The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation annually awards over $1 million through its competitive grant processes to charitable organizations working to make a difference across the region.
The Community Foundation is able to grant to 501 (c) (3) organizations located in or serving Southern Chautauqua County, with some grant funding made to municipalities, school districts (for public purposes) and religious organizations.
2021 Competitive Grant Opportunities
The General grant process occurs every other month and provides the most flexible funding opportunities for grantees. It is intended to assist with emerging needs or one-time costs. Requests could include, but are not limited to: program enhancement, communications or marketing, upgrades to technology or equipment, and modest capital improvements.
Recent grants include:
#IntegrityFirst – Marketing and Upfront Event Costs for Fit and Family Fun with the Jamestown Jackals
Audubon Community Nature Center – LED Lights and electrical supplies for “Audubon Lights”
Busti Historical Society – Security Camera System
Carroll Historical Society – Security Camera System
Chautauqua Adult Day Services, Inc. – Outdoor Therapeutic Gardening and Recreation
Chautauqua Bird, Tree and Garden Club – Signage with QR Codes to complement virtual tour on Explore! app
Chautauqua County Humane Society – Flooring Replacement at 2nd Chances Thrift Store
Chautauqua Hometown Heroes Veterans Memorial – Cenotaph Memorial Bricks for MIA and KIA veterans buried in foreign cemeteries
Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center – Support for School-Age Summer Programming with Audubon and Infinity
Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony – String Orchestra: Baroque Bows and Instructor for Adapted Season
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System – support for Summer Reading Programs at 16 member libraries in Southern Chautauqua County
City of Jamestown (Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Conservation) – Replacing and Replanting Spruce Trees at Bergman Park
Clymer French Creek Free Library – Collection Expansion: Purchase Nonfiction and Early Reader Books
Fluvanna Community Historical Society – Roof Repairs to the Old Fluvanna Meeting House
Hazeltine Public Library – Local Match for NYS Construction Grant: New Shed for Program Space and Storage
Housing Options Made Easy, Inc. – Purchase of Tablets for the Digital Literacy Education Program with Seniors
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts – Start-up costs for Ultimate Adventure Challenge fundraiser
Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency – Supplies to safely reopen Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Park under COVID-19 guidelines
Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake – Replacement of Showroom Windows
Marvin Community House – Website Upgrades and Technology Upgrades for Historical and Architectural Tours
Mary E. Seymour Memorial Free Libraries – Local Match for NYS Construction Grant: Solar Electric Installation at the Stockton Library
Myers Memorial Library – Adult Non-Fiction Collection
The Salvation Army – Food Pantry- Replacement of Distribution Door
Town of Poland – Water rescue equipment for Kennedy Volunteer Fire Department
Village of Lakewood – “Welcome to the Village of Lakewood” Sign Replacement
Volunteer Fireman’s Association of Falconer – Thermal Imaging Units for Volunteer Firefighters
WCA Foundation – Support towards the cost of a Vein Finder Device in the radiology department at UPMC Chautauqua
Winifred Crawford Dibert Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown – Lifeguard training and materials
YWCA of Jamestown – Start up support for “We are History”- James Baldwin, Black History Community Project
Zion Covenant Church – Start-up costs for “History of Africans in America,” a traveling community exhibit
Additionally, the Community Foundation holds specific grant dollars available for churches. Religious organizations may apply through the General process. Available funding is intended to support congregational needs which could include, but are not limited to, modest capital improvements, upgrades or purchases for equipment and technology.
Recent grants include:
Christ First United Methodist Church – Sanctuary Piano Restoration Project
Ellery Baptist Church – Sanctuary, Auditorium and Foyer: Painting and Blinds Installation
Falconer United Methodist Church – New Computer and Presentation Software Upgrades
Frewsburg Alliance Church – New Computer for Streaming and Presentation of Services
Hillcrest Baptist Church – Fire Alarm System Upgrade at the church and preschool
Kennedy First United Methodist Church – Bathroom repairs and upgrades
Koinonia Christian Fellowship – Repairs to front entryway
New Hope Community Church – Technology Upgrades for Streaming Services
North Main Street Church of God – Technology Upgrades for Streaming Services
Peace Wesleyan Church – Technology Upgrades for Streaming Services
The Falconer Region Community Fund grant process occurs annually to benefit charitable activities in the Falconer, Kennedy and Ellington communities.
Recent grants include:
Ellington Farman Library – Children’s Reading Program
Ellington Volunteer Fire Department – Thermal Imaging Cameras
Falconer Central School – STEM Camp for Middle School Students
Falconer Little League – Batting Helmets for Players
Our Lady of Loreto – Community Outreach Supplies
Village of Falconer – Tree Planting in Pine Hill Cemetery and Gazebo Repair in Davis Park
Volunteer Fireman’s Association of Falconer – New Washer and Dryer
The John Edward McLaughlin Family Fund grant process occurs annually to benefit charitable activities in the Randolph community.
Recent grants include:
East Randolph United Methodist Church – Kitchen Equipment for Love in Action food delivery program
Grace Episcopal Church – Upgraded Electrical Wiring
Randolph Area Community Development Corporation – New Banner – Veterans Parade; Storage Racks for Baseball/Softball Dugouts
RACDC (East Randolph Cemetery) – Tree Removal
RACDC (Randolph Central School) – After Prom Event
Randolph Fire Department – Purchase Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors for Outreach Program
Randolph Regional EMS Corp. – Purchase 2 Video Laryngoscopes
St. Patrick Church – Technology Upgrades for Streaming Services
East Randolph UMC, Grace Episcopal, St. Patrick, and United Presbyterian- Vacation Bible School
The Community Service grant process hosts two cycles per year and is intended to support larger programming, capital, and technology needs. Requests could include, but are not limited to: ongoing programming, upgrades to technology or systems, and larger capital improvements.
Recent grants include:
#IntegrityFirst – Mentoring Through Sports Initiative program design and player training
5 Loaves and 2 Fish Outreach Ministry – C.C. Ring Elementary School Backpack Food Distribution Expansion to launch a new grade level
American Red Cross of WNY – Support for Chautauqua County residents in need of financial assistance and support to home fire victims
Audubon Community Nature Center – Technology Support for educational programing, new computer and WiFi extenders
Chautauqua County Humane Society – Pet Pantry Program to support owners keeping their pets
Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet – Scholarship – Tuition Assistance Program
Community Connections at Findley Lake – Program supportConnecting Residents with Services, Education and Resources
Community Helping Hands – Expanding capacity for digital channels to establish an e-commerce system and digital communications
Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Educational Foundation – Phase 1: research and design of a Comprehensive Needs Assesment
Family Service of the Chautauqua Region – Project Crossroads: Domestic Violence Education Program
Fenton History Center – Vets Finding Vets Program support
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. – Access to Arts Education Scholarship Program
James Prendergast Library Association – Collection Expansion: Purchase Audio and Large Print Books
Jamestown Community College Foundation – Single Parents Reaching from Education to Employment (SPREE) Program
Jamestown Community Learning Council – Parents as Teachers/Linkages Until Success (PAT-PLUS) Program
Kennedy Free Library – Local Match for NYS Construction Grant: Handicap Accessibility Project
Lakewood Community Development Corporation – Hartley Park Playground Project
Lawson Boating Heritage Center on Chautauqua Lake – Technology Upgrade for Exhibits and Educational Programming, Interactive Kiosks and Tablets
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church – Program support for the Jamestown Public Market, Mobile Market, GROW, SPROUTS and CSA.
The Relief Zone – Program Support for School-Aged Child Care
WCA Foundation – Pediatric Hospital Cribs for UPMC Chautauqua
Western New York Mountain Biking Association – Chautauqua County Overland Trails Revitalization Project, rerouting a section of trail from a service road
WIB, Inc. dba Chautauqua Works – Healthcare Career Talent Pipeline Program, summer internship program
YMCA of Jamestown – Summer Scholars Academy, for JPS 5th-8th graders
YMCA of Jamestown – Final Phase: Renovating Camp Onyahsa’s Arts and Learning Center
YWCA of Jamestown – Support for Teenage Education and Motherhood (TEAM) Program
YWCA of Jamestown – Transitional Housing Support for single women and women with children
The Strategic Project grant process hosts two cycles per year and is intended to fund larger initiatives with wide-reaching and longer term community impact. Requests could include, but are not limited to: new and highly collaborative approaches to addressing significant community needs, projects that provide a significant economic impact on the region, and large-scale capital improvements.
Recent grants include:
Chautauqua County Chapter NYSARC, Inc. – Strategic Planning Project for TRC Community Health Center
Chautauqua Watershed and Management Alliance – 2021 Consolidated Funding
Jamestown Public School District – 2021 Summer LEAP Program
Jamestown Renaissance Corporation – Operating and Administrative Support for Neighborhood Initiatives
Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County – Peer Recovery Coaching
National Comedy Center – General Operating Support for 2021 COVID Impact
YMCA of Jamestown – Final Phase of Architectural Plans
Additional Grant Funding Opportunities
The Community Foundation utilizes Chautauqua Grants, a shared grants portal, for nonprofit organizations to access grant applications for more than 10 area funders. Each funding organization has an individual web page with details about their grant processes, including deadlines, priority areas and contact information.
