Nearly $600,000 in grants awarded to organizations to uplift Buffalo's East Side
BY Brian Campbell City of Buffalo
PUBLISHED 11:51 AM ET May 15, 2025
Thirty grants totaling upwards of $600,000 have been awarded to organizations dedicated to uplifting and serving the vibrant East Side community of Buffalo, the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund announced Thursday.
Grants will support projects and programs aimed at enhancing community well-being, promoting economic development and providing essential services.
"This initiative marks a step forward in our commitment to fostering growth, resilience, and opportunity in our neighborhoods," said Dr. LaVonne Ansari, chair of the Buffalo Together Fund Steering Committee. "The Buffalo Together Fund is just one of a number of initiatives that are focusing efforts on the East Side, and together, we believe we can have a significant impact. Led by a steering committee made up of community leaders and those impacted by the massacre, The Buffalo Together Fund has worked diligently and thoughtfully on how best to direct funds to create resiliency, and we are pleased to announce these investments in key projects that will strengthen the East side."
The following organizations have been awarded grants:
716 Ministries-Empowering Futures: 716 Ministries Career Exploration
African American Cultural Center of Buffalo: Renovation of the African American Cultural Center
African American Veterans Monument Inc.: Honoring Legacy: Engaging Community at the African American Veterans Monument
Back to Basics Outreach Ministries: Buffalo Peacemakers Violence Prevention Initiatives
Belmont Housing Resources for WNY: Growing Homeowners on Buffalo's East Side
Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center, Inc: Seed & Scale - "Investing in ideas. Building up Buffalo.”
Buffalo Funk Fest Foundation: Buffalo Funk Fest/Jefferson Avenue Friday Night Live Summer Series
Buffalo Go Green, Inc.: Hydroponic Farm
Dress for Success Buffalo: Buffalo Mobile Unit - Expanding Work Access, Programs and Resources
Dumas R.I.S.E Providers, Inc.: RISE Forward: Building Capacity for Community Wellness
Durham’s Maternal Street-Free Zone DH Inc.: The Intergenerational Zone
Every Bottom Covered, Inc.: From the Womb: An Eastside Material Health Initiative
Fare Share WNY, Inc.: 716 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program
Felician Community Services: Wellness Market at the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry
Fillmore Forward: Square Community Garden and Community Space - Nature Sacred
Gerard Place: Delavan Healthcare Career Training
Girls Sport Foundation: Capacity Building for Equity in Sports & Mentorship at G.I.R.L.S Sports Foundation
Grant Lady Foundation, Inc.: Buffalo Eastside Nonprofit Development
Grassroots Gardens WNY: Building Community Capacity for Stewardship and Sustainability of East Side Community Gardens
Gardens Buffalo Niagara: Expansion of Lunenfeld Beautification Program on Buffalo's East Side
King Urban Life Center: Opening Doors: Adapting Parentchild+ for Neurodivergent Children
Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes, Inc.: Locust Street Art Community Building
Metro Community Development Corporation: DGCC: Continuing to Serve the Eastside into the Future
Most Valuable Parents of Buffalo: MVP: Parents Supporting Parents
Open Buffalo, Inc – Main: Open Buffalo Leadership Development
People Who Care Project: Let's Go Build
Project Mona's House: The Overcomer Academy, a housing and empowerment Initiative for women
The Foundry: FOUNDRYmade: Expanding Workforce Development & Community
Western New York Election Protection Coalition: East Side Civics Research Program
WNY Young Achievers Awards: Black Boys Read Too: Bookshelf and Book Club Expansion
The Buffalo Together Community Response Fund was formed by 14 local funding organizations in the aftermath of the May 14, 2022, racist mass shooting at Tops Market on Buffalo’s East Side.