A legacy of philanthropy

Requests for under $2,500 may be submitted on a rolling basis when a specific need arises. These requests are reviewed and approved by the Executive Director. Please contact the Foundation directly if you have a specific need that requires funding that is less than $2,500.

Grant requests for more than $2,500 are presented to the board of directors for consideration on a quarterly basis in May, October, and February. These requests are submitted online through the Chautauqua Grants website and are followed up with a site visit by The Foundation’s Executive Director.

Grant requests for more than $2,500 require a letter of intent (LOI) to be submitted six weeks prior to each grant deadline. These requests are submitted online through the Chautauqua Grants website, and are followed up with a site visit by The Foundation’s Executive Director. Annual Grant Award Range $100 to $500,000. The Foundation will consider grant requests for more than $500,000, but larger grants will be divided into separate annual installments.

Click here to review the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation Grant Guidelines.

Annual grant range per organization: $100 to $500,000*

*the foundation will consider grant requests for more than $500,000, but larger grants will be divided into separate annual installments.

An average size grant is in the $25,000-$50,000 range.

The Foundation awards between $1.8 million and $2.2 million in grant funds each year.

Yes. Often large capital campaign grants are awarded over a number of years.

Not-for-profit organizations who are stable, and have proven that they are capable of managing past grant awards from the Foundation may be considered for a multi-year operating grant award.

Yes. Whether the Board of Directors will immediately consider the request is determined on a case-by-case basis. If we are unable to accommodate your request on an emergency basis, and you are an eligible grantee, the Foundation will consider your grant request at the next scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting.

• Loans or grants to individuals, scholarships, start-up funding for businesses, political candidates or lobbying, scientific research, or endowments.

• 501c3 non-profit status is required unless it is a government or religious organization.

• The Sheldon Foundation only funds religious organizations if the program or project serves the greater community.

• Expenses that have already occurred or that will occur before a funding decision is made are not eligible.

• Organizations that do not exist within and or directly serve Southern Chautauqua County are not eligible.

Since the Foundation’s inception, we have participated in capital campaigns of many of the major institutions in Southern Chautauqua County. These include (but are not limited to): Chautauqua Institution, The Fenton History Center, Audubon Community Nature Center, Jamestown Community College, Northwest Bank Ice Arena, James Prendergast Library, National Comedy Center, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, and the Robert H. Jackson Center.

The Foundation has also contributed to capital improvement projects at the Boy Scout’s Headquarters and Camp Merz, the Girl Scout Headquarters and Camp Timbercrest, YMCA facilities including Camp Onyasha, the YWCA facilities and UPMC Chautauqua (formerly WCA Hospital).

The Foundation regularly supports the the United Way along with many of its affiliated organizations.

The Foundation also supports the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance who works to oversee and implement an annual lake management plan with its associated agencies.

The Foundation’s office is located on Main Street in downtown Jamestown, New York. The office is near the corner of 3rd Street and Main Street next to Northwest Bank.