named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Hanging of the Greens
Time-honored holiday tradition at SEM that ushers in the festive season through community participation and celebration.
Prince Lecture Series
Annual lecture series bringing accomplished alumnae, such as screenwriter Amy Holden Jones '71, back to campus to share professional experiences and inspire current students.
Summer Programs at SEM
Academic and enrichment programs offered to girls in Western New York during the summer months, designed to provide unique learning opportunities and engagement with SEM’s educational environment.
Winter Revel
Annual winter concert featuring student musical groups including the Glee Club, Ensemble, SEMachords, and Faculty Glee Club, marking the start of winter break.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Strategic Planning and Organizational Development 1 activity
- Engages in strategic planningDevelops strategic plans to ensure effective management of resources and long-term institutional success.
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Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Hosts community and alumnae eventsOrganizes annual community traditions including the Holiday Bazaar through the Alumnae Association and the Hanging of the Greens event, and hosts the Prince Lecture Series featuring notable alumnae.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts cultural and musical eventsProduces annual events including the Winter Revel concert featuring student and faculty musical groups, and supports student performance groups such as the SEMachords a cappella ensemble.
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Student and User Data Privacy & Security 1 activity
- Implements data privacy and security practicesUses encryption for personal information submitted online, does not permanently store credit card numbers on servers, and stores data securely to protect user privacy.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Integrates fine arts into educationFine Arts teachers who are working artists bring professional enthusiasm into the classroom and connect students with art in the community.
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Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Offers summer programs for girlsRuns summer programs and a day camp for girls in Western New York entering grades 4 through 9, designed to support learning, confidence-building, creativity, and social development.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Provides professional development for faculty and staffOffers ongoing professional development opportunities to support faculty and staff in advancing educational excellence.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizes student athletic achievementPublicly acknowledges student-athletes who earn All-Catholic Honors in fall sports.
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Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
- Updates and maintains website accessibilityRegularly improves the website user experience by adding alternative text for images and using high-contrast colors to support accessibility.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provides all-girls secondary educationOperates as an independent, non-sectarian school for girls in Western New York, recognized as a leader in girls' education for 175 years and ranked #1 Best Private High School in the region.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.18M
Contributions & grants$3.69M45%
Program service revenue$4.19M51%
Investment income$34K0%
Other revenue$270K
expenses
Total expenses$8.29M
Program expenses73%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$3.12M
Grants paid out$1.68M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$19.55M
Cash$628K
Investments$630K
Liabilities$1.72M
Net assets$17.83M
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +26.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELEN MARLETTE THROUGH 62024 | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $125K |
| BLAIR PARKER EFFECTIVE 72024 | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $104K |
board members · 22
- ALICIA C SAIA — TRUSTEE
- ALISA OFFICER — TRUSTEE
- AMY NAGY — TRUSTEE
- BETHANY GRABIEC — TRUSTEE
- CINDY LEVY — TRUSTEE
- CYNTHIA B STARK — TRUSTEE
- DOUGLAS HOPKINS — TRUSTEE
- ELISA M KREINER — TRUSTEE
- ERIN O'BRIEN — VICE CHAIR
- J BRADLEY RAUCH — TRUSTEE
- JAMES KRAMER — TREASURER
- JAMES ROONEY — TRUSTEE
- JENNIFER GRESS — CHAIR
- JESSICA JACOBS ENSTICE — TRUSTEE
- JOANNA GLAUSER MARYMOR — TRUSTEE
- JODI WOLIN — TRUSTEE
- KARA HORNUNG KERWIN — TRUSTEE
- KATHERINE BOWEN SMITH — TRUSTEE
- KATHRYN HAMISTER — TRUSTEE
- LOIS MUFUKA-MARTIN — TRUSTEE
- MARY KELKENBERG — SECRETARY
- MAUREEN HAYS-MITCHELL PHD — TRUSTEE
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Buffalo Seminary Alumnae Association Network — Organizes the annual Holiday Bazaar and supports alumnae engagement.
- Google Analytics Partner — Uses Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user behavior.
- Lauren Belfer Partner — Alumna and author whose novel City of Light, inspired by SEM, became a New York Times Bestseller and was adapted into a stage play.
- Robin Simon Magavern Partner — Alumna and former faculty member in the English department from 1973 to 2008, honored with the naming of the school library.
- Tara VanDerveer Partner — Alumna and former head coach of Stanford University’s Women’s Basketball Team, recognized as the winningest coach in college basketball history with 1,216 career wins.
- Western New York Partner — Geographic focus for summer programs and student outreach
- buffaloseminary.org Network — Official website domain for Buffalo Seminary, used for program information and registration
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.
- Alumnae-Led Leadership Inspirationmethodology: leadership-developmentBy connecting current students with successful alumnae through structured lecture series, the school strengthens students’ academic and career aspirations because exposure to relatable female role models reinforces identity, possibility, and leadership pathways.
- Artist-in-Residence Integration Modelmethodology: artist-in-residence teaching modelBy embedding working artists directly into the teaching staff, Buffalo Seminary enhances student engagement and authentic learning in the arts because real-world artistic practice fosters deeper connection, inspiration, and community-based creative experiences.
- Diversity as a Pedagogical Toolmethodology: diversity-as-educational-toolBy leveraging classroom diversity as an intentional educational resource, Buffalo Seminary cultivates intellectual curiosity and critical thinking because exposure to multiple perspectives challenges assumptions and enriches learning.
- Girl-Centered Holistic Educationmethodology: holistic youth developmentBy providing a holistic, girl-centered educational environment that integrates academic, emotional, creative, and social development, Buffalo Seminary fosters independent thinking, leadership, and long-term success in young women because such an integrated approach nurtures confidence, curiosity, and resilience.