Say Yes Buffalo Scholarship Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE SAY YES BUFFALO PARTNERSHIP IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR STUDENTS IN PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS, NY. OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT PARTNERSHIP, CENTERED ON RACIAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION, PROVIDES A POSTSECONDARY TUITION PROMISE AND CRADLE TO CAREER COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTS TO INCREASE THE RATES OF HIGH SCHOOL AND POSTSECONDARY COMPLETION AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF FULFILLING PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT. OUR VISION IS A MORE EQUITABLE AND THRIVING WESTERN NEW YORK ECONOMY IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $18.1 million
- Spending
- $19.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 198
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $390,346, chief executive 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (2)
- $3.2 million spent. SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP, INC. RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT COLLEGE TUITION AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITY GRANTS. FUNDS RAISED ARE TRANSFERRED TO A SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL GRADUATES OF BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PURSUE A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SERVES TO ARTICULATE THE POSSIBILITY AND EXPECTATION OF POST-SECONDARY COMPLETION FOR ALL STUDENTS AND GIVES HOPE TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THOUGHT THAT COLLEGE IS AN OPTION. THE GRADUATION RATE FOR BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS INCREASED TO 79% DURING THE 2021/2022 FISCAL YEAR. SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP, INC. HAS INITIATED A $65 MILLION ENDOWMENT FUND CAMPAIGN TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE.
- $13.7 million spent. SAY YES BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIP, INC. HAS ENTERED INTO CONTRACTS AND GRANTS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL BASED WRAP AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
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? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, 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 August 2015.
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.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.