Arts Services Inc. (ASI) has awarded 25 Give for Greatness grants, totaling $50,000 in capacity-building support, to small and micro nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across Western New York. The 2025 recipients represent a wide range of artistic disciplines and community-centered missions, helping to preserve, strengthen, and expand access to the arts throughout the region.

Each $2,000 Give for Greatness grant is designed to help organizations invest in the internal tools and systems that support long-term sustainability. Eligible uses include strategic planning, board and staff training, technology upgrades, consultant support, and other capacity-building activities that make day-to-day operations more effective.

This year’s applicant pool reflected both the depth and diversity of Western New York’s arts ecosystem. A review panel of regional arts and cultural leaders evaluated more than 70 applications, facing the difficult task of selecting 25 organizations to receive funding.

“Small and micro nonprofits are the backbone of our region’s creative ecosystem,” said ASI Executive Director Jen Swan-Kilpatrick. “Representing 76% of the organizations we serve, they play a vital role in community building and cultural representation. Capacity-building investments like Give for Greatness help these organizations strengthen their internal operations so they can continue to grow their impact and remain responsive to the communities they serve.”

2025 Give for Greatness Grant Recipients

Recipient Spotlight: Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center (Buffalo, NY)

“Capacity-building expenses like computers and shared digital infrastructure may seem small, but for artist-run organizations operating on tight budgets, these are often the costs that get deferred—and the burden frequently falls on staff. Support from the Give for Greatness Grant allowed Hallwalls to upgrade essential technology, provide reliable computers for staff and interns, and build a shared online workspace that strengthens communication and coordination across our team. These investments have an immediate, meaningful impact on how we work day-to-day and will support our sustainability and growth well into the future.”

At Hallwalls, Give for Greatness funding is supporting the implementation of recommendations developed through a nonprofit consulting process, focused on succession planning and smoother transitions into new and evolving staff roles. By investing in shared digital infrastructure and updated technology, Hallwalls is strengthening internal systems that support clearer communication, more effective collaboration, and long-term organizational sustainability.

Give for Greatness Overview

Since 2024, the Give for Greatness program has provided over $360,000 in funding to support to 149 small and micro arts and cultural nonprofits across Western New York, with a continued focus on reaching organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities and often operate with limited resources.

The 2025 Give for Greatness grants are made possible through the generous support of Lawyers for the Arts and The Marilyn Gohr McTaggart Reveal Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Arts Services Inc. is proud to invest in the organizations that serve as vital local touchpoints to the arts and culture that define our region.