Resource Council of WNY

What Resource Council of WNY does

Resource Council of WNY, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 2015 and headquartered at 347 East Ferry Street in Buffalo, New York, where it operates the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Community Center. The organization delivers multi-generational programming across three primary segments — youth (afterschool enrichment, summer camps, learn-to-swim, sports leagues, HYPE workforce development, Culture in The Kitchen culinary education), adults and families (outdoor and indoor food pantries, RCWNY Children's Cupboard, Farmers Market, family support, fitness/wellness), and seniors aged 60+ (frozen meal delivery, social programming, senior outreach) — all services provided free of charge to residents of zip codes 14208, 14209, 14211, and 14215 on Buffalo's East Side.

The organization runs 12 active programs 7 days per week and is the only full-service community center operating in zip code 14208. It controls the historic 1924-built former Humboldt YMCA facility (acquired May 2015 via parent Saving Grace Ministries, Inc.), the adjacent Perkins Park outdoor sports complex, and co-located Patriot Heights Apartments (16 units of affordable housing for veterans and families, opened October 2016 with $2.7M in partner funding). Following the May 14, 2022 mass shooting at Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue, RCWNY activated a nine-week crisis response operation and subsequently built a multi-partner food security consortium that has distributed 500,000+ pounds of food to 73,399 people.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding sources include foundation and corporate grants (Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Buffalo Bills Foundation, NFL Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund, NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, UnitedHealthcare), government support (City of Buffalo HOME Investment Partnership Program), corporate partnerships (M&T Bank, KeyBank, Fidelis Care), and individual charitable contributions including Amazon Wish List donations. No fees are charged to participants; all programming is free. Distribution is entirely in-person through the East Ferry Street facility, off-site food distribution sites, senior home delivery, and the secondary Farmers Market location at Delevan Grider Community Center. The organization has no proprietary technology, app, or digital product; its operations are conducted through direct service delivery.

Name

Resource Council of WNY

Legal name

Resource Council of WNY, Inc.

Website

https://rcwny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Resource Council of WNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Community Center in Buffalo's East Side, delivering free multi-generational programs — including youth enrichment, food pantries, workforce development, and senior services — to residents of zip codes 14208, 14209, 14211, and 14215.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (624110), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLADAIAJ

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Adult Day Health Care & Senior Day Care

SECONDARYHSABANAJ

Intergenerational Day Programs (Seniors + Childcare)

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

SECONDARYHSABANAM

Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Adult Day Care & Senior Day Programs

SECONDARYEDACALAH

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services

Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

SECONDARYBPAGADAL

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Community center services
• Youth development programs
• Food assistance services
• Senior meal delivery
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: The Resource Council of WNY receives funding through grants and donations from foundations and corporations including the Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Buffalo Bills Foundation, NFL Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund. The 2016 Patriot Heights Apartments project was funded with $2.7 million from various corporate and foundation partners.
2. Individual Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals through its website donation portal and in-kind donations of goods and supplies. Amazon Wish List donations are shipped directly to the community center.
3. Government and Community Grants: Receives grants from government entities and community organizations such as the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition Action Fund grant of $20,000 for youth hockey programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Resource Council of WNY operates a single unified full-service community center providing free, multi-generational programs to youth, adults, families, and seniors in Buffalo's East Side. Core offerings include youth programs (afterschool enrichment, summer camp, learn-to-swim, youth hockey, workforce development), adult and family services (food pantry, children's cupboard, farmers market, family support, fitness/wellness, basic needs distribution), and senior services (themed activities, frozen meal delivery, senior outreach). All services are provided free of charge and funded through foundation and corporate grants, government grants, and individual donations.

Product overview

The Resource Council of WNY is a community services organization operating as a single unified community center offering multi-generational programs. Its portfolio consists of Youth Programs (including ALL-STARS Afterschool, Summer Camp, Learn-to-Swim, HYPE workforce development, Culture In The Kitchen culinary program, Kids Zone, and Youth Sports), Adult & Family Services (Food Pantry, Children's Cupboard, Farmers Market, Family Support, Fitness/Wellness, Basic Needs Distribution), and Senior Services (senior programming, frozen meal delivery, outreach). The organization also provides transportation assistance through Metro Pass distribution. Programs are delivered through the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Community Center at 347 East Ferry Street and serve the 14208 zip code and surrounding areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ALL-STARS Afterschool Enrichment Program Free after-school enrichment program for youth ages 8-14 (and older teens via the broader portfolio) providing educational support, recreational activities, and mentorship services to children and young adults in Buffalo's East Side.
• Kids Zone Youth health and wellness program focused on building family connection and developing healthy habits in children served at the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation Community Center.
• ALL-STARS Summer Camp and Horizons @ RCWNY Free summer camp program offering recreational activities, educational enrichment, and youth development programming during summer months for East Side children and teens.
• Youth Learn-to-Swim Program Free drowning prevention and water safety program teaching youth swimming skills in the indoor pool at the community center.
• HYPE Workforce Program (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) Free workforce development program helping youth and young adults prepare for employment through skills training and job placement assistance.
• Culture In The Kitchen Free youth culinary program teaching cooking skills and cultural food traditions to East Side children and teens.
• Youth Sports Programs Free youth sports programs including basketball clinics, flag football leagues, and organized athletic programming for ages 8-14+, with outdoor facilities at adjacent Perkins Park (ball hockey rink, basketball courts, flag football field).
• Outdoor & Indoor Food Pantry Free food assistance program providing both outdoor and indoor food distribution to community members in need across East Buffalo zip codes; serves as the primary emergency food response hub including the 1,100+ daily people served post-May 2022.
• RCWNY Children's Cupboard Free children's food pantry providing food assistance specifically for children and families in the East Side service area.
• RCWNY Farmers Market Free twice-monthly farmers market providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, operated at Delavan Grider Community Center in partnership with Key Bank, Buffalo Go Green, and African Heritage Food Co-Op.
• Family Support Services Free case management and referral services helping individuals and families in East Buffalo access community resources, social services, housing and utility assistance, victim services, and mental health counseling.
• Fitness, Health and Wellness Programs Free adult fitness programming including Zumba, line dancing, and learn-to-swim classes for adults in the East Side service area.
• Basic Needs Distribution Free emergency and ongoing distribution of essential household items, toiletries, baby products, and supplies to community members in need, including crisis response following the May 2022 mass shooting.
• Senior Programming Free community programming for seniors aged 60+ including themed activities, Bingo, paint parties, movie dates, shopping trips, theatre outings, and health/wellness information sessions.
• Frozen Meals Program Free pre-packaged frozen meal program for individuals aged 60+, including doorstep delivery to homebound seniors who are unable to prepare meals independently.
• Senior Outreach Services Free home delivery of food, essential care items, and resources to homebound seniors aged 60+, including health and wellness information.
• Metro Pass Distribution Free monthly public transportation passes distributed to residents in zip codes 14208, 14209, 14211, and 14215 to improve access to employment, education, and vital services; partnership with Fidelis Care addressed transportation as a social determinant of health (200 passes worth $75 each distributed in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,100 people served daily during food distribution following May 2022 tragedy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fidelis CareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2022Fidelis Care partnered with the Resource Council of WNY to distribute free monthly Metro Passes to residents in need in zip codes 14208, 14209, 14211, and 14215. The partnership addresses transportation as a social determinant of health, distributing 200 passes worth $75 each in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
• KeyBankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2022KeyBank formed a partnership with Buffalo Go Green, African Heritage Food Co-Op, and Delevan Grider Community Center to operate the RCWNY Farmers Market, providing fresh fruits and vegetables twice monthly at the market.
• FeedMore WNYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022FeedMore WNY partnered with the Resource Council of WNY to address food insecurity in East Buffalo. The collaboration distributed over 500,000 lbs of food to 73,399 people. FeedMore WNY is relocating one of its food pantries into the RCWNY building, which will become the 10th food pantry in the Jefferson Avenue community.
• African Heritage Food Co-OpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022African Heritage Food Co-Op operates a mobile produce market in partnership with the Resource Council of WNY, providing healthy food options to the Jefferson Avenue community. The co-op provides fresh produce at multiple scheduled locations in partnership with M&T Bank and World Central Kitchen.
• Buffalo Go Green / Urban Fruits and VeggiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Buffalo Go Green/Urban Fruits and Veggies, led by CEO Allison DeHonney, collaborates with the Resource Council of WNY on food security initiatives. The organization provides healthy food resources as part of the collaborative effort to address food insecurity in East Buffalo.
• Community Action Organization of WNYminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022The Community Action Organization of WNY is relocating its CAO food pantry into the Resource Council of WNY building, which will become the 10th food pantry in the Jefferson Avenue community.
• Senator Patrick M. GallivanminorOthers · 1 May 2022Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined the Resource Council of WNY's Community Response - Love in Action Campaign, sponsoring a food and supply drive for residents impacted by the May 2022 mass shooting. The Senator's district office served as a donation drop-off location.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YMCA Buffalo Niagara: Buffalo-area multi-facility community center operator delivering youth programming, swim instruction, fitness, and family services. Operates a comparable multi-generational community hub model in the same WNY geography, including at the original East Side facility that preceded RCWNY (Humboldt YMCA).
• Boys & Girls Club of Buffalo: Direct youth-programming peer serving Buffalo-area children and teens with afterschool enrichment, sports leagues, and summer programming. Closely comparable to RCWNY's ALL-STARS afterschool and youth sports offerings within overlapping service geographies.
• Matt Urban Hope Center: East Buffalo human services nonprofit providing emergency food, housing support, and case management to vulnerable residents. Comparable to RCWNY's family support, food pantry, and emergency-response functions in the same geography.
• Community Action Organization of Erie County: Anti-poverty community action agency delivering food distribution, family support, and youth programs in WNY, with a board member (Brandi L. Haynes) cross-pollinated between the two organizations. Operates a co-located food pantry with RCWNY.
• Catholic Charities of Buffalo: Multi-program social services nonprofit serving WNY with food pantries, senior services, refugee resettlement, and family support—overlapping with RCWNY's combined food/senior/youth service mix at a broader regional scale.
• Salvation Army of Buffalo: National multi-service nonprofit providing emergency food, after-school programs, senior services, and disaster response in WNY. Closely mirrors RCWNY's community-hub service breadth and emergency-response capability.
• Heritage Ministries: WNY-based nonprofit serving seniors through senior-living, nutrition, and outreach programs. Directly comparable to RCWNY's frozen-meal delivery, senior outreach, and senior programming components.

Others

• FeedMore WNY: Regional food bank that partnered with RCWNY to distribute 500,000+ lbs of food during the post-shooting emergency response and is relocating a pantry into RCWNY's building. Ecosystem partner with overlapping food-security mission.
• United Way of Buffalo & Erie County: Regional philanthropy intermediary funding many of the same nonprofits as RCWNY's grantors; both organizations appear in shared donor and partnership networks. Comparable as a community-resource aggregator in the same geography.
• Saving Grace Ministries: Parent organization of RCWNY, providing governance and the facility acquisition structure. Adjacent entity rather than a direct operating peer, but materially relevant given that RCWNY operates as a subsidiary of Saving Grace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RCWNY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thercwny

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Resource Council of WNY