Catholic Charities of Buffalo
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOR 100 YEARS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO HAS BEEN PROVIDING HOPE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AND IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS SERVING ALL EIGHT COUNTIES OF WESTERN NEW YORK, OFFERING VITAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, RACES AND WALKS OF LIFE.
- Income
- $31.5 million
- Spending
- $32.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 383
- Volunteers
- 374
- Highest pay
- $185,977, chief financial officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (8)
- $8.2 million spent. STABILITY AND CONNECTEDNESS - SOCIAL CARE PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE, WHO FACE CHALLENGING AND UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS. THIS ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED IN ALL EIGHT COUNTIES. BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER, FINANCIAL, PRESCRIPTION, AND HEAT ASSISTANCE WERE PROVIDED TO 9233 INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK. IN CATTARAUGUS AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES, OUR KINSHIP CAREGIVER PROGRAM SUPPORTED 199 KINSHIP AND NON-RELATIVE CAREGIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. USING A CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL AND SUPPORT GROUPS, KINSHIP CAREGIVERS ALSO OFFER FAMILIES OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS THAT SUSTAIN SOCIAL INTERACTION FOR PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND KEEP INDIVIDUALS SAFELY IN THEIR OWN HOMES SERVED 292 PEOPLE. THESE INCLUDE HOME VISITATION IN GENESEE AND WYOMING COUNTIES, THE TELEPHONE ASSURANCE PROGRAM IN ERIE COUNTY, FRIENDLY PHONES IN ORLEANS COUNTY, AND PROJECT HOPE, A CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GEARED TO OLDER ADULTS. CARE COORDINATION INCLUDES PROGRAMS TO ASSIST 221 CHILDREN AND ADULTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE LOW-INCOME. SERVICES INCLUDE ASSESSING AND ASSISTING CLIENT NEEDS THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH HOME CARE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (CHW) PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS WORK WITH CLIENTS AND THEIR NETWORK OF HEALTH PROVIDERS (MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS), HEALTH PLANS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
- $6.4 million spent. NUTRITIONAL SERVICES - CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO ADMINISTERS THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC) FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM IN ERIE, NIAGARA, AND CHAUTAUQUA COUNTIES. THROUGH WIC, 23,903 WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OPERATES NINE FOOD PANTRIES IN THREE COUNTIES - ONE IN ALLEGANY, ONE IN CATTARAUGUS, AND SEVEN IN ERIE COUNTY. A TOTAL OF 7,113 PEOPLE WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. ONE THRIFT STORE SERVES ALLEGANY COUNTY AND OFFERS FREE CLOTHING TO CLIENTS WHEN NEEDED. A TOTAL OF 1,866 PEOPLE WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. LADIES OF CHARITY OF THE DIOCESE OF BUFFALO OPERATES THE ERIE/NIAGARA THRIFT STORE. LADIES OF CHARITY ALSO PROVIDES A NUMBER OF OTHER REFERRAL PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED, INCLUDING HOLIDAY GIFTS, CLOTHING, BABY ITEMS, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS. LADIES OF CHARITY IS A MINISTRY OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY WOMEN AND YOUNG WOMEN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. THE GROUP IS AN AFFILIATE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES. A TOTAL OF 13,347 PEOPLE WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THESE SERVICES.
- $3.8 million spent. FAMILY ENRICHMENT CATHOLIC CHARITIES WORKS TO STABILIZE, EMPOWER, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS TRADITIONAL, KINSHIP, AND REFUGEE PREVENTIVE SERVICES, THERAPEUTIC SUPERVISED VISITATION, ACCESS AND VISITATION, MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY, INCREDIBLE YEARS PARENTING PROGRAM, AND OUR KIDS PARENT EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED 510 DIRECT CLIENTS, IMPACTING 1535 CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS. OUR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT TO HELP STUDENTS OVERCOME OBSTACLES THEY MAY FACE WHEN ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE IN-SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM (ISSWP) ENHANCES STUDENT SUCCESS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER-DEVELOPMENT AND SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH SHORT-TERM INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS, SMALL GROUPS, AND CLASS PRESENTATIONS. THE CLOSING THE GAP (CTG) PROGRAM SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS IN BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ADDRESSING NON-ACADEMIC BARRIERS TO LEARNING. A TOTAL OF 4,314 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THESE PROGRAMS. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS, WHICH PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR LOWER-INCOME ELIGIBLE ADULTS WHO WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH STUDENTS IN NEED IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, INCLUDES MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD, FINANCIAL BENEFITS, TRAINING, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH PEERS AND OTHERS. THE PROGRAM IMPACTED 860.
- $2.0 million spent. IMMIGRATION & REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS - CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO HAS PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE POPULATIONS IN WESTERN NEW YORK SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1923. PRE- AND POST-ARRIVAL SERVICES SUCH AS ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, EMPLOYMENT, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS CLASSES, AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO OUR RESETTLEMENT CLIENTS. MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED. A TOTAL OF 1,223 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED IN 2023-2024. THE CLIENTS SERVED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS/MIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICES, AND ONLY AFTER APPROVAL FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. REFUGEES CONSIDERED FOR RESETTLEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES MUST PASS THROUGH A SERIES OF SECURITY SCREENINGS AIMED AT ENSURING THEY WILL NOT POSE A SECURITY RISK. THE INFORMATION EXAMINED TO CONFIRM A REFUGEE'S IDENTITY IS CHECKED AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER RELEVANT DATABASES, INCLUDING THOSE ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. IF THERE IS DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER AN APPLICANT POSES A SECURITY THREAT, THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT GAIN ADMISSION TO THE U.S.
- $2.4 million spent. PAYMENTS TO AFFILIATES - DIOCESE OF BUFFALO AND MONSIGNOR CARR INSTITUTE
- $2.0 million spent. SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES -OUR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORTS TO HELP STUDENTS OVERCOME OBSTACLES THEY MAY FACE IN ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE IN-SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM (ISSWP) ENHANCES STUDENT SUCCESS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER-DEVELOPMENT AND SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH SHORT-TERM INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS, SMALL GROUPS, AND CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS. THE CLOSING THE GAP (CTG) PROGRAM SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS IN BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY ADDRESSING NON-ACADEMIC BARRIERS TO LEARNING. CTG BEGAN IN 2002 IN COLLABORATION WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, UNITED WAY OF BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY, AND THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. APPROXIMATELY 5,000 STUDENTS WERE IMPACTED BY THESE PROGRAMS.
- $1.3 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - CATHOLIC CHARITIES' WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND JOB-TRAINING SERVICES. PROGRAMS GUIDE AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AND WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY, AND ULTIMATELY EARN A LIVING WAGE AND MORE. FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR A DISLOCATED WORKER, WE CAN PROVIDE A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM, OFFER REMEDIAL ASSISTANCE, AND/OR ASSIST WITH ENROLLMENT IN COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS. OUR VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFER HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATIONS IN GROWING FIELDS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS. SINCE 1975, CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF ERIE AND NIAGARA COUNTY RESIDENTS GET A FRESH START WITH THESE SERVICES. OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SERVED 3,098 PEOPLE.
- $1.5 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BUFFALO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TREATS CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE YEARS OLD, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO ASSESS FOR AND PROVIDE COUNSELING AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ADDRESS MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS NEEDS. THROUGH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE STRIVE TO TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND PERSON-CENTERED CARE PLANNING TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR WELLNESS GOALS. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES REACHED 7,320 PEOPLE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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