Open Buffalo
Open Buffalo is a Buffalo, NY-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic initiative, founded in 2014, that advances racial, economic, and ecological justice in Western New York through free leadership development programs (Emerging Leaders, Youth Action, Democracy Fellows, RPP) and advocacy campaigns on criminal justice, climate, and voting rights.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Open Buffalo does
Open Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) civic initiative nonprofit founded in 2014 and headquartered at 1327 Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, New York, that advances racial, economic, and ecological justice in Western New York through two integrated program areas: Leadership Development and Advocacy & Organizing. The Leadership Development portfolio includes the Emerging Leaders program (a five-month intensive, since 2015), Youth Action (a 12-week program for ages 13-18), Democracy Fellows (a year-long fellowship for alumni), and the Race, Power, and Privilege (RPP) anti-racism training program sold to businesses and institutions. The Advocacy & Organizing portfolio encompasses the Urban Ecology Campus (Eco Campus) — a multi-year 10-acre development project with 32,000 sq. ft. of facilities on Buffalo's East Side — along with Freedom Summer 2.0 voter engagement, Justice & Opportunity criminal justice reform, and the Community Restoration Project (cannabis legalization, Clean Slate, progressive taxation).
The organization has trained 175+ Emerging Leaders and 600+ community members, generated documented policy victories including Buffalo's Lowest Law Enforcement Priority policy, Police Advisory Board creation, Strike Force disbandment, NYS marijuana decriminalization (2019), the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019), and the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (2021), and has distributed 10,000+ masks and registered 200 voters through community-led campaigns. Open Buffalo does not develop proprietary technology; its delivery is built on community organizing methodologies, in-person workshops, and partner coalition work.
Its business model is nonprofit grant- and donation-funded with no fees charged to program participants. Revenue is diversified across private foundation grants (Open Society Foundations as founding funder through 2019, The Chorus Foundation, The John R. Oishei Foundation), government grants (NYSERDA Clean Mobility funding), individual donations, corporate event sponsorships (M&T Bank, Chase, KeyBank, Northwest Bank, Lawley Insurance, Merrill Lynch), and endowments/bequests. Programs are free to participants; the RPP training generates some institutional fee-for-service revenue. Go-to-market is community-led via grassroots organizing, alumni referrals, partner referrals, and community events such as Sankofa, Movement Morning, and the Color Run.
Open Buffalo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Buffalo
- Legal name
- Open Buffalo
- Website
- https://openbuffalo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Open Buffalo is a Buffalo, NY-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit civic initiative, founded in 2014, that advances racial, economic, and ecological justice in Western New York through free leadership development programs (Emerging Leaders, Youth Action, Democracy Fellows, RPP) and advocacy campaigns on criminal justice, climate, and voting rights.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Open Buffalo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Open Buffalo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: Open Buffalo receives funding from private foundations including Open Society Foundations (which funded the 2014 Open Places Initiative launch), The Chorus Foundation (Eco Campus initial funding), and The John R. Oishei Foundation (arts programming).
- Government Grants: Open Buffalo receives government funding for specific initiatives including NYSERDA funding for the Clean Mobility project.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals who support the organization's mission to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice.
- Organizational Sponsorships: Corporate and community sponsors support Open Buffalo events and programs, providing investment for operations and programmatic outcomes while building their community profile around social justice.
- Endowments and Bequests: Long-term funding mechanisms mentioned as part of the organization's diversified funding approach.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Open Buffalo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) civic initiative nonprofit that advances racial, economic, and ecological justice in Western New York through two main program categories: Leadership Development (Emerging Leaders, Youth Action, Democracy Fellows, Race Power and Privilege anti-racism training) and Advocacy & Organizing (Urban Ecology Campus, Freedom Summer 2.0, Justice & Opportunity, Community Restoration Project). The organization delivers free, skill-building programs and runs advocacy campaigns to drive systemic policy change in Buffalo and surrounding communities.
Product overview
Open Buffalo is a civic non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social justice programs organized into two main categories: Leadership Development programs and Advocacy & Organizing initiatives. The Leadership Development portfolio includes Emerging Leaders (five-month intensive), Youth Action (12-week youth training), Democracy Fellows (year-long fellowship), and Race Power and Privilege anti-racism training. The Advocacy & Organizing work encompasses the Urban Ecology Campus (Eco Campus), Ecological Justice Workshops, Freedom Summer 2.0 voter engagement, Justice & Opportunity criminal justice reform, and Community Restoration Project legislative advocacy. The organization serves communities across Western New York through skill building, network connecting, and leadership activation to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Democracy Fellows: Year-long intensive program that empowers Buffalo/Niagara residents with skills and resources to drive organizations toward equity, inclusion, and long-term systems change
- Emerging Leaders
- Race, Power, and Privilege (RPP)
- Youth Action
- Urban Ecology Campus (Eco Campus)
- Freedom Summer 2.0
Products and services
- Emerging Leaders A five-month intensive leadership development program that empowers participants with skills, networks, and opportunities to effect meaningful change in their communities, covering community organizing, Buffalo-Niagara social history, communications, advocacy, research, campaign strategy, and resource mobilization. Open to adult community members aligned with the organization's justice mission.
- Youth Action A 12-week in-depth leadership training program for high school students ages 13-18 that organizes young adults across Buffalo to take initiative toward personal, professional, and communal growth through leadership, advocacy, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and community healing.
- Democracy Fellows An intensive year-long fellowship program that empowers Buffalo/Niagara residents with skills and resources to drive organizations toward equity, inclusion, and long-term systems change. Designed for Emerging Leaders alumni with vision for community-based projects.
- Race, Power, and Privilege (RPP) An anti-racism assessment and training program that provides businesses and institutions an in-depth understanding of the history of race and institutionalized racism, including a racial equity audit and organizational improvement plan tailored to client needs. Delivered to for-profit and nonprofit institutional clients.
- Urban Ecology Campus (Eco Campus) A multi-year 10-acre development project on Buffalo's East Side featuring 32,000 sq. ft. of indoor facilities and outdoor spaces designed as a regional climate asset rooted in environmental sustainability, residential empowerment, and economic development for disinvested communities.
- Ecological Justice Workshops A transformative workshop series on ecological justice, climate change, and Just Transition frameworks, led by community advocates with backgrounds in national just transition movements, climate policy campaigns, and environmental design.
- Freedom Summer 2.0 A community-powered campaign to educate, organize, and mobilize Western New York residents to strengthen democracy, expand civic participation, and build more just communities, inspired by the 1964 Freedom Summer movement.
- Justice & Opportunity Campaign work advocating for ecological justice, safer neighborhoods, dismantling mass incarceration, increasing grassroots power in frontline communities, and removing barriers to civic participation.
- Community Restoration Project A campaign focused on passage of three New York State legislative reforms: cannabis legalization with community investment, automatic expungement of criminal records ('Clean Slate'), and progressive taxation for top income earners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100th Emerging Leader graduated in 2018
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Buffalo
Customer profileSegments10 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Open Buffalo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Open Buffalo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
40 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and founding.
- Buffalo FuturescorePartner organization supporting Youth Action program participants and youth leadership development.
- Confident Girl Mentoring ProgramcorePartner in the Youth Action program providing mentoring support for young people in Buffalo's community.
- Justice40 AcceleratorcoreA 12-month accelerator program supporting climate and environmental justice organizations in building capacity and readiness to access government funding. Partners include Elevate, Groundswell, Partnership for Southern Equity, The Hummingbird Firm, and The Solutions Project. Open Buffalo received $25,000 unrestricted grant and technical assistance.
- Black Love Resists in the Rust (BLRR)corePartner in post-May 14, 2022 Tops shooting recovery efforts. Conducted door-to-door canvassing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays to distribute resource guides and survey community needs in the Cold Springs neighborhood.
- Fruit Belt Community Land Trust (FB CLT)coreOngoing partnership for community empowerment in the Fruit Belt neighborhood. Jointly distributed masks, food, and disinfectants during COVID-19. Open Buffalo advocated for city commitment of properties to the land trust, and they collaborate on the Urban Ecology Campus.
- New York Immigration CoalitionminorProvided training and software for phone banking and text banking during the 2020 Census and voter engagement summer youth program.
- Breaking Barriers ProgramminorVolunteer partner that helped distribute over 3,000 reusable masks at MLK Park pop-up event.
- Erie Niagara Area Health Care Education CenterminorSponsor of the face mask distribution campaign supporting COVID-19 relief efforts.
- WNY COVID-19 Community Response FundminorFunder of the face mask distribution campaign supporting vulnerable communities during the pandemic.
- Councilmember Ulysees O. Wingo Sr.coreMasten District Common Council Member who co-sponsored the For the People Act resolution and supported COVID-19 relief efforts. Long-time ally in voting rights and criminal justice reform.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) WNYcoreConvened the Clean Mobility project team (Neighborhood Leadership Group) focused on addressing inequities in green energy and green mobility space on Buffalo's East Side. Funded by NYSERDA.
- Heart of the City NeighborhoodscoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition convened by LISC WNY, working on clean and equitable mobility solutions for Buffalo's East Side.
- East Side Bike ClubcoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition working on active mobility solutions including walking, jogging, biking infrastructure for Buffalo's East Side.
- Shared Mobility InccoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition bringing shared mobility solutions including carpool, vanpool, and rideshare programs.
- GObike BuffalocoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition focused on bike infrastructure, bike lanes, and promoting cycling as clean transportation.
- Buffalo Niagara Medical CampuscoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition addressing transportation needs in the medical campus area and broader East Side community.
- NY Renews CoalitioncoreCoalition of 40+ community, labor, and environmental groups advocating for climate justice reforms including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Open Buffalo activated community members for direct actions.
- Alliance for Clean Energy New YorkminorOpen Buffalo was invited to join the Alliance for Clean Energy New York's annual conference, participating in a panel on including all New Yorkers in the clean energy transition.
- Leading Change NetworkcorePartner in hosting the Justice Leadership Institute, providing the organizing workshop curriculum and trainers for the two-and-a-half day training event.
- Coalition for Economic JusticecoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition working on economic justice issues at the intersection of transportation and community empowerment.
- Mobility Development OperationscoreMember of the Clean Mobility coalition providing mobility development expertise for Buffalo's East Side.
- Matt Urban CentercoreCo-host of the Climbing PoeTree arts and activism event. The Matt Urban Center has served East Buffalo for 40 years, working to revitalize neighborhoods and serve families.
- Buffalo Arts StudiocoreHost of the 'Beyond Language' panel discussion on using arts to bridge cultural differences. Partner in the Emerging Artist Series showcasing underrepresented artists including Muhammad Z. Zaman.
- Prisoners are People Too, Inc.corePartner in the Justice & Opportunity coalition working on criminal justice reform, including police advisory board creation and Strike Force disbandment advocacy.
- Color of ChangecoreNational racial justice organization partnering with Open Buffalo's Justice & Opportunity coalition on criminal justice reform campaigns.
- Buffalo Urban LeaguecorePartner in Justice & Opportunity coalition and collaborator on summer youth employment program placements that placed students with Open Buffalo.
- John R. Oishei FoundationcoreFoundation funder that enabled the Climbing PoeTree arts and activism event to be offered at no cost to the public. The foundation enhances economic vitality and quality of life in the Buffalo Niagara region.
- University at Buffalo - Office of Community RelationscorePartner in the Justice & Opportunity coalition providing academic resources and community connections.
- Buffalo Municipal Housing AuthoritycorePartner in Justice & Opportunity coalition working on housing justice and community development issues.
- Buffalo Common Councilman David RiveracorePolice Oversight Chair who partnered with Open Buffalo's Justice & Opportunity coalition on community policing reforms.
- Nicole Lee, Esq.coreHuman rights lawyer and community advocate who partnered with Open Buffalo's Justice & Opportunity coalition and was named to the community-led Police Advisory Board.
- St. Karen's Center for Non-ViolencecorePartner in Justice & Opportunity coalition working on violence prevention and non-violent conflict resolution.
- WNY Peace CentercorePartner in Justice & Opportunity coalition working on peacebuilding and criminal justice reform in Western New York.
- Back to Basics Outreach MinistriescorePartner in Justice & Opportunity coalition providing community outreach and support services.
- Drug Policy AlliancecoreLong-term partner in cannabis justice reform. Collaborated on the #BuffaloLLEP campaign and Open Buffalo served as regional organizer of the statewide 'We Rise to Legalize' campaign.
- StartSMART CoalitioncoreStatewide coalition for equitable marijuana legalization. Open Buffalo collaborated through the Community Restoration Project advocating for cannabis legalization with community investment provisions.
- Coalition for Economic JusticefoundingOne of four grassroots organizations that engaged in the community process leading to Open Buffalo's creation in 2014. These founding partners shaped Open Buffalo as an innovative answer to demands for an equal, just, and free city.
- Partnership for the Public GoodfoundingOne of four founding grassroots organizations. Collaborated with Open Buffalo on the 2016 police reform report 'Collaboration, Communication, and Community-Building: A New Model of Policing for 21st Century Buffalo' and ongoing criminal justice reform work.
- PUSH BuffalofoundingOne of four founding grassroots organizations that shaped Open Buffalo's creation as part of the Open Society Foundations' Open Places Initiative.
- VOICE-BuffalofoundingOne of four founding grassroots organizations that engaged in the broad community process leading to Open Buffalo's establishment.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Open Buffalo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coalition for Economic Justice: One of Open Buffalo's four founding grassroots partners. CEJ organizes low-wage workers and communities of color on economic justice, intersecting with Open Buffalo's Clean Mobility coalition work and shared leadership development on Buffalo's East Side.
- New York Immigration Coalition: Open Buffalo partner that provided training and software for the 2020 Census and voter engagement phone/text banking program. NYIC operates as a statewide umbrella in immigration and civic engagement, intersecting with Open Buffalo's immigrant/refugee segment and civic participation work.
- Buffalo Urban League: A core Open Buffalo partner in the Justice & Opportunity coalition and the summer youth employment program. Both organizations serve communities of color in Buffalo with overlapping civic engagement, youth development, and equity-focused programming.
- NY Renews: A 40+ member statewide coalition of community, labor, and environmental groups that Open Buffalo helped activate for direct actions leading to passage of the NY Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019. Highly comparable coalition-based climate justice advocacy model.
- Drug Policy Alliance: Long-term partner of Open Buffalo on cannabis justice reform, including the #BuffaloLLEP campaign and the 'We Rise to Legalize' statewide organizing. Drug Policy Alliance is a national leader in the same drug-policy reform space Open Buffalo activates locally.
- VOICE-Buffalo: One of Open Buffalo's four founding grassroots partners. VOICE-Buffalo runs community organizing campaigns in Western New York with a similar faith-rooted, multi-issue base, making it highly comparable in mission, geography, and organizing methodology.
- PUSH Buffalo: A founding partner of Open Buffalo and one of the four grassroots organizations behind its 2014 creation. PUSH Buffalo runs community organizing, affordable housing, and climate justice work on Buffalo's West Side, overlapping heavily on grassroots campaigns and East Side/West Side community empowerment.
- Color of Change: A national racial justice organization that partnered with Open Buffalo's Justice & Opportunity coalition on criminal justice reform campaigns. Color of Change operates as a larger, nationally scalable counterpart in the same racial-justice advocacy space.
- Partnership for the Public Good: A founding partner of Open Buffalo and a Buffalo-Niagara civic policy research and advocacy organization. The two collaborated on the 2016 police reform report and ongoing criminal justice work, with overlapping community-led research and policy advocacy functions.
Broad incumbents
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC WNY convened the Clean Mobility project team that Open Buffalo leads. LISC is a much larger, national community development financial institution with overlapping place-based economic development, mobility, and equity focus areas in Buffalo.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Buffalo social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Buffalo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Open Buffalo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Buffalo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Open Buffalo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Buffalo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Buffalo
What does Open Buffalo do?
Open Buffalo is a 501(c)(3) civic initiative nonprofit that advances racial, economic, and ecological justice in Western New York through two main program categories: Leadership Development (Emerging Leaders, Youth Action, Democracy Fellows, Race Power and Privilege anti-racism training) and Advocacy & Organizing (Urban Ecology Campus, Freedom Summer 2.0, Justice & Opportunity, Community Restoration Project). The organization delivers free, skill-building programs and runs advocacy campaigns to drive systemic policy change in Buffalo and surrounding communities.
Is Open Buffalo a public or private company?
Open Buffalo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Buffalo founded?
Open Buffalo was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open Buffalo based?
Open Buffalo is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Open Buffalo make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are government Grants, individual Donations, organizational Sponsorships and endowments and Bequests.
Who are Open Buffalo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coalition for Economic Justice, New York Immigration Coalition, Buffalo Urban League, NY Renews, Drug Policy Alliance, VOICE-Buffalo, PUSH Buffalo, Color of Change and Partnership for the Public Good. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Open Buffalo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Buffalo.