21st Century Fund, donations determined by vote

The method by which awardees are selected differs from most grant programs.

The 21st Century Fund is part of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo and is a giving circle. A member pays a one-time lifetime fee to participate in the fund. Every two years, members review upcoming projects and vote to select grant recipients.

“That $100,000 grant supports impactful projects that most of us as individuals could not have undertaken on our own,” said Betsy Constantine, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. It really made a big difference,” he said.

In addition to supporting nonprofit organizations, Constantine said the 21st Century Fund’s approach makes an impact in other ways.

Grandparents purchased foundation memberships to introduce their grandchildren to the world of philanthropy and build intergenerational bonds. Although some of the foundation’s members don’t live in Buffalo, they use their membership to stay connected to what’s happening here.

The four finalists for this year’s grant are:

• Buffalo Arts and Technology Center will help renovate the facility at 368 Sycamore Street, where the program will relocate.

• Family Promise of Western New York will help with pre-development costs for a second planned homeless shelter.

• Heart, Love & Soul upgrades and expands Niagara Falls facility.

• The Tools Library will help you purchase and renovate your new home at 2626 Main Street.

Finalists will make their pitches to Foundation members on April 18 in the Horn Auditorium at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Members will vote and the winner will be announced that evening.

The foundation has approximately 300 active members. 105 votes were cast in the semi-final program in early March. Members do not need to be present in person to vote.

Participation in the Fund costs $2,100 for individuals, families, and organizations. (He only gets one vote when it comes to grants, even if his family or organization becomes a member.) The cost for those under 35 is $1,000 for him. Membership commitments can be paid over several years.

Each grant award cycle, the 21st Century Fund collects applications and a selection committee narrows the candidates to eight or nine semifinalists.

Eight contestants set up booths at this month’s semifinals, held at the Shays Seneca show. Fund members were given time to meet with nonprofit representatives and ask questions. They also received information about the project in advance.

“(Members) often want to understand what role this $100,000 will play in this particular project,” Constantine said.

Mercy Flight won its latest grant in 2022 for a system that helps helicopter ambulances operate in adverse weather conditions.

In 2001, the foundation’s first grant went to Martin House Restoration Corp. The fund supported the demolition of Darwin’s two apartment buildings on the grounds of his Martin House on Jewett Parkway as part of a restoration project. The 2012 grant was awarded to the Westminster Economic Development Initiative to support the expansion of West Side Bazaar at its previous location.

“Traditionally, 21st Century Fund members love to finish something or start something,” Constantine said. “That funding has been a catalyst in a way.”

However, in some years, the Foundation’s members make grants to hard-to-fund causes. The 2014 grant went to Explore & More Children’s Museum and will be used to design exhibits at the new downtown museum.

In next month’s finals, four nonprofit organizations will be given a set amount of time to make their pitches. “Nonprofits understand that even if we don’t win, it’s still a really good day to stand in front of about 300 generous people in our community,” Constantine said.

In some years, the votes were tied, forcing a runoff election.

“We’ve had to have three runoff elections over the years because it literally comes down to almost one vote to choose the final $100,000 winner,” Constantine said.