Grant Procedures

Foundation 214 is engaged in funding great ideas. If you believe we can be helpful to your needs, we would like to hear from you. The following describes how we view funding projects. Please read this primer carefully prior to applying for a grant.

Foundation 214 serves children, veterans of the various branches of the US military, and the elderly. Funding is used to aid programs involved with the healthcare or education of the aforementioned beneficiaries.

Foundation 214 Eligibility Criteria

Grants are awarded exclusively to organizations with current IRS Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Applicants must have a minimum of one (1) year of IRS Form 990 filings. Form 990-N (postcard filings) do not meet eligibility requirements.
Applicant organizations must be located in and/or primarily serve one or more of the following eight Western New York counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming. Organizations outside this geographic area may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Foundation 214 looks favorably upon collaborative projects that demonstrate a shared commitment among two or more organizations working together to achieve a common goal.
Organizations that are currently within an active Foundation 214 grant cycle—including those still receiving grant funding and/or with outstanding required grant reports—are not eligible to apply. Active or incomplete grants constitute an automatic disqualification.

Funding Exclusions:

Attendance at or sponsorship of fundraising events
Annual events or festivals
Governmental (public) institutions, agencies, or projects
Lobbying or advocacy efforts related to specific political candidates or legislation
Deficit or debt-reduction funding
Grants or loans to individuals
Individual scholarships or fellowships
Single-occurrence conferences, seminars, or workshops (except those directly tied to core operational improvements)
Projects or activities that have already taken place (grant funding is for the following year)
Organizations whose primary purpose is making grants to other organizations
Endowments
Salary (Leadership, adminstartive,etc.) The grant funding will cover 15% of a salary for the program instructor,only.
Museums (installations, renovations)

Types of Funding

Foundation 214 supports organizations through Capital Grants and Innovative Program Grants, offered as either one-time awards or multi-year funding commitments. The following information is designed to help you identify the program that best supports your organization’s goals and priorities.

Grant Types

Consider a Capital Grant if your request centers on physical improvements or infrastructure needs that strengthen your organization’s long-term capacity.

an Innovative Program Grant if your request focuses on new ideas, program expansion, or creative solutions that address emerging or unmet needs.

Foundation 214 Grant Type Comparison

Grant Type	Capital Grants	Innovative Program Grants
Primary Purpose	Support physical assets and infrastructure improvements	Support new, expanded, or pilot programs
Typical Uses	Construction, renovation, major equipment, technology, or facility upgrades	Program development, service expansion, pilot initiatives
Focus	Long-term organizational capacity and sustainability	Innovation, impact, and programmatic growth
Funding Structure	One-time award or multi-year commitment	One-time award or multi-year commitment
Timeline	Defined project phases or completion dates	May support multi-year implementation and evaluation
Collaboration Encouraged	Yes, especially shared resources or facilities	Yes, particularly cross-organizational initiatives

Application Process

Foundation 214 Grant Application Process

Foundation 214 employs a two-step grant application process to ensure alignment and thoughtful consideration of each potential partnership.

Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

All applicants must first complete a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI is designed to focus on the big picture—providing Foundation 214 with a concise snapshot of your organization, your mission, and how you believe we could work together. While some specific information is required, the LOI is not intended to be a full proposal.

Step 2: Full Application (By Invitation Only)

Organizations whose LOIs are approved will receive an email invitation to submit a full grant application, including a detailed program budget. During the review process, Foundation 214 may request clarifications or additional information.

2026–2027 Grant Cycle Timeline

LOIs Open: February 3, 2026

LOI Deadline: March 31, 2026

Full Applications Due (invited): May 31, 2026

Final Decisions Announced: No later than June 30, 2026 (via email)

Funding Availability & Disclosure Requirements

Funding is limited within each grant category. Applicants are strongly encouraged to pursue additional funding sources. Disclosure of other applications and funding commitments is required as part of the due diligence process.