The Cattaraugus County Nonprofit Hub announced a round of grant funding intended to support nonprofit organizations that have successfully completed capacity-building programs and are now poised to implement what they have learned to amplify their impact across the region.
The Nonprofit Hub’s mission is to cultivate a thriving, collaborative nonprofit ecosystem across Cattaraugus County. Launched in October 2024, the Hub brings together nonprofits, government agencies and civic partners to share resources, foster collaboration and build nonprofit capacity.
Initial funding for the Hub was made possible through a $100,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, complemented by support from the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation and the United Way of Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.
Genesis House of Olean, Inc. received a grant of $5,000 for Project Small Sparks, an initiative that educates their individual staff to become leaders in a variety of topics, including: de-escalation, person-centered care and trauma-informed care. Staff are required to attend trainings, certification classes or other professional development opportunities.
Canticle Farm was awarded $5,000 to integrate new technologies for building capacity. These new technologies will aid Canticle Farm in financial planning and data-driven decision making, freeing up staff time for their primary work in food production and education.
The African American Center for Cultural Development received an initial grant of $3,000 to grow the organization’s marketing capabilities. $2,000 has also been approved for external consultanting services to grow the Center’s capacity in marketing and organizational governance
“We’re thrilled to invest directly in organizations ready to turn learning into meaningful action,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “Our goals with the Hub has always been to spark collaboration and innovation. These grants ensure that the commitment to learning doesn’t stop at the workplace – it continues in service of our community.”
Since launching, the Hub has hosted multiple networking and working group sessions on themes such as nonprofit governance, public-private partnerships and community development strategies with the benefits of peer-to-peer learning, expert-led training and now, grant support to bring their ideas to life.
As more nonprofits engage with the Hub’s programming, the network of leaders and changemakers dedicated to building a stronger Cattaraugus County will continue to grow.
Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the Foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
