named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
ENERGY and FLY Programs
Youth education programs supporting academic success and literacy development for students in Buffalo.
Entrepreneurship Assistance Center (EAC)
Offers 60 hours of business training, workshops, and one-on-one coaching to new and existing small business owners in New York State.
Microloans
Provides small loans ($500–$20,000) and financial education to entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional financing, with a focus on immigrant and underserved populations.
West Side Bazaar
Business incubator and community gathering space providing retail and kitchen space for aspiring entrepreneurs, featuring diverse food and retail vendors.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 2 activities
- Deliver entrepreneurship training and technical assistanceOffers a 12-session entrepreneurship training series with virtual and in-person workshops, provides 60 hours of business support through the EAC Training Series, and delivered 1,320 technical assistance hours to Western New York businesses in 2024.
- Provide individualized business mentoringDelivers relationship-based business mentoring services to emerging entrepreneurs through volunteer mentors to support business development and growth.
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Shared Kitchen Incubator for Food Entrepreneurs 2 activities
- Host and support specific small businesses at West Side BazaarHosts and supports small businesses such as Malkia & Co. and Manna Culinary Group at the West Side Bazaar, providing space for business development and community engagement.
- Operate business incubator with retail spaces and shared facilitiesProvides retail spaces, a commissary kitchen, professional offices, a learning lab, and a wellness room to support emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners at the West Side Bazaar in Buffalo, NY, as part of community redevelopment in Western New York.
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Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
- Operate food and retail vendors featuring international cuisines and productsOperates food and retail vendors at the West Side Bazaar offering diverse international cuisines and goods, including Afghan, Egyptian, Congolese, Thai, Korean, and Sri Lankan products, as well as natural skincare and custom apparel.
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ESL and Multilingual Language Support Programs 1 activity
- Provide literacy support for Multilingual Language LearnersOffers targeted educational programs to improve literacy for elementary, middle, and high school Multilingual Language Learners, with all tested students improving their literacy levels during the 2024–2025 school year and some reading above grade level.
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Small Business and Nonprofit Lending 1 activity
- Provide microloans and pre-loan financial educationOffers microloans ranging from $500 to $20,000 to entrepreneurs lacking access to traditional financial institutions, along with pre-loan financial education and coaching; disbursed $263,175 in microloans in 2024 and has loaned over $2.2 million to 323 business owners since 2009.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Support job creation and small business growth in Western New YorkHas supported the creation and retention of over 350 full-time equivalent jobs since 2012, helped create 43 jobs in 2024, and served 349 small business owners in 2023 through economic development services.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$269K
Contributions & grants$34K13%
Program service revenue$204K76%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$30K
expenses
Total expenses$865K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$384K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.43M
Cash$107K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.43M
Net assets$5K
Liquid reserves1.5 mo
1 years on record · 2024–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROLYNN WELCH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $96K |
board members · 6
- CONCETTA FERGUSON — BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY
- KRISTA SCHWARTZOTT — BOARD MEMBER/PRESIDENT
- LUKE DONIGAN — BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY (TO 12/31/24)
- MELANIE JASKOLKA — BOARD MEMBER/VICE PRESIDENT
- MIMI STEADMAN — BOARD MEMBER/SECRETARY
- STEPHEN ZENGER — BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- 85 West Communications Partner — Corporate supporter providing funding
- Bank of America Funder — Corporate funder supporting the organization's work
- Bike Friendly NY Partner — Recognized as a certified Bike Friendly NY business, promoting accessibility via bicycle transportation.
- Broadview Federal Credit Union Funder — Corporate supporter providing financial support
- Buffalo Museum of Science Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on bookkeeping.
- Buffalo and Erie County Public Library Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on library resources for small businesses.
- Capital Connect Partner — Provides presenters for a workshop on accessing capital for small businesses.
- Coach & Assist, LLC Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on MWBE certification and pitching.
- Empire State Development Funder — Provides grant funding that supports the WEDI Entrepreneurship Assistance Center.
- Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum Partner — Provides field trip opportunities for students supported by WEDI.
- Fiveonomics Partner — Platform where volunteer mentors must upload a bio, photo, and description of expertise before working with clients.
- Gerard Place Partner — Antionette McClain is a board member and volunteer for Gerard Place.
- Manna Culinary Group Partner — Supported the grand opening of Manna Culinary Group in Buffalo.
- Marketplace Agency, Inc. Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on business insurance basics.
- PathStone Enterprise Center Partner — Partners with WEDI to offer larger participation or expansion loans to clients needing more capital.
- Pursuit Partner — Partners with WEDI to offer larger participation or expansion loans to clients needing more capital.
- SCORE Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on small business resources.
- Small Business Administration Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on small business resources.
- Small Business Development Center Partner — Provides a presenter for a workshop on library resources for small businesses.
- Small Business Legal Clinic Partner — Provides presenters for workshops on business law basics and MWBE certification.
- Stitch Buffalo Partner — Elizabeth Lovria is Vice President of the Board of Directors at Stitch Buffalo.
- Theater of Youth Partner — Provides ticketed access for students supported by WEDI.
- Tool Library Partner — Antionette McClain is a board member and volunteer for the Tool Library.
- WEDI Partner — Operates the West Side Bazaar as part of its Economic Development program and provides microloans and business incubation services.
- WEST SIDE BAZAAR INC Partner — Collaborates with WEDI on economic development initiatives supporting entrepreneurs.
- West Side Bazaar Partner — Hosts entrepreneurs like Nadin Yousef to launch and grow small businesses through incubation and retail space.
- Western New York Planned Giving Consortium Partner — Elizabeth Lovria is a member of the Board of Directors for Western New York Planned Giving Consortium.
- wnybeinbusiness.org Partner — Provides guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs through local and regional resource partners listed on its platform.
strategies · 3
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.
- Integrated Business Incubation and Economic Inclusionmethodology: small_business_incubatorBy providing low-barrier physical retail space, business training, and operational support to immigrant and underserved entrepreneurs, we stimulate local economic growth and reduce systemic inequities because access to infrastructure and mentorship enables excluded populations to build sustainable businesses.
- Relationship-Based Entrepreneurial Mentoringmethodology: relationship-based_mentoringBy using sustained, relationship-based mentoring and immersive support, we build entrepreneurial skills and economic agency among under-resourced populations because personalized guidance compensates for gaps in formal financial education and fosters long-term business resilience.
- Responsible Financial Access for Excluded Entrepreneursmethodology: responsible-lending-for-unbanked-entrepreneursBy offering small-dollar loans to entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking, we reduce reliance on predatory lenders and build financial capability because responsible lending in the context of ongoing business support creates a pathway to creditworthiness and economic self-sufficiency.