The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation was pleased to award the following grants during our 2025 cycle:

2025 Grant Partners by Category *

Environment ($306,666)

Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance $266,666

Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Inc. $15,000
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corp. (CHQ Co. Trail Improvements) $25,000

Education ($473,396)

Audubon Community Nature Center $17,651
Chautauqua Striders, Inc. $70,000
James Prendergast Library Association $35,745
Jamestown Community College Foundation $100,000
Jamestown Community Learning Council $100,000
Jamestown Public Schools (Summer LEAP) $25,000
Junior Achievement of WNY $20,000
Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County $30,000
Prevention Works $50,000
Robert H. Jackson Center $25,000

Arts, Culture & Humanities ($535,000)

Chautauqua Institution $215,000
Chautauqua Youth Symphony $5,000
Fenton History Center $25,000
Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc. $65,000
National Comedy Center, Inc. $100,000
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts $100,000
Roger Tory Peterson Institute $25,000

Health & Human Services ($873,935)

American Red Cross $10,000
Centaur Stride $45,000
Chautauqua Home Rehab. & Improvement Corp. $30,000
Community Helping Hands, Inc. $32,935
FeedMore, WNY $15,000
First Presbyterian Church (A Children’s Place Day Care) $15,000
Jamestown Boys & Girls Club $45,000
Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (Neighborhood Revitalization Program) $50,000
Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown Area $37,500
Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County $125,000
St. Susan Center, Inc. $45,000
The Relief Zone, Inc. $21,000
United Christian Advocacy Network (City Mission) $30,000
United Way of Chautauqua County $150,000
YMCA of Jamestown $100,000
YWCA of Jamestown $122,500

Other ($86,850)

Director, Executive Director, & Staff Discretionary Grants $82,500
Philanthropic Memberships $4,350

* From year to year, an organization could be categorized differently depending on the type of grant awarded, but overall usually falls into the same category. Also, some grants could be considered to address more than one category, but we only choose one.

2025 Grants Breakdown