The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. It supports education, workforce development, caregiving, and community development initiatives, strengthening nonprofit efforts and local infrastructure.

Grantmaking Focus Areas

-Active Lifestyles

By supporting access to safe spaces and programs that get kids physically active and moving, the Foundation aims to introduce lifelong healthy habits through its Youth Sports & Recreation grantmaking.

-Caregivers

The Foundation aims to elevate caregivers’ critical roles by highlighting the often-hidden value and contributions they make to families and communities every day.

-Preparing for Success

Strong work ethic, confidence and a desire to learn are attributes that can be instilled at a young age and carried through adulthood.

-Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

Several years into recovery after a decades-long economic slide in both Southeast Michigan and Western New York, the Foundation’s investments in Entrepreneurship & Economic Development look to leverage this momentum by spurring small business growth, place-based community and economic development, and talent attraction and retention.

Foundation Initiative: Nonprofit Support and Innovation

While the Foundation works with individual grantees to help them build their own capacity through project-specific grants, it also is taking a sector view of nonprofit support as a special initiative of the Foundation in order to help strengthen communities.

We accept grant applications year-round from nonprofit organizations impacting the communities in the following counties located in Western New York and Southeast Michigan and strategically working within one of our focus areas.

Locations:

Western New York

• Allegany

• Chautauqua

• Genesee

• Niagara

• Wyoming

• Cattaraugus

• Erie

• Monroe

• Orleans

Southeast Michigan

• Livingston

• Monroe

• St. Clair

• Wayne

• Macomb

• Oakland

• Washtenaw

Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI).