named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Buffalo Construction Consultants Endowed Scholarship
Provides long-term support for a deserving grammar school student through an endowed fund established by Buffalo Construction Consultants
Comer Family Memorial Scholarship
Honors Thomas J. Comer Jr. and Jean Comer with support for BISON students pursuing Catholic education
Heather Ann Williams Memorial Scholarship
Supports a BISON eighth-grade student in attending the private high school of their choice in memory of Heather Ann Williams
High School Scholarships
Offers up to $4,500 per year to current BISON 8th graders through a lottery system for attendance at private high schools in Western New York
Judy Carr Beecher ’58 Memorial Scholarship
Supports students attending Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart in memory of Judy C. Beecher, a 1958 graduate
K-8 Scholarships
Provides up to $3,000 per year to students in kindergarten through 8th grade attending private schools, awarded via lottery to families meeting income eligibility and residency requirements
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
- Funding K-8 private school scholarships for low-income students in Western New YorkProvides financial assistance to low-income families to afford private K-12 education, specifically offering K-8 scholarships with awards up to $3,000 per student annually, distributed directly to partner schools twice a year in November and March. The program uses a lottery system with an annual March 31st application deadline and has supported over 45,000 children since 1995.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Funding high school scholarships for BISON alumni in Western New YorkProvides high school scholarship awards capped at $4,500 per student to former BISON K-8 scholars, awarded exclusively through a lottery to current 8th graders. The fund has expanded high school support since 2019, including special named scholarships such as the Judy Carr Beecher ’58 Memorial Scholarship and the Heather Ann Williams Memorial Scholarship.
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Multi-Institution Scholarship Funding 1 activity
- Funding post-secondary scholarships for BISON alumniAwards targeted post-secondary scholarships to BISON alumni, including a full-tuition, last-dollar scholarship annually to the top alumnus attending Villa Maria College, a $2,500 scholarship for BISON alumni enrolling at Villa Maria College, and the Pathways to Prosperity Scholarship—a two-year program providing $1,000 per year to BISON alumni at Erie Community College to cover tuition, books, and supplies.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.59M
Contributions & grants$5.30M95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$315K6%
Other revenue$-23K
expenses
Total expenses$5.10M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$325K
Grants paid out$4.41M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$15.77M
Cash$302K
Investments$12.23M
Liabilities$63K
Net assets$15.71M
Liquid reserves29.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +6.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARA S MORAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $142K |
board members · 17
- ANDREW L FORS — TREASURER
- BETSY SULLIVAN — BOARD MEMBER
- CATHERINE SHEEDY — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTINE STANDISH — BOARD MEMBER
- COREY GIBSON — BOARD MEMBER
- DENNIS J SZYMKOWIAK — VICE PRESIDENT
- HARRISON STEINWALD — BOARD MEMBER
- JONATHAN AMOIA — BOARD MEMBER
- KELLIE M ULRICH — BOARD MEMBER
- KRISTIN BAUER — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL L MCCABE — BOARD MEMBER
- PAUL BAUER — BOARD MEMBER
- REP CHRISTOPHER L JACOBS — PRESIDENT
- REV JOSEPH S ROGLIANO — BOARD MEMBER
- SHAWN T PEARCE — BOARD MEMBER
- THOMAS R BEECHER JR — BOARD MEMBER
- TOD D MARTIN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 75
Who they work with
- 76 elementary and high schools in Western New York’s eight counties Partner — Partners with 76 schools across eight counties in Western New York to provide scholarship-funded educational access.
- Al-Rasheed Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Amherst Christian Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Aurora Waldorf School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart Partner — Receives scholarship support for students through the Judy Carr Beecher ’58 Memorial Scholarship.
- Buffalo Construction Consultants Funder — Established the Buffalo Construction Consultants Endowed Scholarship to support grammar school students.
- Buffalo Suburban Christian Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- CO-ED CENTER ROAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Calvary Baptist Church Partner — Represented on the Board of Directors by Rev. Corey B. Gibson, indicating organizational affiliation or partnership.
- Catholic Academy of Niagara Falls Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Catholic Academy of West Buffalo Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Central Christian Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Chautauqua Christian Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Children’s Scholarship Fund Partner — Provides matching funds and national network affiliation to support BISON's scholarship program.
- Christ the King Preparatory Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Christ the King School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Christian Academy of WNY Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Christian Central Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- DeSales Catholic School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Elmwood Franklin School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Erie Community College Partner — Offers the Pathways to Prosperity Scholarship to BISON alumni through a partnership with the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund.
- Guiding Earth Montessori School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Holy Ghost Lutheran School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Houghton Academy Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Immaculate Conception School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Mandala School Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
- Martha & Paul Lamparelli Partner — Chairs of the 2026 Annual Celebration Luncheon fundraising event.
- Mount Saint Mary’s Academy Partner — BISON scholar Tessa attended Mount Saint Mary’s Academy from kindergarten through senior year and excelled as an honor student.
- Nardin Academy Partner — BISON scholar attended and thrived academically and personally at Nardin Academy.
- Nardin Academy Elementary Partner — Participating private school receiving BISON scholarship funds for enrolled students.
+ 45 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Alumni Pathway Support for Long-Term Successmethodology: alumni pathway supportBy connecting K–12 scholarship recipients with post-secondary opportunities, we extend impact beyond basic education because continued academic and career support increases upward mobility and program sustainability.
- Continuous Enrollment Support for Educational Stabilitymethodology: continuous-enrollment-supportBy renewing scholarships annually from K–8, we ensure uninterrupted private education because sustained access improves long-term academic outcomes and reduces disruption for low-income students.
- Need-Based Scholarship Awards with Sibling Inclusionmethodology: need-based-awardingBy prioritizing financial need and including all school-aged siblings in awards, we reduce enrollment barriers and support family unity because shared access increases educational stability and participation for low-income children.
- School Choice to Promote Educational Equitymethodology: school-choiceBy enabling low-income families to choose private K–12 schools regardless of income or geography, we increase access to quality education because educational choice empowers families, improves student outcomes, and strengthens community stability.
- Shared Financial Responsibility to Strengthen Parental Investmentmethodology: parental_investment_modelBy requiring a minimum family financial contribution, we foster shared commitment to education because parental investment increases engagement and prioritization of schooling at home.