiring applications to be two pages or less. Required content includes a summary of the organization’s mission, history, and activities, the requested dollar amount and a concise statement of purpose, expected beneficiaries, evidence of collaboration or uniqueness within the local landscape, sustainability plans, status of other funding requests, a board list, and complete contact information. Applications are accepted twice yearly with deadlines on April 15 and August 15. They must be mailed to Edward F. Walsh, Jr., Chair of the Josephine Goodyear Foundation, at the address listed on the Community Foundation’s site. The review timeline aligns with the Advisory Council meetings in May and September, ensuring a relatively prompt turnaround from submission to decision. While repeat funding requests are accepted, preference is typically given to first-time or new project proposals. The foundation does not impose a formal pre-application stage or require matching funds. However, applicants are advised to be mindful that while prior recipients are not excluded from reapplying, repeat funding is generally deprioritized. This encourages a wide distribution of funds and supports the foundation's goal of reaching as many eligible and impactful programs as possible within its defined geographic area. Interested applicants can contact Cathy Tojek at (716) 362-7342 for further information or clarification. Although no formal guidance documents or application PDFs are linked, all essential application information is available through the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo’s website. This process reflects the foundation’s longstanding commitment to accessibility, transparency, and service to its local community.