irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0MARKET AND PROMOTE THE ASSETS AND ATTRACTIONS THE BUFFALO NIAGARA REGION OFFERS AS A DESTINATION FOR VISITORS OUTSIDE OF THE REGION FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE REGION.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Buffalo Wing Trail
Self-guided culinary tour highlighting iconic Buffalo wing establishments across the region, designed to drive food tourism and local spending.
Guided Tours
Partnership-driven program promoting access to architectural, historical, and cultural tours including Frank Lloyd Wright sites and public art experiences.
Spring Guide
Seasonal publication and digital resource showcasing events, outdoor recreation, and seasonal attractions to promote visitation during the spring months.
Theatre & Entertainment District Guide
Curated guide promoting downtown Buffalo’s cultural offerings including theaters, live music venues, restaurants, and nightlife to attract visitors to the downtown entertainment corridor.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Regional Tourism Promotion 4 activities
- Engages visitors through digital and social media campaignsRuns social media campaigns encouraging user-generated content, such as the #VisitBuffalo initiative, to increase visibility and engagement with the region’s tourism offerings.
- Markets and promotes the Buffalo Niagara region to visitorsActively markets and promotes the Buffalo Niagara region's assets, attractions, and cultural offerings to visitors outside the region to drive tourism and support local economic development, including promotion of Niagara Falls, historic sites, and regional events.
- Supports and promotes regional cultural and historic attractionsSupports and promotes the preservation and visitation of cultural and historic sites including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the Freedom Wall, and sites related to President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
- Supports local businesses through tourism initiativesSupports local economic activity by promoting shopping districts, small businesses, and the Shop716 electronic gift card program accepted at over 800 retailers.
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Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 2 activities
- Produces and distributes visitor resources and guidesProduces seasonal and thematic visitor guides, distributes printed materials, and maintains curated itineraries and online resources to support trip planning for Buffalo and Niagara Falls, including transportation, parking, and event calendars.
- Provides curated recommendations and itineraries for visitorsOffers curated recommendations and thematic itineraries highlighting summer experiences, outdoor recreation, dining, shopping, and family-friendly attractions across Buffalo’s diverse neighborhoods and Erie County.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes and promotes cultural and community eventsOrganizes and promotes a range of cultural events including Garden Walk Buffalo, Open Gardens, LGBTQ+ community events, Pride celebrations, and the Erie County 250th anniversary programming to engage visitors and residents.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Promotes sports and fan experiencesSupports and promotes fan engagement and attendance for Buffalo’s professional sports teams and events at major venues including the Bills, Sabres, and Bisons.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$9.61M
Contributions & grants$9.21M96%
Program service revenue$319K3%
Investment income$82K1%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$8.35M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$2.58M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.20M
Cash$2.38M
Investments$0
Liabilities$942K
Net assets$2.25M
Liquid reserves3.4 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +82.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK KALER | PRESIDENT | 40 | $316K |
| KAREN FASHANA | VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING | 40 | $156K |
| DAVID MARZO | CFO | 35 | $152K |
| LEAH MUELLER | VICE PRESIDENT SALES | 40 | $141K |
| TEMEKIA POWERS | NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR | 40 | $125K |
| RENATA TONEY | VICE PRESIDENT DESTINATION EXPERIENCE | 40 | $121K |
board members · 19
- ANTHONY CHASE — DIRECTOR
- BOB KARMAZYN — DIRECTOR
- BRIAN GOULD — DIRECTOR
- CINDY ABBOTT-LETRO — CHAIR
- DANIEL CASTLE — DIRECTOR
- DAVID SCHUTTE — DIRECTOR
- DOROTHY GALLAGHER — DIRECTOR
- KIMBERLEY MINKEL — VICE CHAIR
- MARK ALNUTT — DIRECTOR
- MARK GLASGOW — DIRECTOR
- MARY F ROBERTS — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- MATTHEW CHIAZZA — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA BROWN — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE URBANCZYK — DIRECTOR
- SHANNON PATCH — DIRECTOR
- STEVEN RANALLI — DIRECTOR
- TERRY ALFORD — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS BEAUFORD JR — SECRETARY
- THOMAS LONG — TREASURER
relationships · 66
Who they work with
- AMC Market Arcade 8 Partner — Includes AMC Market Arcade 8 as a featured entertainment destination in downtown Buffalo.
- Alleyway Theatre Partner — Features Alleyway Theatre as a key cultural venue in the Theater & Entertainment District.
- American Planning Association Partner — Recognized Elmwood Village as one of the country’s top neighborhoods.
- Anchor Bar Partner — Markets the Anchor Bar as the originator of Buffalo wings to promote culinary tourism.
- Aquarium of Niagara Partner — Includes in promotional materials to highlight regional attractions beyond the Falls.
- Aura Salt Cave Partner — LGBTQ-owned business featured in the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau's guide to LGBTQ+ stores and experiences.
- Babeville Partner — Highlights Babeville as a music and performance venue in the Entertainment District.
- Backroom Vintage Partner — LGBTQ-owned business highlighted by the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau as part of the city's LGBTQ+ economic and cultural landscape.
- Bam! Partner — LGBTQ-owned business promoted by the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau to support local LGBTQ entrepreneurship and tourism.
- Big Ditch Brewing Company Partner — Lists Big Ditch Brewing Company as a downtown dining and craft beer destination.
- Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens Partner — Includes the Botanical Gardens as a featured destination in regional tourism promotion.
- Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park Partner — Collaborates on visitor programs including the Best of Buffalo Double Decker Bus Tour.
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum Partner — Collaborates on promoting art-centered events and educational programs.
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum Partner — Collaborates to promote cultural tourism through the museum's grand reopening and programming.
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum Partner — Collaboration on the promotion of the Freedom Wall, a Civil Rights-themed mural commissioned by the museum.
- Buffalo Bandits Partner — Promotes lacrosse events and fan engagement for the Bandits.
- Buffalo Beauts Partner — Supports women's professional hockey through promotion and event visibility.
- Buffalo Bills Partner — Partners to promote fan experiences and events at Highmark Stadium.
- Buffalo Bisons Partner — Works with the Bisons to promote baseball tourism and events at Sahlen Field.
- Buffalo Central Terminal Partner — Collaborates to highlight historic architecture as part of the visitor experience.
- Buffalo History Museum Partner — Partners with the Buffalo History Museum to promote historical tourism and public education.
- Buffalo Museum of Science Partner — Promoted as a destination that combines learning and fun for families.
- Buffalo Sabres Partner — Collaborates to support hockey-related tourism and fan engagement at KeyBank Center.
- Buffalo Zoo Partner — Promoted as a key family-friendly attraction in regional tourism efforts.
- Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Partner — Collaborates with the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park as part of the regional historical and cultural network.
- Burchfield Penney Art Center Partner — Collaborates to promote art and cultural experiences in Buffalo.
- Burchfield Penney Art Center Partner — Partners to promote art and culture tourism in Buffalo.
- Canalside Partner — Highlights Canalside as a key destination for casual and recreational visitation.
- Canalside Partner — Hosts the Buffalo Heritage Carousel and Longshed, promoted as sites for family engagement.
- Canalside Buffalo Partner — Partners on event promotion and public programming at Canalside.
+ 36 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Community-Embracing Inclusivity in Tourismmethodology: community-embracing inclusivityBy fostering visibly inclusive environments—such as LGBTQ+ welcoming initiatives and open-access community events—the organization strengthens local belonging and visitor connection, because inclusive identity signaling increases engagement and broadens participation across diverse audiences.
- Destination Marketing for Economic Revitalizationmethodology: destination_marketingBy promoting Buffalo Niagara’s cultural, historical, and recreational assets through targeted destination marketing, the organization drives tourism and conventions that generate economic benefit and support citywide revitalization, because visibility and strategic positioning attract visitors and investment.
- Experiential and Immersive Tourism Designmethodology: experiential_tourismBy curating diverse, interest-based, and locally immersive experiences—including seasonal, nature-based, and story-driven activities—the organization increases visitor engagement, because personalized and sensory-rich experiences produce deeper connections and longer stays.
- Heritage-Led Urban Revitalizationmethodology: heritage-led_revitalizationBy framing Buffalo’s industrial and architectural legacy as a foundation for contemporary tourism, the organization fosters economic revitalization, because heritage narratives create compelling, authentic identities that attract culturally motivated visitors.