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

2025 Grant Partners by Category *

Health ($134,000)

Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care $500
Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County $125,500
The Heritage Group $7,500
WCA Hospital Foundation $500

Environment ($270,416)

Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance $268,166
Chautauqua Lake Association $750
Chautauqua Lake Partnership $1,250
Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy $250

Education ($486,746)

Audubon Community Nature Center $24,501
Chautauqua Striders $71,000
Cornell Cooperative Extension $250
James Prendergast Library Association $37,245
Jamestown Community College Foundation $100,000
Jamestown Community Learning Council $100,500
Jamestown Public Schools (Summer LEAP) $25,000
Junior Achievement of WNY $20,000
Lakewood Memorial Library $250
Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County $30,000
Prevention Works $50,750
Robert H. Jackson Center $27,250

Public Society Benefit ($166,700)

Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department $1,000
Buffalo-Toronto Public Media $400
Chautauqua Home Rehab. & Improvement Corp. $30,000
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation $8,450
Chautauqua Rails to Trails, Inc. $15,000
Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corp. $25,000
Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame $500
Children’s Collaborative Solutions $250
Exponent Philanthropy $850
Fenton History Center $30,000
Jamestown Center City Development Corp. $1,000
Jamestown Renaissance Corporation $50,000
Lawson Boating Heritage Center $750
NY Funders Alliance $3,500

Arts, Culture & Humanities ($518,800)

Chautauqua Institution $215,750
Chautauqua Youth Symphony $5,500
Community Music Project $2,550
Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc. $65,250
National Comedy Center, Inc. $102,000
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts $101,500
Roger Tory Peterson Institute $26,250

Human Services ($699,185)

#IntegrityFirst $2,475
Allegheny Highlands Council $500
American Red Cross $10,500
Bemus Pt. United Methodist Church (Royal Family KIDS' Camp) $500
Camp Gross Foundation $250
Centaur Stride $45,000
Chautauqua Area Habitat for Humanity $500
Chautauqua Co. Humane Society $500
Community Helping Hands, Inc. $32,935
Conduit Ministries $1,000
FeedMore, WNY $15,000
First Lutheran Church (First House) $2,675
First Presbyterian Church (A Children’s Place Day Care) $15,000
Friends of Child Advocacy Program $1,000
Jamestown Boys & Girls Club $47,250
Meals on Wheels of the Jamestown Area $38,400
St. Susan Center, Inc. $47,250
The Relief Zone, Inc. $21,000
The Salvation Army $1,000
Toys for Tots $1,500
United Christian Advocacy Network (City Mission) $31,000
United Way of Chautauqua County $155,300
YMCA of Jamestown $102,000
YWCA of Jamestown $125,900
Zion Covenant Church (Benevolence Fund) $750

* 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 pick one. As an example: The Audubon is categorized as “Environment,” but might also be considered as “Education.” Some of the organizations listed were only awarded Director/Staff Discretionary Grants.

2025 Grants Breakdown