The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation has announced a $100 million commitment to bolster the financial strength and long-term viability of western New York’s arts and culture community.

The commitment includes nearly $60 million over ten years to establish an endowment at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo that will create permanent operational funding streams for thirteen of the region’s largest arts and culture institutions — which play a critical role as economic drivers — and provide an annual grant opportunity for additional organizations across the region. Once fully funded, the endowment will generate approximately $3.75 million annually in support of the operations and sustainability of the region’s arts and culture nonprofits.

To ensure that the program has immediate impact on the sector and regional economy, RCWJF will provide an additional $3.75 million annually over nine years, for a total of $33.75 million, enabling grantmaking to begin in 2022. The annual commitment includes $500,000 to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery); $100,000 to the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park; $150,000 in support of the Buffalo History Museum; $200,000 to the Buffalo Museum of Science; $500,000 in support of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; $200,000 to the Buffalo Zoo; $100,000 to the Burchfield Penney Art Center; $200,000 in support of Explore & More: The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum; $100,000 for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House; $100,000 Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor and anchor institutions; $250,000 National Comedy Center; $100,000 Shea’s Performing Art Center; and $500,000 in support of the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.

In addition, the foundation has pledged a $5 million capital campaign gift to the Strong National Museum of Play and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

“We are building upon years of substantial investment by critical public funding streams and philanthropic funders that have helped these institutions become the cultural treasures and economic drivers they are today,” said Wilson Foundation president and CEO David Egner. “As a regionally focused foundation with a limited life, we saw a unique opportunity to make this significant contribution to impact the region’s quality of life and economy through jobs, tourism, and more. We hope this annual operating support will help to strengthen the financial condition of these institutions allowing them to continue to develop creative, audience-centered initiatives that make them more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible places for all.”

(Photo credit: Buffalo AKG Art Museum)